Prayer is a powerful tool that helps you concentrate on what is most important and get out of the tenacious clutches of despair and fear. That is why it does not hurt to get acquainted with the most powerful and significant of them, not forgetting to thank the Lord even when everything is fine.
"Our Father"
One of the oldest prayer texts is the “Our Father.” The main Christian prayer, given by Jesus Christ to his disciples, is considered universal. It helps with many problems.
According to this prayer text, a true Christian:
- believes in eternal life in Heaven;
- ready to submit to God's will;
- turns to the Lord with a request to grant everything necessary for life;
- assures the Almighty that he forgives those guilty before him and asks God for forgiveness of his sins.
Any Orthodox believer needs to know these sacred words by heart and read the prayer daily.
Text of the main prayer of Christians:
“Our Father, who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, as it is on earth, so it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; for Thine is the Kingdom and the Power and the Glory forever and ever. Amen".
strong short prayers
These verses are just a small part of what is written in the Bible, because it contains about 500 verses about prayer. If you are not familiar with the Bible, reading the Key Verses collected here will help you quickly and easily find God's advice on prayer.
1-Why God doesn't answer prayer. 2-How to pray correctly. 3-Some advice from the Bible.
Why God doesn't answer prayer
Whoever turns away his ear from hearing the law, his prayer is an abomination. (Prov. 28:9) For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and His ears are open to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil (to destroy them from the earth). (1 Peter 3:12) You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, but to use it for your lusts. (James 4:2,3) Why do you call Me: Lord! God! - and do not do what I say? (Luke 6:46) Without faith it is impossible to please God; for he who comes to God must believe that He exists and is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Heb. 11:6).
How to Pray correctly.
And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stop and pray in the synagogues and on street corners in order to appear before people. Truly I tell you that they are already receiving their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room and, having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not say too much, like the pagans, for they think that in their many words they will be heard; Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him. (Matt. 6:5-16) Pray like this: Our Father who art in heaven! Hallowed be Thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. For if you forgive people their sins, then your Heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive people their sins, then your Father will not forgive you your sins. Also, when you fast, do not be sad like the hypocrites, for they put on gloomy faces in order to appear to people as fasting. Truly I tell you that they are already receiving their reward. (Matt. 6:5-16) Remember the Story about Job, when he was asked to turn to one of the saints, but Job replied: “But I would turn to God,” only God, who can give salvation and answer prayer. And praying to the saints is not the teaching of God, but of people. None of the biblical heroes prayed to the saints because... they were all simple people. Call if there is someone who answers you. And which of the saints will you turn to? (Job.5:1) But I would turn to God, I would commend my work to God, who does great and unsearchable things, wonderful without number. In six troubles he will save you, and in the seventh evil will not touch you (Job 5:8-27) Truly I also say to you that if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, then whatever they ask will be done for them. My Heavenly Father, for where two or three are gathered in My name, there I am in the midst of them. (Matt. 18:19,20) Therefore I say to you: whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and it will be done for you. (Mark 11:24) But let him ask in faith, without doubting in the least, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, tossed and tossed by the wind. Let such a person not think of receiving anything from the Lord. (James 1:6,7)
Ponder your prayer.
