William Barclay (1907-1978) was a Church of Scotland minister, professor of Biblical Studies at the University of Glasgow, and author. He wrote several excellent books of prayer from which the following were taken and adapted.
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Praying for Help to Be Good People:
Lord Jesus, help us to live that we may bring help and joy to others, and, credit to ourselves and the name we bear as Christians. Help us to be cheerful when things go wrong, persevering when things are difficult, and serene when things are irritating. Enable us to be helpful to those in difficulties, kind to those in need, and sympathetic to those whose hearts are sore and sad. Grant that nothing may make us lose our tempers, take away our joy, ruffle our peace, or make us bitter towards anyone. Amen.
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A Prayer for a Happy Life:
O God, keep us from the things which are bound to make life unhappy. Keep us from the eyes which can always find some fault to see; the tongue which can always find something to grumble about; and the heart which can always find some grudge and some bitterness to cherish. Keep us from the perverseness which does not appreciate anything it gets, and always wants what it does not have; the ingratitude which does not even realize what it is getting; and the attitude of mind which lives in resentment. Give us the even temper which can take things as they come; the sense of humor which can always find some cause to smile; the gratitude which can always find something for which to be thankful; and a cheerfulness which not all earth’s shadows and disappointments can extinguish. Give us the spirit which can enjoy life and can help others enjoy it. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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A Prayer to Know the Truth:
O God, our Father, you are Truth– give us your truth. Help us to see the truth about ourselves; that we may see ourselves as we really are, and not as we think we are. Help us to see the truth about life; that we may see what we ought to do, and not only what we want to do. Help us to see the truth about you; that we may really know your wisdom and your love, so that we may trust you wholly and obey you fully. Amen.
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A Prayer for Humility:
O God, give us the humility which realizes its ignorance, admits its mistakes, recognizes its need, welcomes advice, and can accept rebuke. Help us always to praise rather than to criticize, to sympathize rather than to discourage, to build rather than to destroy, and to see the best in people and not only what is wrong. Amen.
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A Prayer for a Good Life:
O God, our Father, we know that the issues of life and death are in your hands, and we know that you love us with an everlasting love. If it is your will, grant to us to live in happiness and in peace.
In all our undertakings, grant us prosperity and good success.
In all our friendships, grant us to find our friends faithful and true.
In all bodily things, make us fit and healthy, able for the work of the day.
In all the things of the mind, make us calm and serene, free from anxiety and worry.
In material things, save us from poverty and from want.
In spiritual things, save us from doubt and from distrust.
Grant us in our work, satisfaction; in our study, true wisdom; in our pleasure, gladness; and in our love, loyalty.
And when misfortune does come to us, grant that our trials will bring us closer to one another and closer to you. Grant that nothing may shake our certainty that you can work all things together for good. Hear this our prayer, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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A Prayer to be Freed from Sin:
O God, our Father, in the life and death and resurrection of Jesus you have given us the remedy for sin. In him you have opened to us the way to forgiveness for all our past sins, and you have given us the strength and the power to live in purity and in truth.
Help us to put away all evil things.
Silence the evil word;
Forbid the evil deed;
Break the evil habit;
Banish the evil thought;
Take away the evil desire and the evil ambition;
and make our lives to shine like lights in this dark world.
Help us to live in purity.
Make our words so pure that you may hear them;
Make all our deeds so pure that you may see them;
Make all our thoughts and desires so pure that you may know them.
And so grant that we being pure in heart may see you.
Help us to live in truth.
Grant that we may never speak or act a lie;
That we may never be misled by false or mistaken beliefs;
That we may never evade the truth, even when we do not want to see it.
Grant us at all times to seek and to find, to know and to love, to obey and to live the truth.
This we ask for the sake of Him who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.
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A Prayer for the Church:
O Lord, give to your Church your blessing and your protection. Guide her that she may be saved from heresies which destroy the faith. Strengthen her in her witness, that she may bring no discredit on the name she bears. Inspire her in her fellowship, that those who enter may find therein your friendship and the friendship of other people.
Give to your Church preachers and teachers who can make known the Lord Christ to others because they know him themselves;
Whose minds are wise with wisdom;
Whose hearts are warm with love;
Whose lips are eloquent with truth.
This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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