View Full Version : A Veterans Prayer
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. (Ps 91)
Spirit of light and love, Creator and Sustainer, God of many names, Sometimes the burdens I shoulder feel like more than I can bear. I am terrified I shall break under their pressure, My wallet flattened, My hopes broken, My dreams in dust, My mind staggering, Under the crushing weight of uncertainty. As I struggle with my fears, And work to hold my creditors at bay, As I fight to regain a financial foothold And hope against hope To reverse my fall, Uplift my heart, oh God. Rekindle my faith. Make me mindful of thy many gifts, Lest, overwhelmed by the threats to my well-being, I forget them, And I forget you. This is my prayer: to pray for what I have, To pray for health, if I am graced with health; To pray for love, if blessed with loved ones, Who offer me the priceless gift of love's embrace. Remind me to pray, if I am blessed to be a parent, for the treasure of children; To pray for the wealth of friends, who stand beside me through my bleakest days, And share my pain. In this veil of tears and trouble, Raise my sights to look out upon the many beacons, Shining their light upon my life. Remind me to give thanks for those, Who reach out to take my hand, Who walk with me and stand by me, Who raise my spirits by their presence, Whose smile brightens my view, And lifts my heart, And gives me joy. For if I pray for the wonders that are mine To savor this very day, These, the most precious, of my prayers will come true. I shall again unwrap the present, Give thanks for thy many gifts. My lifeline will be strengthened, My perspective widened, And for one brief, shining moment, The shadows will lift from my heart. So it is I offer up my thanks. So it is I utter forth, oh God, From the depth of my soul, This grateful prayer of gratitude and praise. Amen.
God our protector, keep us in mind; always give strength to your people. For if we can be with you even one day, it is better than a thousand without you. (Ps. 83)
God our Father, may our love for you know no boundaries and may our love for you tear down the walls of prejudice that sometimes can keep us from being truly loving persons with all whom we encounter each day. May our love for you grow as we keep our focus on you. Amen.
Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord. Seek the Lord and his strength, seek always the face of the Lord. (Ps. 104)
Lord Jesus, when you were on this earth, you gave us many examples to show your forgiving presence in our lives. By this example may we come to know you in the sacrament of reconciliation and participate in the many opportunities to receive your grace. Strengthen us on this path of life. Amen.
If anyone loves me he will hold to my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and make our home with him. (Jn 14)
Lord Jesus, let us pray this day for all who believe they find themselves dealing with hopeless cases. That they will turn to you for inpsiration and guidance in dealing with the events and people in their lives. Amen.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest, says the Lord. (Matt. 11)
Lord Jesus, your words are consoling to us who have heavy burdens to carry in life. Sometimes our burdens are related to the workplace, in our families and in our relationships with those around us. As we carry our burdens, may we place them in your hands and ask you to help us ease the pain in our lives. Amen.
I call to you all day long, have mercy on me, O Lord. You are good and forgiving, full of love for all who call to you. (Ps. 85)
Lord God of power and might, nothing is good which is against your will, and all is of value which comes from your hand. Fill our hearts with love for you. Increase our faith, and by your constant care protect the good you have given us. Amen.
Lord, you are just, and the judgments you make are right. Show mercy when you judge me, your servant. (Ps. 118)
Lord our God, you redeem us and make us your children in Christ. Open our eyes to the wonders this life sets before us, that we may serve you free from fear and learn to call you God our Father. Amen.
Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened and I will give you rest, says the Lord. (Matthew 11)
Lord God, this day we find ourselves rejoicing with the men and women who have gone before us as witnesses to the faith. Their witness to the faith gives us encouragement to walk our journey of faith in trust, humility and love. Help us, Lord, to remain faithful to your teachings and your ways and never let us stray from your path. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
God, who raised Jesus from the dead, will give new life to our own mortal bodies through his Spirit living in us. (Romans 8)
Lord, this earthly life is a passage into eternal life. May we, who walk this passage in life, grow in strength and courage to remain faithful to your ways and your teachings when you walked this same earthly life. Help us to trust in your unconditional love for us so that some day we may enjoy the vision of your glory forever. Amen.
The Lord will not abandon his people. (Ps. 94)
God, our creator, we have those moments in life where we sometimes feel like you have abandoned us. Yet, we know you are with us always, until the end of time. Help us to value the gifts that are all around us, to share the fruits of your presence with those we meet and to share the wonders of your creation with our brothers and sisters. Amen.
I will praise your name forever, my king and my God. (Ps. 145)
Lord God, your works are so wonderful and all your ways are awesome. Your mercy is unending from generation to generation. May you sense our faithfulness to your name and may we receive your mercy in our lives, as we strive to praise your name for ever. Amen.