Do not be hasty with your tongue, and let not your heart be in a hurry to utter a word before God; because God is in heaven and you are on earth; therefore let your words be few. (Eccl. 5:1) Forgive your neighbor's offense, and then through your prayer your sins will be forgiven. And this is the boldness we have towards Him, that when we ask anything according to His will, He listens to us. And when we know that He listens to us in everything we ask, we also know that we receive what we ask from Him. (1 John 5:14,15) And if you ask the Father anything in My name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he will give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; and you know Him, for He abides with you and will be in you. (John 14:13-17) And when you stand in prayer, forgive if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. If you do not forgive, then your Heavenly Father will not forgive you your sins. (Mark 11:25-26) Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you; For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (Matt. 7:7,8) Jesus answered and said to them, “Truly I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was [done] to the fig tree, but if you also say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and cast down.” in the sea - it will be; and whatever you ask in prayer with faith, you will receive. (Matt. 21:21,22) And if you ask the Father anything in My name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. (John 14:13) Therefore I say to you, whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you receive it, and it will be done for you. (Mark 11:24) Therefore I desire that men in every place say their prayers, lifting up clean hands without anger or doubt; (1 Timothy 2:8)
Some advice from the Bible
: You wish and you do not have;
you kill and envy - and cannot achieve; you bicker and fight, and you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask not for good, but to use it for your lusts. (James 4:2,3) He also told them a parable about how we should always pray and not lose heart, (Luke 18:1) Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weaknesses; for we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings that cannot be expressed. He who searches the hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because He intercedes for the saints according to the [will] of God. (Rom.8:26,27) Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matt. 26:41) Confess your faults to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed: the earnest prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16) If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin that does not lead to death, let him pray, and [God] will give him life, [that is] the one sinning [a sin] that does not lead to death. There is a sin leading to death: I’m not talking about praying. (1 John 5:16) Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 Thess. 5:16-18) Therefore, first of all, I ask that you make prayers, petitions, intercessions, and thanksgivings for all people, for kings and for all those in authority, so that we may lead a quiet and serene life in all godliness and purity, for this is good and acceptable Our Savior God, who wants all people to be saved and to achieve the knowledge of the truth. (1 Tim. 2:1-4) 90 Psalm
1 He who dwells under the shelter of the Most High, in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 says to the Lord: “My refuge and my defense, my God, in whom I trust!” 3 He will deliver you from the snare of the fowler, from the destructive plague, 4 He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will be safe; shield and fence are His truth. 5 You will not fear the terror of the night, the arrow that flies by day, 6 the plague that stalks in the darkness, the plague that destroys at midday. 7 A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you: 8 only you will look with your eyes and see the retribution of the wicked. 9 For you [said], “The Lord is my hope”; You have chosen the Most High as your refuge; 10 No evil will befall you, and no plague will come near your dwelling; 11 For he will command his angels concerning you, to guard you in all your ways: 12 in their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone; 13 You will tread on the asp and basilisk; You will trample on the lion and the dragon. 14 “Because he loved Me, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he has known My name. 15 He will call to Me, and I will hear him; I am with him in sorrow; I will deliver him and glorify him, 16 I will satisfy him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.” (Ps.90:1-16) Amen Prepared by the site: bible-facts.org
"Psalm 90"
This sacred text, written by David, has a second title - “Alive in Help.” The essence of “Psalm 91” is that the Lord gives strength to a sincere believer to overcome any difficulties.
When reading sacred lines, a person’s soul is purified and united with God. Psalm 90 helps:
- recover from serious illnesses;
- get rid of sinful thoughts;
- overcome any adversity;
- gain peace of mind;
- protect yourself from enemy intrigues.
Prayer words are read three times every day. Before praying, you need to properly tune in to focus on every word. Since the text is quite complex, it is not always possible to quickly learn it by heart. Therefore, at first the psalm can be read from a sheet of paper.
“Live in Help” sounds like this:
“He who lives in the help of the Most High will dwell in the shelter of the Heavenly God. Says the Lord: Thou art my intercessor and my refuge, my God, and I trust in Him. For He will deliver you from the snare of the trap, and from rebellious words, His splash will overshadow you, and under His wing you hope: His truth will surround you with weapons. Do not be afraid from the fear of the night, from the arrow that flies during the day, from the thing passing in the darkness, from the cloak, and from the demon at midday. Thousands will fall from your country, and darkness will be at your right hand, but it will not come close to you: behold your eyes, and you will see the reward of sinners. For You, O Lord, are my hope, You have made the Most High your refuge. Evil will not come to you, and wound will not approach your body: as His Angel commanded you, keep you in all your ways. They will lift you up in their arms, and one day you will dash your foot against a stone: you will step on an asp and a basilisk, and you will cross a lion and a serpent. For I have trusted in Me, and I will deliver, and I will cover, and because I have known My name. He will call to Me, and I will hear him: I am with him in sorrow, I will destroy him, and I will glorify him, I will fill him with long days, and I will show him My salvation.”
