From: Conversations With God: Two Centuries of Prayers by African Americans, compiled by James Melvin Washington, 1994.
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A PRAYER FOR ONE NEAR DEATH:
Now Lord, we know that we didn’t come here to stay always. We know this earth is not our home. We’re just pilgrims making our way through this howling wilderness. One day soon and very soon you’re going to send your angel to fetch us one by one. You promised us that if we’d be faithful, you’d have a crown waiting for us. I want my crown. I want to be in that number John saw, coming from the north, south, east and west—that number no man can number. I don’t mind dying, Lord; if this earthy tent shall dissolve, Paul said I got another building not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. I want to be in that number! I want to go to that land where Job said the wicked shall cease from troubling and the weary shall be at rest. Every day will be Sunday; no more good-byes, just always howdy, howdy. I want to be in that number. I want to be with Jesus. I want to hear your welcome voice say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.’ Grant unto me a resting place in your kingdom and I’ll give you honor, praise, and glory throughout endless ages. Amen.
–1984, Wyatt Tee Walker, p. 251.
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A PRAYER BEFORE WORSHIP:
Dear Lawd, we come befo’ Thee and ask Thee ta’ stand by us. Thank Thee for everything Thou’s did for us. Christ, come between these four walls; git in the hearts uv these men and women here, and all the boys and girls. Thou art God an’ God alone.
Since the last time we’s bowed here befo’ you we’s done things we ought not uv done, an we’s left things undone what we ought uv done. Rule over us peoples down here, comfort the sick an’ afflicted an’ weary. And bind us to one another. Lawd, have mercy upon us.
Now, Lawd, when it come our time to die, we pray Thee receive us into Thy kingdom an’ give our souls a resting place. Amen.
–1951, William H. Pipes, p. 180.
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A PRAYER FOR THOSE GATHERED FOR WORSHIP:
O Father Almighty, O Sweet Jesus, will you be so pleased to come dis way and put your eye on dese poor peoples here. O Sweet Jesus, ain’t you the God who kept the lions off of Daniel? Didn’t you deliber de three chillen from the fiery furnis? Didn’t you hear Jonah cry out in de belly ub de whale? O, if dere be one seekin’ mourner here dis morning, if dere be one sinkin’ Peter, if dere be one weepin’ Mary, if dere be one doubtin’ Thomas, won’t you be pleased to come and deliber ‘em? Won’t you mount your Gospel hoss, an’ ride roun’ dese souls, and say, “Go in peace and sin no moah?” Won’t you be so pleased as to shake dese here souls over hell, wake ‘em up, an’ do not let them fall in! Amen.
–An Anonymous Black Woman, 1867, p. 51.
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A PRAYER FOR MOURNERS:
Oh, Gawd, we come this evenin’ beared down wid’ the sorrows of this worl.’ We come as paupers to Thy throne of grace. We are down in the valley of the shadow, and our hearts are heavy. Thou’s done thundered forth Thy will. Thou done took from our mist one o’ Yo’ lambs. Thou’s done took a good brother who’s done lived his ‘lotted time an’ died, Gawd, like we all must die. Ummmmm. Thou’s done took a father an’ and gran’father and done made a widow. Thou’s done battered down hearts. Thou’s done put burdens on ‘em. ‘Member dese hearts, great Gawd. By the blood of Jesus, send balm to the hearts of the sufferin.’ Ease the burden of dese hearts broken by the fulfillin’ o’ Yo’ almighty will. In the name of Jesus. Amen.
–William Pipes, 1951, p. 179.
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Revelation 7:9 — After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.
II Corinthians 5:1 — For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
Job 3:17 — There the wicked cease from turmoil, and there the weary are at rest.
Revelation 7:17 — …God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.
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