prayer for bleary-eyed parents

September 25, 2025 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

Mother and Child by Julius Gari Melchers, Art Institute of Chicago

O Lord, you who hold all things together,

help me. I pray, not to lose my mind;

you who calmed the tempest,

help me not to lose my temper;

you who promised rest to the weary,

speak a word of peace to my tired body;

you who healed the blind,

open my eyes to see your presence in the dark;

you who speak things into life,

help me to hear your small voice over the din of my own noisy mind;

you who welcomed the children,

take care of my own;

and you who promised to be with us always,

be with me now in my hour of need,

so that I may feel your tangible care.

I pray this in the name of Jesus, the Compassionate One,

Amen,

Prayers for the Pilgrimage

W, David O. Taylor, American theologian and Anglican priest

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Psalm 103:13-14

Just as parents are kind
to their children,
the Lord is kind
to all who worship him,
because he knows
we are made of dust.

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teach us to love what you have created

February 21, 2025 / Eric Mathews / 1 Comment

source

Our Father, God, Creator of all your different children,

teach us to love what you have created.

Teach us to see people one by one

and to acknowledge them as our Father’s children,

our brothers and sisters:

not to pigeonhole them;

not to hammer them into unnatural molds of our own making,

but to rejoice in our differences,

accepting people as they are

– different but of equal worth –

each one a part of God’s creation,

showing something of his love and glory.

Sybil Phoenix, 1927-, Guyanese born British community worker

The Westminster Collection of Christian Prayer

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Romans 15:5-7

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement

give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,

so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you,

in order to bring praise to God.

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Father we pray for Your peace on earth

June 13, 2023June 12, 2023 / Eric Mathews / Leave a comment

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Father Almighty, we pray for your peace on earth.

For peace that is life-giving;

for peace that is love-bearing;

for peace that is true freedom;

for peace that is purposeful;

for peace that is prevailing.

Father, we pray for children in time of war;

they are so defenseless.

We pray for the old;

they are unable to escape danger quickly.

We pray for those with physical disabilities;

they are at the mercy of others.

We pray for women;

they are so vulnerable to abuse.

We pray for the innocent;

they suffer for the unjust desires of others.

We pray for those whose lives will be changed by war:

those who are blinded;

those who are burned;

those who lose limbs;

those who lose reason;

those who lose their peace of mind;

those who lose their health and strength for ever,

Father, above all we pray for those in anguish;

those whose lives will never be the same again;

those who have lost their loved ones;

those who have lost their lives.

Father, deepen our desire for peace;

restore our resolve for peace;

increase our intent to work for peace.

Will for us your peace, perfect and prevailing,

for your Son, our Savior Christ’s sake.

Pamela Wilding, English missionary to Kenya from 1967 to 2003

Prayers Encircling the World

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Isaiah 2:4

He shall judge between the nations,
and shall decide disputes for many peoples;
and they shall beat their swords into plowshares,
and their spears into pruning hooks;
nation shall not lift up sword against nation,
neither shall they learn war anymore.

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