This weekend I spoke about the importance of prayer and keeping our "lamps lit" with the oil of prayer. Over the next couple days, I'm going to post 3-4 ways that have been helpful for me in my prayer life.
Here's the first one.
The Litany
The Great Litany is a prayer that is found in the Book of Common Prayer, the prayer book of the Anglican Church. One of the ways that you can use this prayer is after each phrase, pray your own prayer in response. After some of the phrases and sections, I’ve included some ideas (in brackets and italics) just to get you started. However, they are just guidelines. And remember, this isn’t a box to check off! Take your time. You don’t have to pray it all the way through.
An Excerpt from The Litany
God the Father, (thank God for all the ways that he has been a father to you)
Have mercy upon us.
God the Son,
Have mercy upon us.
God the Holy Spirit,
Have mercy upon us.
Holy, blessed and glorious Trinity,
Have mercy upon us.
From all evil and mischief;
from pride, vanity and hypocrisy;
from envy, hatred and malice;
and from all evil intent,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can pray for the grace and strength to overcome sin)
From sloth, worldliness and love of money;
from hardness of heart
and contempt for your word and your laws,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From sins of body and mind;
from the deceits of the world, the flesh and the devil,
Good Lord, deliver us.
From famine and disaster;
from violence, murder and dying unprepared,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can pray for safety and protection)
In all times of sorrow;
in all times of joy;
in the hour of death,
and at the day of judgement,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can pray for God’s presence in all seasons of your life)
By the mystery of your holy incarnation;
by your birth, childhood and obedience;
by your baptism, fasting and temptation,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can meditate on these parts of Christ’s life & receive encouragement that he has gone before us)
By your ministry in word and work;
by your mighty acts of power;
and by your preaching of the kingdom,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can pray for God’s kingdom to come through your life also)
By your agony and trial;
by your cross and passion;
and by your precious death and burial,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can meditate on and thank God for the substitutionary death of Jesus)
By your mighty resurrection;
by your glorious ascension;
and by your sending of the Holy Spirit,
Good Lord, deliver us. (here you can meditate on and pray that the power of Christ’s resurrection would continue to work in your life)
Hear our prayers, O Lord our God.
Hear us, good Lord.
Govern and direct your holy Church;
fill it with love and truth;
and grant it that unity which is your will.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can pray for Vineyard Columbus, other churches in the area, and the universal Church that there would be greater unity)
Give us boldness to preach the gospel in all the world,
and to make disciples of all the nations.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can pray for the opportunities and courage to share Jesus with those around you)
Enlighten the pastors of Vineyard Columbus and all who minister
with knowledge and understanding,
that by their teaching and their lives they may proclaim your word.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can pray for the pastors and staff of Vineyard Columbus – for faithfulness, strength, integrity, courage, and protection or however you feel led)
Give your people grace to hear and receive your word,
and to bring forth the fruit of the Spirit.
Hear us, good Lord.
Bring into the way of truth all who have erred
and are deceived.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you could pray for those who have walked away from following Jesus)
Strengthen those who stand;
comfort and help the faint-hearted;
raise up the fallen;
and finally beat down Satan under our feet.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can ask for strength for yourself as well as for others who you know have been discouraged, struggling with temptation, loneliness, etc.
Guide the leaders of the nations
into the ways of peace and justice.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can pray global leaders as they confront wars, famines, political unrest, etc.
Guard and strengthen your servant President Barack Obama,
that he may put his trust in you,
and seek your honor and glory.
Hear us, good Lord.
Endue the Congress
and all the President’s Cabinet and adviors
with wisdom and understanding.
Hear us, good Lord.
Bless those who administer the law,
that they may uphold justice, honesty and truth.
Hear us, good Lord.
Give us the will to use the resources of the earth to your glory,
and for the good of all creation.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can pray that we would make wise decisions with the environment)
Bless and keep all your people.
Hear us, good Lord.
Bring your joy into all families;
strengthen and deliver those in childbirth,
watch over children and guide the young,
bring reconciliation to those in discord
and peace to those in stress.
Hear us, good Lord. (here you can pray for your children, family, & extended family e, as well as for the health of the families of Vineyard Columbus)
Help and comfort the lonely, the bereaved and the oppressed.
Lord, have mercy.
Keep in safety those who travel, and all who are in danger.
Lord, have mercy.
Heal the sick in body and mind,
and provide for the homeless, the hungry and the destitute.
Lord, have mercy. (here you can pray for those with mental illness, for the oppressed & marginalized, especially those whom we serve through Vineyard Columbus’ Urban Ministry)
Show your pity on prisoners and refugees,
and all who are in trouble.
Lord, have mercy. (here you can pray for those in our prisons, the immigrants, as well as those who are fleeing for their lives – many coming to Columbus for refuge)
Forgive our enemies, persecutors and slanderers,
and turn their hearts.
Lord, have mercy.
Hear us as we remember
those who have died in the peace of Christ,
both those who have confessed the faith
and those whose faith is known to you alone,
and grant us with them a share in your eternal kingdom.
Lord, have mercy. (
Give us true repentance;
forgive us our sins of negligence and ignorance
and our deliberate sins;
and grant us the grace of your Holy Spirit
to amend our lives according to your holy word.
Holy God,
holy and strong,
holy and immortal,
have mercy upon us.