Prayers for Illumination on Love

God, be all our love, all our hope, all our striving; let our thoughts and words flow from you, our daily life be in you, and every breath we take be for you. Amen.

John Cassian, Adapted from Conferences 10, Language Adapted for Corporate Worship by Stuart Strachan Jr.

O God, your Word is more precious than fine gold, and sweeter than purest honey. As we turn to your Scripture, send your Holy Spirit to infuse your Word with truth and grace — so that the good news of your love would shine before our eyes and delight our senses … so that we cannot help but respond with wonder, faith and trust. Amen.

Almighty and most merciful God, you have given the Bible to be the revelation of your great love to us, and of your power and will to save us: grant that our study of it may not be made in vain by the callousness or carelessness of our hearts, but that by it we may be confirmed in penitence, lifted to hope, made strong for service, and, above all, filled with the true knowledge of yourself and of your Son Jesus Christ.

George Adam Smith

Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires known, and from you no secrets are hidden.  Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you, and worthily magnify your holy name, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Breathe in us, O Holy Spirit,

That our thoughts may all be holy.

Act in us, O Holy Spirit,

That our work, too, may be holy.

Draw our hearts, O Holy Spirit,

That we love but what is holy.

Strengthen us, O Holy Spirit,

To defend all that is holy.

Guard us, then, O Holy Spirit,

That we always may be holy.

Augustine of Hippo, Adapted for Corporate Worship by Stuart Strachan Jr.

Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us.

Let not my doubts nor my darkness speak to me.

Lord Jesus Christ, your light shines within us.

Let my heart always welcome your love. Amen.

Taizé: Songs for Prayer. © 1998, Ateliers et Presses de Taizé, 71250 Taizé Community, France.

O Lord, lift up the light of your face on us; let your peace rule in our hearts, and may it be our strength and our song on the way of our journey.  We commit ourselves to your care and keeping; let your grace be mighty in us, and sufficient for us, in all the duties of the day.  Keep us from sin; give us the rule over our own spirits, and guard us from speaking foolishly with our lips.  May we live together in holy love and peace, and under your blessing in this life and forevermore.

Matthew Henry (1662-1714)

Give us, Lord, a clear vision of the truth, faith in your power, and confident assurance of your love.

Contemporary Prayers for Public Worship, Ed. Caryl Mickelm, Erdmans, 1967.