Does a short prayer have power?
Short prayers are very powerful. But it is very important only to instill in them sincere confidence that the call to prayer will be effective. Today, the modern rhythm of life leads to the fact that Orthodox Christians often complain of absent-mindedness and inattention. This prevents you from really concentrating on a long traditional prayer. And in this case, even if a person has sincere faith in his soul and he leads a righteous life, prayer will be useless. According to the clergy, the call to prayer is pronounced automatically, like a body without a soul. This is exactly what will not be heard and there will be no answer later.
The power of a short prayer can be illustrated using the example of a famous church parable. It is believed that Christ himself told his listeners. One day, two people entered the temple at the same time: a Pharisee and a tax collector.
The Pharisee knelt theatrically in the middle of the church hall and said:
“I thank You, Lord, that I do not have as many sins as the tax collector who entered the holy temple with me. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of my property to the poor.”
And the tax collector, who by virtue of his profession had to collect taxes, realizing that he was a sinner, did not dare to leave the threshold of the temple.
He stood there, beat his chest and said:
“Merciful Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner.”
After such a story, Christ concluded that the prayer of the tax collector was much closer to God than the pretentious appeal to the prayer of the Pharisee. Therefore, the short prayer of the tax collector was heard, spoken from the bottom of his heart. Such a short prayer was a sincere appeal to God's mercy, based on the understanding that without God's mercy there is no hope for the salvation of your soul.
The power of short prayers is that they do not require much effort. A believer can read them at any time as many times as he likes. This means that he will constantly ask God for mercy, emphasizing his sincere faith.
It should be understood that prayer can be very short and still not lose its power. It is important to understand that the Lord does not need words, because he already sees the soul of a person, so he can recognize any lie. In prayer, words are always secondary. The feelings of the believer are of paramount importance. When there is no concentration during prayer, it is much worse than a few misspelled words during prayer. If the words of a prayer do not come from the depths of the heart, then the prayer will not be heard by God.
"Symbol of faith"
The main tenets of Orthodoxy are briefly outlined in the text of one of the main prayers - the “Creed”. The main difference between this prayer and others is the absence of a direct appeal to the Lord, the Mother of God or the saints. By reading this sacred text, a believer confirms his faith in one God the Father and his Son - Jesus Christ.
The “Creed” is read by the godparents during the baptism of the baby. Therefore, before the sacrament of Baptism, future godparents must learn the prayer text by heart.
Sacred words of the Creed:
“I believe in one God, the Father, Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, of everything visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Only Begotten, begotten of the Father before all ages: Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not created, one being with the Father, by Him all things were created. For the sake of us people and for the sake of our salvation, he came down from heaven and took flesh from the Holy Spirit and the Virgin Mary, and became a man. He was crucified for us under Pontius Pilate, and suffered, and was buried. And rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures. And ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father. And He will come again with glory to judge the living and the dead; His Kingdom will have no end. And in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life, who proceeds from the Father, worshiped and glorified with the Father and the Son, who spoke through the prophets. Into one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. I recognize one baptism for the forgiveness of sins. I look forward to the resurrection of the dead. And the life of the next century. Amen".
Most Commonly Used Prayers to God
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Every believer is convinced of the power of the sacred texts in which he asks for intercession.
But it is important not only to know the main ones, you should also correctly exalt them and be reverent about the highest religious symbols.
It is required to read prayers for a specific reason, since the Orthodox Church provides its parishioners with a very large number of opportunities to turn to the Lord for a variety of reasons. It is necessary to ask Him, filling the soul with faith and the mind with enlightenment.
