Favorite Prayers: A Collection In Honor Of National Day Of Prayer

Prayer is one of the most interesting ways to understand a person’s inner life. It’s a deeply personal practice, but also a public one. For some, disbelief or despair is the reason for prayer; for others, prayer is rooted in unshakable trust or overflowing gratitude. From a spiritual standpoint, prayer can be about communication, both to and from God and for ourselves.

In honor of National Day Of Prayer, Huff Post Religion reached out to people to ask what their favorite prayers are.

Here are a few of our favorite responses. What's your go-to prayer?

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Comments

[evolvedtg]

11:37 AM on 05/08/2013

I pray to see at least the beginning of the end of religion in my lifetime. Religions are cults.

[tulip40]

10:15 AM on 10/12/2012

God knows our shortcomings and limitations. Of course, when praying we should speak as well as we can. But what we say is far more representative of our thoughts than what we might read. Using someone else’s words written in a prayer book would actually detract from the sincerity and intimacy of our expressions to God.

[lincolnanderson]

08:50 PM on 05/03/2013

No it wouldn't.

[tulip40]

10:15 AM on 10/12/2012

The Bible speaks of God as a Father. (Rom. 1:7) Could you imagine your children having to read someone else’s words to you from a book in order to say “Please,” “Thank you,” “Show me what to do,” or, “I have a problem and need your help”?

[Saprissista]

12:56 AM on 09/14/2012

My favorite prayer is the Psalm of David. Psalm 23..I know I am not alone.

[Dolphin X]

10:59 AM on 08/13/2012

My favorite prayer as an atheist: "Dear God, protect me from your followers!"

[Lindegard]

09:12 AM on 08/13/2012

The Prayer of St. Francis:

Lord, make me an instrument of Thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood, as to understand;
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned,
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.

[Shaas]

08:23 AM on 08/13/2012

त्वमेव माता च पिता त्वमेव | त्वमेव बंधुश्च सखा त्वमेव |
त्वमेव विद्या द्रविणं त्वमेव | त्वमेव सर्वं मम देव देव ||
You are the mother, your are the father,
you are the family relations, you are all the friends,
you are knowledge, you are matter,
you are everything, my Lord, my Lord.

From Vedic Literature of India

[Jolene Miller]

08:06 AM on 08/13/2012

Lord it is night.
The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.
It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done.
Let it be.
The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world
and of our own lives rest in you.
The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.
The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys, new possibilities.
In your name we pray. Amen
(From the New Zealand Prayer Book)

[Piobair]

08:03 AM on 08/13/2012

May I become at all times, both now and forever
A protector for those without protection
A guide for those who have lost their way
A ship for those with oceans to cross
A bridge for those with rivers to cross
A sanctuary for those in danger
A lamp for those without light
A place of refuge for those who lack shelter
And a servant to all in need.

[Asmodean1]

12:11 PM on 07/26/2012

The litany against fear.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

[LaFemmeSASE]

09:46 AM on 07/09/2012

When I saw the headline, the first prayer to come into my mind was gentle Jesus, then I thought it was too childish and maybe my favourite prayer should be a more grown one like Psalm 91, however, when I kneel to prayer, I just love to say-
Gentle Jesus, meek and mild
look upon this little child
pity my simplicity
and suffer me to come to thee.

I just love it. Though when I was younger, I couldnt pronounce "simplicity" and would say "simple city."

[lincolnanderson]

08:44 PM on 05/03/2013

I just love it too!

[davesny302]

10:24 AM on 06/21/2012

Jesus, save!

[James Clovispoint]

11:30 AM on 06/08/2012

Too many people confuse inspirational meditation and introspection that has proven influence on one’s health, with actual prayer in the sense of actually communicating with a god.

[James Clovispoint]

11:25 AM on 06/08/2012

Thought I would add a poem myself, though not as delicate and renowned as some previous ones on this thread.

Religion proclaims to know god.
Can it really communicate?
“Know communication, know god”;
Religion proclaims to know god.
“No communication, no god”,
Premise atheists postulate.
Religion proclaims to know god;
Can it really communicate?

If Bible, Man did not arrange
Words of god, so religion claims
Then why are texts often so strange
If Bible, Man did not arrange?
If there’s no proof of some exchange
Its dogmas all go up in flames
If Bible Man did not arrange
Words of god so religion claims

When miracles religion seeks
It only gets profiles of Christ
Or Mary in some window streaks
When miracles religion seeks
No answers for fasting for weeks
Not an appearing poltergeist
When miracles religion seeks
It only gets profiles of Christ

There is to date no talking cloud
No angels and no red phone line
No bush or tree that speaks aloud
There is to date no talking cloud
No god has spoken to the crowd
No switchboard is there on cloud nine
There is to date no talking cloud
No angels and no red phone line

If religion cannot exchange
With god, information at all,
Then Man, the Bible did arrange.
If religion cannot exchange
Its proclamations it must change
Or religion’s dogmas will fall
If religion cannot exchange
With god information at all

[James Clovispoint]

11:15 AM on 06/08/2012

Before one racks one’s brains out for a good if not the best prayer, there is a little detail that needs clearing up. Does anyone, (has anyone), communicate with god (any god)?
If the answer is “I don’t know”, then guess what, you are an agnostic.
If the answer is yes, then “pray” tell what evidence you have of this. If you have evidence of communication with god, then and only then can you begin to rack your brain out for the perfect prayer?
As for scriptures, they are not evidence of communication with a god; they have never been corroborated, authenticated and are of no intrinsic value to validate prayer. Besides these same scriptures say that god has a pre-established plan for everyone. The number of prayers has no relevance either: Thousands of people praying to save Teri Schiavo's life, though god has other plans, is a sad but perfect illustration; ch-t happens and praying is of no avail.

Scriptures like the Bible, appear more like the story of a succession of failures to communicate. Failure of god to speak to Man clearly; failure of the Jews to recognize the Messiah; failure of Jesus to convince his fellow Jews (and the world at large) of his deity; failure of the Jews to communicate with god through prayer, especially at critical times.
Sorry if I’m a little brutal here for lack of space.