Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you. — St. Matt. vii. 7.
All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing,
ye shall receive. — St. Matt. xxi. 22.
Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and
the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. —
Ps. cxli. 2.
OUR FATHER. Thou, O Lord, art the true
Father of all that are called children in
heaven and in earth. At the beginning of
my prayer excite in me a childlike reverence
for, and confidence in Thee. Let me realize
that Thou art my Father in Christ, and wilt
much less deny me what I ask of Thee in
true faith, than my earthly parents will re-
fuse me earthly things.
WHICH ART IN HEAVEN. Whom have I in
heaven but Thee? and there is none upon
earth that I desire besides Thee. Though
Thou art the high and lofty One that inhabit-
eth eternity, whose Name is Holy, yet with
him also wilt Thou dwell who is of a contrite
and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the
humble, and to revive the heart of the con-
trite ones. Let me form no earthly concep-
tions of Thy heavenly majesty; but give me
such a sense of Thy greatness and goodness
as will lead me to expect from Thee all
things necessary for soul and body.
HALLOWED BY THY NAME. Grant me first
rightly to know Thee, and to sanctify, glo-
rify, and praise Thee in all Thy works, in
which Thy power, wisdom, goodness, justice,
mercy, and truth, are clearly displayed; and
give me grace also so to order and direct my
whole life, my thoughts, words, and actions,
that Thy name may never be blasphemed,
but rather honored and praised, on my ac-
count. Thus, by earnestly seeking the sanc-
tification of my own heart and life, may I
sanctify Thy holy Name.
THY KINGDOM COME. So rule me by Thy
word and Spirit that I may submit myself
more and more to Thee. Preserve and in-
crease Thy holy Church; destroy all the
works of the devil, and all violence which
would exalt itself against Thee, and also all
wicked counsels devised against Thy holy
word, until the full perfection of Thy king-
dom takes place, wherein Thou shalt be all
in all.
THY WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN
HEAVEN. Grant, O Lord, that I, and all men,
may renounce our own will, and without
murmuring obey Thy will, which is only
good; that so every one may attend to, and
perform the duties of his station and calling
as willingly and faithfully as the angels do
in heaven.
GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. Be
pleased to provide me with all things neces-
sary for the body, that I may thereby
acknowledge Thee to be the Fountain of all
good, and that neither my own industry, nor
even Thy gifts, can profit me without Thy
blessing, that so I may withdraw my trust
from all creatures, and place it alone in Thee.
AND FORGIVE US OUR DEBTS, AS WE FORGIVE
OUR DEBTORS. Be pleased for the sake of
Christ’s blood, not to impute to me, a poor
sinner, my transgressions, nor that depravity
which always cleaves to me; even as I feel
this evidence of Thy grace in me, that it is
my firm resolution from the heart to forgive
my neighbor.
AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT
DELIVER US FROM EVIL. Since I am so weak
in myself, that I cannot stand a moment;
and besides this, since my mortal enemies,
which I have renounced, the devil, the world,
and my own flesh, cease not to assault me;
do Thou, O Lord, preserve and strengthen
me by the power of Thy Holy Spirit, that I
may not be overcome in this spiritual war-
fare; but may constantly and strenuously
resist my foes, until I shall obtain at last a
complete victory.
FOR THINE IS THE KINGDOM, THE POWER,
AND THE GLORY, FOREVER. All this I ask of
Thee, because Thou, being King and Al-
mighty, art willing and able to give me all
good; and all this I pray for, that thereby,
not my own, but Thy holy name, may be
glorified forever.
AMEN. It shall truly and certainly be;
for my prayer is more assuredly heard of
Thee, than I feel in my heart that I desire
these things of Thee. Lord, I believe; help
Thou my unbelief. Amen and amen.