The main sacred texts that you need to know by heart, always keeping in mind, are:
- Our Father;
- Rejoice, Virgin Mary!
- Prayer of thanksgiving;
- Invoking the help of the Holy Spirit for every good work;
- Holy Great Martyr and Healer Panteleimon;
- Holy Mother of God;
- Life-giving cross.
You should also remember the prayers Creed, May God rise, Alive in help, as well as many other appeals to the Lord or heavenly patrons. They help strengthen your faith, gain true Christian patience, and find protection from any evil influence.
Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
During the reading of morning prayers, they turn not only to the Lord God, but also to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
It is customary to address the Most Holy Theotokos with a prayer glorifying the Queen of Heaven and her Son. The clergy recommend reading these prayer words several times throughout the day, so they must be memorized.
A hymn of praise to the Mother of God is read:
- in gratitude for the help;
- going on the road;
- starting a meal;
- during times of sorrow and sorrow.
Brief prayer text “Rejoice, Mother of God”:
“Virgin Mother of God, rejoice, blessed Mary, the Lord is with you; Blessed are You among women, and blessed is the Fruit of Your womb, for You have given birth to the Savior of our souls.”
"Jesus Prayer"
Appeals to Jesus Christ are constantly heard from the lips of believers. It is enough to say a few short words, and peace of mind is restored, melancholy goes away, pain is relieved. The second part of the prayer is especially important, where a person admits himself to be a sinner. The “Jesus Prayer” is said before people are going to pray or ask something from the Lord.
This short sacred phrase of just a few words is very powerful. It sounds like this:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother, our reverend and God-bearing fathers and all the saints, have mercy and save us, as you are Good and Lover of Mankind. Amen".
Daily short prayers for an Orthodox Christian
An Orthodox Christian should use short prayers every day. They should start and end the day with them.
Short morning prayers
Waking up every morning, you need to turn your inner gaze to the Lord God and imagine yourself standing before him.
After this, you need to say a short prayer, which is considered the initial one:
"In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen."
This short prayer has deep meaning. By saying “in the name,” the believer praises the Lord.
The whole phrase is nothing more than God’s address to the Apostles when he told them:
“Go and bring all nations to the faith, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”
The word “amen” signifies the end of a prayer address, but it is also used to reinforce what is being said. By starting the day with such a short prayer, the believer informs the Lord that he will live it according to the laws of God.
After some time, another short prayer is said, which sounds like this:
“O merciful God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
With this prayer, which according to legend was said by a publican who repented of his sins, a believer asks for forgiveness for his known and unknown sins that he may commit in the coming day.
A believer should ask the Lord for God’s mercy by saying the following short prayer:
“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, prayers for the sake of Your Most Pure Mother and all the Saints, have mercy on us. Amen".
And finally, a short prayer in which the Lord is glorified. It sounds like this
:
“Glory to Thee, our God, glory to Thee.”
This is the basic set of obligatory short morning prayers. But after them, you can use other short appeals to God, if the desire arises and there is time for this.
Short evening prayers
In the evening hour you need to devote more time to prayers. Before going to bed, a believer should also read all the short prayers given above. And after them, another part is read, consisting of short prayers.
First, the Trisagion prayer is read three times, which sounds as follows:
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us.”
This prayer is said by Angels in heaven, surrounding the throne of God.
Next, a short glorification of the Lord Almighty is spoken:
“Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
This is followed by a petitionary prayer, to which the believer addresses the Holy Trinity in general and each character individually: he asks God the Father for the remission of sins, he asks God the Son to forgive iniquities, and he asks God the Holy Spirit for healing from infirmity.
The text of the short prayer is as follows:
“Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us. Lord, cleanse us from our sins. Lord, forgive our iniquities. Holy One, visit us and heal our illnesses, to glorify Your name.”
