Recently a friend shared with me a book he had come across entitled, Ten Prayers that Changed the World by Jean-Pierre Isbouts. Rather than review this book I’ve chosen to simply share the prayers with you this week. Should you wish to learn more about the prayers, the link to the book can be found after the last prayer.
ABRAHAM'S PLEA
Do not lay your hand on the boy or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from me.
JESUS’ PRAYER TO ABBA
Father, hallowed be your name. Your Kingdom come. Our daily bread give us today. And forgive us our debts, for we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us to the test.
THE DREAM OF CONSTANTINE
Supreme God: We beseech you. We commend all justice to you,
we commend our safety to you, we commend our empire to you.
Through you we live, through you we emerge victorious and fortunate. Supreme, holy God, hear our prayers, we stretch our arms to you; listen, holy, Supreme God.
THE VOICES OF JOAN OF ARC
And suddenly I heard a voice, on my right. It was accompanied by a light, coming from the same side as the voice. It spoke French in soft and gentle tones, and there was no doubt in my mind that it came from God. It said that I must come to France
and raise the siege laid to the city of Orleans.
MARTIN LUTHER’S HYMN
A mighty fortress is our God, a sword and shield victorious.
He breaks the cruel oppressor's rod and wins salvation glorious.
The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe. With craft and dreadful might he arms himself to fight. On Earth he has no equal.
GEORGE WASHINGTON'S PRAYER
I now make it my earnest prayer that God would have you and the State over which you preside, in his holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, (and) for their fellow citizens of the United States at large.
THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace; that where there is hatred, I may bring love; that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness; that where there is discord, I may bring harmony; that where there is error, I may bring truth; that where there is doubt, I may bring faith; that where there is despair, I may bring hope; that where there are shadows, I may bring light; that where there is sadness, I may bring joy. Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted; to understand, than to be understood; to love, than to be loved. For it is by self-forgetting that one finds. It is by forgiving that one is forgiven. It is by dying that one awakens to eternal life. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
THE PRAYER FOR BASTOGNE
Almighty and most merciful Father, we humbly beseech Thee, of Thy great goodness, to restrain these immoderate rains with which we have had to contend. Grant us fair weather for Battle.
Graciously hearken to us as soldiers who call upon Thee that,
armed with Thy power, we may advance from victory to victory,
and crush the oppression and wickedness of our enemies
and establish Thy justice among men and nations.
GANDHI'S PRAYER FOR PEACE
I offer you peace.
I offer you love.
I offer you friendship.
I see your beauty.
I hear your need.
I feel your feelings.
My wisdom flows from the highest source.
I salute that source in you.
Let us work together.
For unity and peace.
MOTHER TERESA'S DAILY PRAYER
Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you. Lord, give me this seeing faith, then my work will never be monotonous.I will ever find joy in humoring the fancies and gratifying the wishes of all poor sufferers. O beloved sick, how doubly dear you are to me, when you personify Christ; and what a privilege is mine to be allowed to tend to you
