A Few Written Prayers
For assurance of being heard
"Lord God, heavenly Father, I ask for and need assurance that my petitions may be nothing less than yea and amen. Otherwise I will not pray or have intercession made for me. Not that I am righteous or worthy, for I know very well and confess that I am unworthy. With my great and many sins I have earned your eternal wrath and hell fire. But because you command and constrain me to pray in the name of your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, I am still somewhat obedient. Not because of my own righteousness, but because of your infinite goodness, do I kneel or stand before you. I pray for what is upon my heart concerning those in need of your help. If you do not help them, O Lord, you will offend and dishonor your name. Surely you will save your reputation so that the world will not say you are an ungracious and a dreadful God. Preserve us from such misfortune. Remember, dear
heavenly Father, how you have at all times supported and helped your people. I will not stop knocking but will continue crying aloud and pleading to the end of my life. Amen.
For preservation in God's word.
"O Father of all mercy, you have begun your work in us. Continue to fill us with all dimensions of wisdom and knowledge. May we be fully certain in our hearts and fully aware how the Spirit, who has raised up our Lord, also enlivens the faith within us with the same power and strength. Through him we have also risen from the dead by his mighty power, which works in us through your holy word. Help us to grow in the knowledge of your dear Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, and to remain firm in confessing his blessed word. Give us the love to be agreed in mind and to serve one another in Christ. May we not be afraid of that which is disagreeable, nor of the rage of the flame-thrower whose weapon is almost extinguished. Dear Father, guard us so that his craftiness may not take the place of our pure faith. Grant that our cross and sufferings may direct us to a blessed and sure hope of the coming of our Savior Jesus Christ, for whom we wait each day. Amen.
For final redemption and glory.
"Lord Jesus Christ, hurry. Do not delay in bringing the blessed day when the hope of happy redemption will be fulfilled. For this reason you have asked us to pray: Thy kingdom come. Since you have so commanded us to pray, give us grace and help to pray diligently, firmly believing that we shall finally come to such glory. Continually mortify this old body that we may finally receive a new body not so full of sin nor so inclined to all manner of evil as the life we now live. Give us bodies that will not become sick, nor suffer persecutions, nor die. Give us bodies redeemed from all temporal and spiritual misery, like your own glorified body dear Lord Jesus Christ. Grant that the glad and blessed day of our redemption and glorification may come soon, and that we may realize it as we now hear and believe your word. Amen.
For the return of the wayward and erring.
"Almighty, merciful, and most gracious God and Father, we earnestly implore you to turn the hearts of all who have forsaken the faith once delivered to your Church, those who have wandered from it or are in doubt or temptation through the corruption of your truth; mercifully visit them and turn them again that in singleness of heart they may take pleasure in your Word and be made wise to salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord."
For grace to use our gifts.
"O Lord God Almighty, since you bless your servants with various and unusual gifts of the Holy Spirit, grant us grace to use them always to your honor and glory; through Jesus Christ, our Lord."