After this, the oldest short prayer common to all Christians is said three times:
"Lord have mercy".
It must be recited throughout the day every time one remembers one’s own sins. In order to receive the blessings of the Lord, it must be recited 20 times, and to sanctify the whole life, the believer must recite it 40 times in the temple.
"Trisagion"
Any Christian who has attended a church service at least once has heard the text of the Trisagion Prayer. This is a powerful amulet that protects a person from various troubles.
It is customary to read it daily, along with other prayers. With these prayer words, believers turn to the Most Holy Trinity, therefore the prayer is considered miraculous. It is advisable to read it in front of the icon of the Holy Trinity, having first thrown out of your head all thoughts about worldly concerns. After pronouncing each verse, you should make the sign of the cross and bow.
The prayer is short and not difficult to remember:
“Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy on us. (Read three times, with the sign of the cross and a bow from the waist). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
Protective prayers
Protective prayers are no less important. The most effective of them are:
- Appeal to Nicholas the Wonderworker for protection from troubles, misfortunes, for success in business;
- Prayer to Spyridon of Trimifuntsky for protection and help from a miserable existence;
- Protective Prayer to the Honest Cross;
- Prayer to Saint Cyprian;
- Appeal to Archangel Michael;
- Protective Prayer Heavenly Shield of Light;
- Psalm 90.
Prayers must be said daily. Before turning to the Lord or the saints, you should repent and ask for forgiveness for your sins.
They become especially effective if you speak their words immediately after waking up or when preparing for a new undertaking, a long journey, or in the event of impending danger.
An Orthodox Christian, pronouncing such texts, understands that he is under God's protection, therefore the Hand of the Lord will not allow him to stumble on a stone.
- Prayer to the Guardian Angel for all occasions;
- See here prayers for help in a hopeless situation to God;
- Prayers for good luck and a successful outcome: .
Holy spirit
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Holy Trinity. He was sent by the Lord to do His will. The Holy Spirit is the Divine who lives inside every Christian and helps to overcome the devil's temptation. The Holy Spirit contributed to the emergence of the Universe and the writing of the Bible. Thanks to the Divine, people were able to comprehend the essence of Christianity.
Prayerful words addressed to the Holy Spirit help:
- heal from various diseases;
- cope with difficulties;
- strengthen faith;
- cleanse yourself from sin.
God's Spirit is invoked before the main prayers to prepare oneself spiritually.
Text of the message to the Holy Spirit:
“Heavenly King, Comforter, Soul of truth, You are everywhere and fulfill everything, Treasure of good things and Giver of life, come and dwell in us, and cleanse us from all filth, and save, O Good One, our souls.”
Holy Trinity
One of the most powerful prayers is an appeal to the Holy Trinity. It first sounds like an appeal to all three Hypostases simultaneously, and then to each Divine Face separately. The Holy Trinity helps guide a person on the true path and cleanse him from sins. She helps those praying during life’s difficulties, instilling hope in overcoming difficult trials. People approach the Holy Trinity by kneeling before an image or iconostasis.
Words of the prayer text:
“Most Holy Trinity, have mercy on us; Lord, cleanse our sins; Master, forgive our iniquities; Holy One, visit and heal our infirmities, for Thy name's sake. Lord have mercy. (Three times). Glory to the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen".
Features of short prayers
Any request made regularly from a pure heart filled with goodness and love will be heard by the Lord and will certainly help a person concentrate on the essence of the problem and bring feelings into balance. Modern life and its rhythm dictate its own conditions; it is not always possible to retire and read one of the long prayers known to every Christian believer.
Short prayers can be used in the morning and evening; they come to the rescue in those difficult moments when a person is upset and cannot concentrate, and verbosity is inappropriate. Short prayers have the same powerful energy and power as more meaningful ones, since the Lord hears the appeal of a sincere believer, and no matter how many words and sentences it consists of. The main thing is to try to live, following the commandments from the Bible as much as possible, to have faith in God. Otherwise, even long prayers read daily in church will be useless. Priests say that an address pronounced automatically and thoughtlessly is like a body without a soul.
