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O God of Peace, who hast taught us that in returning and rest we shall be saved, that in quietness and confidence shall be our strength: By the might of Thy Spirit lift us, we pray, to Thy presence, where we may be still and know that thou art God; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer
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Ah, dearest Jesus, holy Child,
Make thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for thee. Amen.
–Martin Luther
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O Lord, we know not what is good for us. Thou knowest what it is. For it we pray.
–Prayer of the Khonds in North India
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O Lord, you know what is best for me. Let this or that be done as you please. Give what you will, how much you will, and when you will.
–Thomas a Kempis (1380-1471)
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Lord of Lords, grant us the good, whether we pray for it or not,
but evil keep from us, even though we pray for it.
–Plato (c.427-348 B.C.)
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Those things, good Lord, that we pray for, give us thy grace to labor for. Amen.
–Sir Thomas More (1748-1535)
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Give me grace, O my Father, to be utterly ashamed of my own reluctance. Rouse me from sloth and coldness, and make me desire you with my whole heart. Teach me to love meditation, your Word, and prayer. Teach me to love that which will concern me for all eternity. Amen.
–Cardinal John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
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O Almighty God, from whom every good prayer cometh, and who pourest out on all who desire it, the Spirit of grace and supplications; deliver us, when we draw nigh to thee, from coldness of heart and wanderings of mind; that with steadfast thoughts and kindled affections, we may worship thee in spirit and in truth, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
–William Bright (1824-1901)
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From the cowardice that dare not face new truth; from the laziness that is contented with half truth; from the arrogance that thinks it knows all truth, Good Lord, deliver me. Amen.
–Prayer from Kenya
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Almighty God, the fountain of all wisdom, you know our necessities before we ask and our ignorance in asking: Have compassion on our weakness, and mercifully give us those things which for our unworthiness we dare not, and for our blindness we cannot ask; through the worthiness of your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
—Book of Common Prayer
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Eternal Spirit, amid the tumult of our days may we keep within our souls a holy place where you can dwell, your great and wondrous power strengthening us; and a quiet place where you can speak, your strong and certain voice directing us. Now and again may we withdraw from all the feverish struggle and loud anger of the world and silently commune with you, the Unchanging God who comes to visit us and refresh us. May our spirits, being made alive by you, love you in return. Then as we go out among others to face our daily tasks again, may we still possess your inner peace so real and all-pervading so that nothing, neither life nor death, can ever lead us from you, O strong and mighty One, O holy, silent God. Amen.
–G. A. Cleveland Shrigley (alt.)
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Psalm 88:1-2 — Lord, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you; turn your ear to my cry.
Psalm 141:2 — I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me; hear me when I call to you.
Mark 1:35 — Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.