Featured Prepared prayers

It's not about a prayer being "pre written". It's about what comes from the heart. I have prayed the Psalms to God many times. Just because I didn't write it doesn't mean I didn't mean it.

 

And now that man is scarred for life! :laugh:

 

Call it what it is. It's called contemplative prayer. Rather like making out a landry list.
MB

 

Thank you. I've made a copy to slip into my Bible.

 

Have you ever read Nu 6:22-27? Have you ever heard of the Lord's Prayer? What does any of that have to do with the Catholic Church and rosary beads?

 

It seems from observation that most prayers to end a service end up being a summary of the sermon. Prayers at the offering time ask God to continue blessing us, the church, and thanking Him for what He has given us. Prayers on Wednesday night usually revolve around a prayer list of sick people. While these are not word for word prepared prayers, the outline is already there.

I have heard very few prayers that come from the heart unrelated to the occasion.

 

You are welcome. It is surely a very moving prayer and says a lot in a few words.

 

Prepared prayers seem a bit liturgical--perhaps a bit hypocritical--i.e. stagelike. Many public prayers probably do not make it past the ceiling.

Many folk think they are holy by their much praying--and their broad phylacteries. There are two kinds of prayer: that of the Pharisee and that of the sinner.

The biggest thing that hinders prayer: we do not forgive our debtors. All the prayers in the
world, canned or otherwise, are useless without forgiveness on our part of those who have wronged us.

Jesus prayed at His crucifixion: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."

Peace,

Bro. James

 

AMEN to that.

In a few words you have gotten to the heart of this topic. Whether written beforehand or off the cuff every prayer is going to be one or the other.

While sometimes we can't discern the difference in the prayers of others, with the Holy Spirit guiding us, we can discern the difference within ourselves. Regardless of the method of communication with God that we choose to use.

 

On the subject of prayer--this is kind of related: What does "In Thy Name" mean at the end of some public prayers?

Peace,

Bro. James

 

Here is a morning prayer from The Valley of Vision Puritan Prayers. I think it is a wonderful way to start the day.



O God, the Author of all good,
I come to thee for the grace another day will require for it's duties and events.

I step out into a wicked world, I carry about with me an evil heart, i know that without thee I can do nothing, that everything with which I shall be concerned, however harmless in itself, may prove an occasion of sin or folly, unless I am kept by thy power.

Hold thou me up and I shall be safe. Preserve my understanding from subtilty of error, my affections from love of idols, my character from stain of vice, my profession from every form of evil.

May I engage in nothing in which I cannot implore thy blessing, and in which I cannot invite thy inspection.

Prosper me in all lawful undertakings, or prepare me for disappointments; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with food convenient for me, lest I be full and deny thee and say, Who is the Lord? or be poor, and steal, and take thy name in vain.

May every creature be made good to me by prayer and thy will.

Teach me how to use the world, and not abuse it, to improve my talents, to redeem my time, to walk in wisdom toward those without, and in kindness to those within, to do good to all men, and especially to my fellow Christians.

And to thee be the glory.