There is a parable once told by Jesus himself. Once upon a time, a Pharisee and a publican entered the church. The first turned to the Almighty, theatrically dropping to his knees and speaking arrogantly and proudly. He said that he was not particularly sinful compared to the publican, since he fasted twice a week and gave a tenth of his property to the poor. The tax collector considered himself a sinner and did not dare enter the temple. Beating his chest with his fist, in simple and accessible words, he asked the All-Merciful Lord to be lenient towards him, a sinner. God decided that the publican's brief address was more sincere than the Pharisee's elaborate prayer.
The Lord sees the soul, so the main thing is what a person feels, not what he says. Short prayers help to become more successful; they are used in any danger, to attract children to faith in the Lord, and in many other cases.
There are such morning prayers as an appeal to God with the words “In the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Amen,” in which the believer praises the creator. In another text, a man asks God to be merciful to him, a sinner, similar to the prayer of the publican in the parable. In another, a Christian asks Jesus Christ - the Son of God - to have mercy on him and all people. A well-known prayer is one praising the Creator, with the words “Glory to Thee, God, glory to Thee,” containing in just one line sincere gratitude to the Heavenly Father for all that is good.
One of the evening prayers is the Trisagion, which is read 3 times. In it, God is called Holy, Mighty and Immortal, and the believer prays for mercy. There is also a petitionary appeal to the Lord for cleansing from sins and deliverance from illnesses. Before going to bed, it is customary to say three times and a short address, “Lord have mercy.” To receive God's blessing, it is advised to say prayer up to 20 times a day, and to have a calm and happy life - up to 40 times in church.
Strong short prayers are appeals to the Holy Spirit dedicated to the holiday of Pentecost; to the Most Holy Theotokos, read anywhere and at any time; Archangel Michael. The believer must remember that if the words of prayers are pronounced in unbelief and doubt, they will lose their meaning and power, and he will not receive help from God and higher powers.
Guardian Angel
Each person, having accepted the sacrament of Baptism, receives a guardian angel who protects him until death. The Guardian Angel is asked:
- protect from troubles and enemies;
- intercede before the Lord for forgiveness of sins;
- help you make the right decision;
- improve your health.
When turning to the invisible Divine being, it is advisable to retire, completely concentrating on prayer words that sound like this:
“Angel of Christ, my holy guardian and patron of my soul and body, forgive me everything if I have sinned on this day, and deliver me from all the wickedness of the enemy who opposes me, so that I may not anger my God in any sin; but pray for me, a sinful and unworthy servant, that you may show me worthy of the goodness and mercy of the All-Holy Trinity and the Mother of my Lord Jesus Christ and all the saints. Amen".
Prayers of the Optina Elders
It is equally important to clearly understand the meaning of the prayer of the Optina elders. It makes it possible to find a way out of difficult life problems, protects against accidents, and allows you to solve an unexpected difficult problem.
An Orthodox Christian must know it by heart so that, if necessary, he can immediately pronounce it:
Lord, let me meet with peace of mind everything that the coming day will bring me.
Let me completely surrender to Your holy will.
For every hour of this day, instruct and support me in everything.
Whatever news I receive during the day, teach me to accept it with a calm soul and a firm conviction that everything is Your holy will.
In all my words and deeds, guide my thoughts and feelings.
In all unforeseen cases, do not let me forget that everything was sent down by You.
Teach me to act directly and wisely with each member of my family, without confusing or upsetting anyone.
God! give me strength to endure the fatigue of the coming day and all the events during the day.
Guide my will and teach me to pray, believe, hope, endure, forgive and love.
Amen.
"Psalm 50"
Every person is a sinner, but salvation and healing of the soul is impossible without repentance. For such cases, there is “Psalm 50,” written by King David.
