For Illumination

O Lord, heavenly Father, in whom is the fullness of light and wisdom,

enlighten our minds by your Holy Spirit,

and give us grace to receive your Word with reverence and humility,

without which no one can understand your truth. 

For Christ’s sake, Amen.

–John Calvin

 

O Lord, you have given us your Word

for a light to shine upon our path.

Grant us so to meditate on that Word,

and to follow its teaching

that we may find in it the light

that shines more and more

until the perfect day.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

-Jerome

 

Blessed Lord, you have caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning-grant us that we may in such a way hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them; that by patience and comfort of your holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our savior Jesus Christ. Amen

-Book of Common Prayer

 

Holy and gracious God, may your Holy Spirit give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that, with the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we may know the hope to which Christ has called us, the riches of his glorious inheritance among us, and the greatness of his power for those who believe. Amen.

 

God of mercy, you promised never to break your covenant with us. In the midst of the multitude of words in our daily lives, speak your eternal Word to us, that we may respond to your gracious promises with faithfulness, service and love. Amen

 

O, make your Word a swift Word, passing from the ear to the heart, from the heart to the lip and conversation; that, as the rain returns not empty, so neither may your Word, but accomplish that for which it is given. Amen.
– George Herbert

 

Almighty, gracious Father, since our whole salvation depends on our true understanding of your holy Word, grant that our hearts–freed from worldly affairs- may hear and understand your holy Word with all diligence and faith, so that we may rightly discern your gracious will, cherish it, and live by it with all earnestness, to your praise and honor; through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen. 

–Martin Bucer

For Intercession

Lord God, of might inconceivable,
of glory incomprehensible,
of mercy immeasurable,
of goodness ineffable;
O Master, look down upon us in your tender love,
and show forth, toward us and those who pray with us, your rich mercies and compassions. Amen.
– John Chrysostom

 

Let your mighty hand and outstretched arm, O Lord, still be our defense;
your mercy and loving kindness in Jesus Christ your dear Son, our salvation;
your true and holy Word, our instruction;
your grace and Holy Spirit, our comfort and consolation unto the end, and in the end. Amen.

– John Bradford

 

Almighty God, heavenly Father, we ask you to work in us by your Holy Spirit, so that we
may rightly know you, and sanctify, glorify, and praise you in all your works, in which
shine forth your omnipotence, wisdom, goodness, righteousness, mercy, and truth.
Grant us also that we may so direct our whole life–thoughts, words, and deeds–that
your name is not blasphemed because of us, but honored and praised. Amen.
– Zacharias Ursinus

For Confession

O Lord, in whose hands are life and death, by whose power lam sustained, and by whose mercy I am spared-look down upon me with pity. Forgive me that I have until now so much neglected the duty which you have assigned to me, and suffered the days and hours of which I must give account to pass away without any endeavor to accomplish your will. Make me to remember, O God, that every day is your gift, and ought to be used according to your command. Grant me, therefore, so to repent of my negligence, that I may obtain mercy from you, and pass the time which you shall yet allow me in diligent performance of your commands, through Jesus Christ. Amen.

-Samuel Johnson

 

O Lord, you have mercy upon all–take away from me my sins, and mercifully kindle in me the fire of your Holy Spirit. Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh, a heart to love and adore you, a heart to delight in you, to follow and to enjoy you, for Christ’s sake. Amen.

-Ambrose

 

Almighty, everlasting God and Father, we acknowledge and confess that we indeed were conceived and born in sin and, therefore, inclined to all evil and slow to all good; that we unceasingly transgress your holy commandments, and corrupt ourselves more and more. But we are sorry for this anddesire your grace and help. Therefore, have mercy upon us, most gracious and merciful God and Father, through your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Grant to us and increase in us your Holy Spirit, so that we may recognize our sin and unrighteousness from the depth of our heart, feel true contrition and grief for them, die to them completely, and please you wholly in a new, godly life. Amen.

-Martin Bucer

 

O Lord, let not your law be a cursing to our consciences, but rather give us grace under this extreme and heavy burden of sin, to be fully persuaded, that you by your death have taken away all our sins, and fulfilled the law for us, and by this means have delivered us from the curse of the law and paid our ransom; and then we, being thus fully persuaded, may have quiet and settled hearts, and a free conscience, and glad desiring wills to forsake this wicked world. Amen.
-Henry Smith