The Pocket Book of Prayers

By Jim Palmer

Featuring some of the most beautiful and profound prayers in the English language, The Pocket Book of Prayer is a superb companion for daily intercession and meditation. Drawing from the deep well of the history of Christian faith, this pocket-sized tome offers prayers from poets, theologians, church leaders, authors, and oral traditions. Here's a small sample of text:

Lord of the excluded,
Open my ears to those I would prefer not to hear,
Open my life to those I would prefer not to know,
Open my heart to those I would prefer not to love,
And so open my eyes to see
Where I exclude You.

-Iona Abbey Prayer

Appealing to a wade range of readers within the Judeo-Christian tradition, readers will want to buy multiple copies for their friends and relatives.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Open Road Integrated Media
• Release date: Jun 18, 2005
• ISBN: 9781418552893

Book preview

The Pocket Book

of Prayers

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The Pocket Book

of Prayers

EDITED BY JIM PALMER

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The Pocket Book of Prayers

Copyright 2005 Jim Palmer.

All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Published by W Publishing Group, a Division of Thomas Nelson, Inc., P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, Tennessee, 37214.

W Publishing Group books may be purchased in bulk for educational, business, fundraising, or sales promotional use. For information, please email [e-mail].

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from The King James Version of the Bible (KJV).

Other Scripture references are from the following sources:

The Holy Bible, New Century Version (NCV), copyright 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publishing, a division of Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission.

Holy Bible, New Living Translation (NLT), copyright 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Editorial Staff: Shady Oaks Studio, Bedford, Texas

Cover Design: Kirk DouPonce, DogEared Design.com

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

The pocket book of prayers / edited by Jim Palmer.

p. cm.

Summary: Compilation of prayers said by noted believers in God throughout history—Provided by publisher.

ISBN 0-8499-0505-2 (tradepaper)

1. Prayers. I. Palmer, Jim, 1964–

BV245.P63 2005

242'.8—dc22                                                                                                                                                                              2005003204

Printed in the United States of America

05 06 07 08 09 QW 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Table of Contents

Introduction

Pray without ceasing

About The Editor

For Pam and Jessica

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With special thanks to the Pilgrimage Project

Introduction

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Prayer is conversation with God.

—Saint Clement of Rome, AD 90

There is a river that runs so true through the epic story of God’s redemption of the world. It is the enduring conversation between God and man—a river of prayer. One can locate the mouth of this river at the dawn of civilization where the ancient Old Testament scriptures describe Elohim creating the primal parents of the human race. Out of the dust of the earth God fashioned them, filled their lungs with the breath of life, and bid them to a relationship with himself. The conversation began.

You can follow the river through the ages and across the continents through biblical records, Celtic oral traditions, monastic liturgies, spirituals and hymns, private journals and personal letters, and cathedral inscriptions. Follow the river of prayer long enough and inevitably you will find yourself eavesdropping upon the intimate reflections of some of history’s most pivotal people in situations that would shape their times.

The river winds along the rocky coasts of Ireland, where Saint Patrick boldly called upon God’s protection around the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, where Martin Luther King Jr. wrestled with God over the suffering of the civil-rights movement, through the villages of Calcutta, where Mother Teresa pleaded for divine assistance in caring for the needs of orphans; and along ground zero in New York City, where a young mother stands with twins in tow seeking the strength of God to carry on. It also runs alongside the spiritual pilgrimage of countless souls who sought to know, love, and follow God and who discovered deep delight in the knowing and loving and following.

Though simply reflecting upon the Christian prayers in this spiritual anthology will inspire, I most hope they will compel you to start, to begin anew, or to remain faithful in your own conversation with God. Throughout the ages, men and women have stood in the river by utilizing the prayers of others to give expression to their own heart before God. Whether it is seeking guidance amid confusion, courage in the face of fear, healing from heartache, hope and peace in circumstances of despair, or a desire to know and experience God more deeply in your life, consider this book of prayers a sacred pathway for your daily journey of speaking and listening to God.

In addition to the prayers themselves, this compilation is a treasure chest of spiritual wisdom about prayer, including intermittent quotes from devoted followers of Christ throughout history. The book can be a helpful spiritual companion for you personally and useful in many ways for groups seeking to grow in prayer. May the eyes of your soul be enlightened to the unfailing love of God for you, and may your life be set ablaze with love for God.

Pray without ceasing.

—1 THESSALONIANS 5:17

Day by day, dear Lord, of Thee three things I pray:

To see Thee more clearly,

To love Thee more dearly,

To follow Thee more nearly.

—RICHARD OF CHICESTER

Be thou a bright flame before me,

Be thou a guiding star above me,

Be thou a smooth path before me,

Be thou a kindly shepherd behind me,

Today—tonight—and forever.

—SAINT COLUMBA

Eternal God, you have been the hope and joy of many generations, and who in all ages has given men the power to seek you and in seeking you to find you, grant me, I pray you, a clearer vision of your truth, a greater faith in your power, and a more confident assurance of your love.

—JOHN BAILLIE

Lord Jesus Christ,

Son of God and son of Mary,

You are the radiant start of the morning.

Come and deliver us from our fears

And the darkness in our everyday lives.

As the Church in earlier times

Once cried for you,

We cry again with one voice:

Come, Lord Jesus, come!

Look with mercy upon us

Who await your coming,

And make shine on us

Your saving light.

—BYZANTINE PRAYER

Yield room for some little time to God; and rest for a little time in him. Enter the inner chamber of your mind; shut out all thoughts except that of God, and such as can help you in seeking him; close your door and seek him. Speak now, my whole heart! Speak now to God; saying, I seek your face; your face, Lord will I seek. And come now, Lord my God, teach my heart where and how it may seek you, where and how it may find you.

—SAINT ANSELM

O God,

when in Jesus you walked this earth,

you had no place to call your own, no place to lay your head.

As we stand by the landless and the homeless and support those who