The prayer of repentance reads:
- when the soul is heavy because of a sin committed;
- before taking communion;
- to ask the Lord for mercy.
The sacred text is read twice a day: morning and evening. At church services, the prayer text is read in Church Slavonic. But at home the song of praise can be sung in Russian.
Old Slavonic version of the prayer:
“Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, cleanse my iniquity. Above all, wash me from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; For I know my iniquity, and I will take away my sin before me. You alone have I sinned and done evil before You; for you may be justified in Your words, and you will always triumph over Your judgment. Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sins. Behold, you have loved the truth; You have shown me Your unknown and secret wisdom. Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. There is joy and gladness in my ears; the bones of the humble will rejoice. Turn away Your face from my sins and cleanse all my iniquities. Create a pure heart in me, O God, and renew a right spirit in my womb. Do not turn me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit away from me. Give me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Lord’s Spirit. I will teach the wicked your way, and wickedness will turn to you. Deliver me from bloodshed, O God, God of my salvation; my tongue will rejoice in Your righteousness. Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise. As if you had desired sacrifices, you would have given them: you do not favor burnt offerings. The sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; God will not despise a contrite and humble heart. Bless Zion, O Lord, with Your favor, and may the walls of Jerusalem be built. Then take pleasure in the sacrifice of righteousness, the offering and the burnt offering; Then they will place the bullock on Your altar.”
Text of “Psalm 50” in Russian:
“Have mercy on me. God, according to Your great mercy, and according to the multitude of Your compassions, blot out my iniquities.
Wash me often from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin, for I am aware of my iniquities, and my sin is always before me.
You, You alone, have I sinned and done evil in Your sight, so that You are righteous in Your judgment and pure in Your judgment.
Behold, I was conceived in iniquity, and my mother gave birth to me in sin.
Behold, You have loved the truth in your heart and have shown me (Your) wisdom within me.
Sprinkle me with hyssop, and I will be clean; Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness, and the bones will rejoice. Broken by you.
Turn Your face away from my sins and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.
Do not cast me away from Your presence and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and strengthen me with the Sovereign Spirit.
I will teach the wicked Your ways, and the wicked will turn to You.
Deliver me from bloodshed. O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue will praise Your righteousness.
Lord, open my mouth, and my mouth will declare Your praise:
for You do not desire sacrifice, I would give it; You do not favor burnt offerings.
A sacrifice to God is a broken spirit; You will not despise a contrite and humble heart, O God.
Bless Zion, O Lord, according to Your good pleasure; build up the walls of Jerusalem:
then the sacrifices of righteousness, the wave offerings, and the burnt offerings will be acceptable to You; Then they will place bullocks on Your altar.”
Thank you note
Many people are accustomed to turning to the Lord only when they find themselves in a difficult situation. And very often they forget to thank the Almighty, or they thank only after receiving help.
But a prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus Christ should be offered daily. After all, the Lord is constantly nearby, giving life, natural treasures, family, health, children, friends, and relatives.
You need to thank God for everything that a person has at the moment. Having learned to appreciate every little thing, a person begins to understand that everything that happens in the world is subject to the Will of the Almighty.
Text of the thanksgiving prayer:
“We thank Thee, Lord our God, for all Thy good deeds, even from the first age to the present, in us, Thy unworthy servants (names), who were, known and unknown, about those revealed and unmanifested, even those who were in deed and in word: who loved us Just as you deigned to give Your Only Begotten Son for us, make us worthy of Your love. Grant with Your word wisdom and with Your fear inhale strength from Your power, and whether we have sinned, whether willingly or unwillingly, forgive and not impute, and keep our soul holy, and present it to Thy Throne, having a clear conscience, and the end is worthy of Thy love for mankind; and remember, O Lord, all who call upon Thy name in truth, remember all who desire good or evil against us: for all are men, and every man is in vain; We also pray to You, Lord, grant us Your great mercy.”
