The first “prayer before a sermon” I posted some time ago has become one of the most-read posts on this blog. IMO it’s a great prayer but not necessarily for contemporary worship use!
But because so many have checked it out, I wanted to post a prayer I *do* think is good for worship use. It’s one my pastor uses regularly. I know it pre-dates him, and I believe it is of British origin but I’m not certain. If any of my readers know who wrote it please post and tell me!
The prayer is:
“Now, O Lord, take my lips and speak through them;
Take our minds and think through them;
Take our hearts and set them on fire with love for Yourself, Lord Jesus. Amen.”
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Thank you! I so needed the wording for this prayer!
You are wonderful to post!
It’s one of my favorites — glad you can use it too!
this was good because I really needed a prayer and this one was perfect love it !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jones girl
Peg, I’ve always loved this prayer, too, and have just found it in what MAY be its source!!
In Prayers from the Book of Common Order (Copyright © Panel on Worship of the Church of Scotland) there is a “Prayer for Kindness” (see last 6 lines):
Lord Jesus Christ,
your kindly Spirit sets us free
from hastiness and angry tempers,
from harshness and ill-will.
Help us so to live
in the brightness of your presence,
that we may bring your sunshine
into cloudy places.
Take our hands and work with them;
take our lips and speak through them;
take our minds and think with them;
take our hearts and set them on fire
with love for you and all your people;
for your name’s sake. Amen.
It may be that the author borrowed the words from an even more ‘original’ source, but this puts them into lovely context! Thanks for posting…..
Janet – Thank you for sharing this! The Book of Common Order is a fairly old book, so it probably is the source. And the context is beautiful! I’m very glad to have it and look forward to using it.
It is so wonderful and effective. Thank you so much
Thank you for this beautiful pre sermon prayer. I am going to use it this morning.
Greetings Peg!
When searching for prayers for Sunday’s sermon, your blog popped up in the top 3 searches! What a lovely surprise to stumble on your blog & this beautiful prayer.
Susan
Hi Susan! Good to “see” you here! Glad to be able to share the prayer. Let’s keep in touch over the summer!
Thanks Terry and welcome to the blog – glad you’ll be able to use it!
i am in south africa and i am going to use it before i preach tomorrow morning – rememberance sunday. blessings, merryl
Hi Merryl and welcome! I’m glad you’ll be able to use the prayer. Please send greetings to the brothers and sisters in South Africa!
I hope you don’t mind but I added one line, “Take our bodies and act through them.” My thought was to spur folks to action.
I’ve found there’s a lot of room for creativity, flexibility, and expansion with this prayer. My own pastor adds the line “take our wills and bend them to Your own”. Me, I tend to paraphrase the whole thing as well as vary it.
At any rate I didn’t write the prayer – it’s been around for a number of decades at least – so by all means use it however you can!
Thank you for the help. Good thoughts. Wonderful help to pray
thanks its Great help
Lord, take my lips, and speak through them; take my mind, and think through it; take my heart, and set it on fire.”
– William H.M.H. Aitken (184-1927)
And I add Take my hands and work through them.
Cool!!! Thank you for posting and sharing!
1841-1927…I left out a number. I was looking for more information on William Aitken when I found this thread.
This is so spectacular love it too.