Teach me your paths, my God, and lead me in your truth. (Ps. 25)
Loving and gentle God, you show us the path of life. May your light always guide our feet as we walk the path that you reveal for us to take in this journey in life. Sometimes this path is easy and other times it is difficult. We ask for the grace to remain faithful to walking this path and when we need help to be humble enough to ask for your help. Grant this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
I Cannot Do This Alone
O God, early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
And to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
But with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
But you know the way for me…
Restore me to liberty,
And enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
God, our protector, keep us in mind: always give strength to your people. For if we can be with you even one day, it is better than a thousand without you. (Ps. 83)
Loving and caring God, you protect us as we walk this journey of faith with you. May we strive to achieve all that you have in store for us on this earth, so we may live with you in glory forever. Amen.
Listen, Lord, and answer me. Save your servant who trusts in you. I call to you all day long, have mercy on me, Lord. (Ps. 85)
Lord our God, we trust in your loving presence in our lives. As we live in an ever-changing world, our lives can be entangled in the chaos of moving too quickly. We are in need of your mercy especially in those times when we find ourselves caught in the spiral of chaos and negativity. Amen.
I saw the holy city, a new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, like a bride adorned in readiness for her husband. (Rev. 21)
God our Father, your Church is a living witness to the Gospel values. We pray for an increase in zeal and energy in building up the Church, the People of God, who faithfully strive to follow in the footprints of your Son, who revealed the new and eternal Jerusalem. We pray that someday, we shall live in this new and eternal Jerusalem. Amen.
The Lord is faithful in all his words and holy in his deeds. (Ps. 145)
Lord Jesus, we strive to remain faithful to your words in our lives and to live in holiness, yet we sometimes fall short of this goal. At times, we are fragile and weak, and are in need of your mercy in our lives. In these moments, when we have failed to remain faithful, we ask for your forgiveness and mercy. Amen.
Prayer for Those in the Armed Services
O God of Mercy, we beg You now to protect in a special way those who are fighting for us and for the country we love. Bless them and take care of them. If they are tired, give them strength. If they are wounded and suffering, give them comfort. If they are lonely, touch them with Your gentle hand and let them know that You are near them. Grant them strength, wisdom and help through Your power and Your limitless love. Amen.
Thank you to all Veterans
Guide me, Lord, along the everlasting way. (Ps. 139)
Lord God, you probe us and you know us, you are always by our side. May your presence be a constant reminder of your love for us. May you guide us along life’s path and lead us in ways that are fruitful and wise. Amen.
I will bless the Lord at all times. (Ps. 34)
Lord, we see the wonder of your love in those who surround us in our daily lives. May we remain ever close to you by our times of silent reflection on your life and by our prayers. May these moments of prayer bring us to a deep level of gratitude for your presence in our lives. Amen.
Give thanks to God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord, and may the fullness of his message live within you. (Col. 3)
God our Father, we give you thanks for the many blessings that we have received in our lifetime. In times of uncertainty, may we be reminded that you are a God of understanding and patience always ready to hold us in the palm of your hand. Look upon us and continue to give us the graces to live in true freedom, as we walk this journey of faith. Amen.
Give peace, Lord, to those who wait for you and your prophets will proclaim you as you deserve. Hear the prayers of your servant and of your people Israel. (Sir. 36)
Almighty God, you who are our creator and guide, may we know of your forgiveness in our lives and follow you with a burning desire to proclaim your word to all those whom we encounter on our path in life. Hear the prayers of your faithful people, who long to see your face. Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Your words, O Lord, give joy to my heart, your teaching is light to my eyes. (Ps. 18)
Lord God, as you created each one of us in your image and likeness, your words give joy to our hearts. May we always share this joy with others and be attentive to your teachings in our lives, for we are so much in need of your guidance in our ever-changing world. Amen.
Come, you whom my father has blessed, says the Lord; I was ill and you comforted me. I tell you, anything you did for one of my brothers, you did for me. (Mt. 25)
Lord Jesus, your teachings and examples of the beatitudes give us great encouragement to reach out to those in need. May we hear the cries of those who are in pain, hurting and feeling so alone. We ask for your grace to be attentive to their cries and to respond in service to their needs. Amen.
The Lord says; my plans for you are peace and not disaster; when you call to me, I will listen to you, and I will bring you back to the place from which I exiled you. (Jeremiah 29)
Lord, you are the source of all that is good. In our lives, there are moments when we fall from the road that brings us to you. In these moments, there are times that our darkness and fear can appear to overwhelm us. May your saving grace bring us back on the road that leads to you and may we grow stronger in our trust of your presence and care of us in our journey in life. Amen.
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