Campbell - Soulful Prayers

Introduction

In 2003, my late father, Rev. Alexander Campbell, published a book of prayers entitled, Pilgrim Prayers for Mealtime. I have selected a number of prayers from that book to create this e-book Soulful Prayers, so that a wider audience may experience the devotional prayers and scripture passages designed by my father to bring one closer to God, regardless of where one may be on lifes journey or spiritual path. It contains prayers that offer comfort to those who are mourning or suffering, encouragement to those feeling hopeless, and words of praise and thanksgiving to those blessed with joy and abundance.

My peace of God be with you now and always.

The Lord is My Light

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I

fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?

PSALM 27:1

LET US PRAY

We give thanks, O Lord, for the inner strength and peace your Spirit brings us. Help us, O God, to take the time to feel you near us. In Jesus name. AMEN.

My Rock and My Salvation

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from [God] comes my salvation. [God] alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall never be shaken.PSALM 62:1-2

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, every good gift comes from you, but none better than the assurance that you are our salvation. And because you are a rock and fortress to us, there is nothing we need fear. So, we may live our lives with an inner serenity and peace. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Our God be Praised

I will bless the Lord at all times; [Gods] praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt [Gods] name together. PSALM 34:1-3

LET US PRAY

O God, the one and only God, we pause in these moments to bow before you. We come into your Presence in awe, in wonder, and in all humility. You, and you alone, are worthy of our praise and adoration. May we feel your Spirit with us now and forever. In Jesus name. AMEN.

The Divine Connection

Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Incline your ear to me; answer me speedily in the day when I call. PSALM 102:1-2

LET US PRAY

Dear God, sometimes we do not feel joyous. Sometimes we feel very low, very depressed, and do not know what to do. Help our spirit connect with your Spirit, so that we may find a way out of our distress, and may feel the joy of your guiding Presence with us. In Jesus name. AMEN.

A God Who Listens

Out of the depths I cry to you. O Lord! Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications! PSALM 130:1-2

LET US LISTEN

O benevolent Creator, we come to you in all the situations of our lives. Help us to understand that we can bring before you whatever fears, hopes, dreams, and problems we may have, knowing that you, O God, will listen. In Jesus name. AMEN.

With Our Whole Heart

I will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. I will be glad and exalt in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High. PSALM 9:1-2

LET US PRAY

May we hear what the Psalmist says, O Lord. May we not be grateful in a halfhearted manner for your goodness to us; but may we, like the Psalmist, give thanks to the Lord with our whole heart! In Jesus name. AMEN.

Confession/Forgiveness

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

PSALM 51:1-2

LET US PRAY

O God, we confess to you that we have spoken words and chosen actions that hurt others, both within our family and outside of it. Forgive us, O God, we pray, and help us to treat others with kindness and compassion. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Comfort and Peace

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. MATTHEW 5:4

LET US PRAY

Our God, may these words of Jesus help us to know and to believe, that your Spirit is with us in our most difficult times. May they strengthen us and comfort us and bring us peace. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Mercy

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

MATTHEW 5:7

LET US PRAY

Thank you, O God, for your infinite love and mercy. Help us to practice that same love and mercy with others, whomever they may be. So may we receive the mercy promised. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Pure in Heart

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

MATTHEW 5:8

LET US PRAY

Forgive us, O God, for those times when our thoughts and actions have been anything but pure. May single-minded devotion to you make it possible for us to be clean and true in all our relationships. In Jesusname. AMEN.

The Light that Shines

You are the light of the world.... No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand.... In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to [God] in heaven.MATTHEW 5:14-16

LET US PRAY

Our God, too often we feel as if we are engulfed in a great darkness as we witness the horrible events that make up our world. Fill us with courage and strength, O God that we may be a light that brings truth, peace, justice, and love to all people. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Love Your Enemy

You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. -MATTHEW 5:43-44

LET US PRAY

Our God, we confess that these words of Jesus have been very difficult for us to follow. We are hurt and want vengeance. But, Lord, help us also to remember how Jesus forgave those who killed him. O God, grant us the ability to forgive even when it seems impossible. In Jesus name. AMEN.

The Golden Rule

In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets.MATTHEW 7:12

LET US PRAY

Our God, how easy it is to say this but so hard to live it. Forgive us for those times when we have not kept this rule by which to live. Help us to ask the question: How would I like others to treat me? When we answer that question, O Lord, then help us to strive to be Golden Rule people, empathic people, with all whom we meet. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Forgiving

Then Peter came and said to him, Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times? Jesus said to him, Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.MATTHEW 18:21-22

LET US PRAY

O God, if I have wronged anyone this day, I hope and pray that he or she will forgive me. I also pray that, if anyone has wronged me, I will forgive that person, remembering the words of Jesus. Thank you God for all your mercies. In Jesus name. AMEN.

The Good Shepherd

I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me, just as [God] knows me and I know [God]. And I lay down my life for the sheep.JOHN 10:14-15

LET US PRAY

O Lord Christ, let us never forget that you have laid down your life for our sake. We would be members of your flock, ever open to your leading as we follow you through the pathways and fields of our lives. And when we stumble, Lord, we know that you are there to pick us up and help us on our journey. In your name we pray. AMEN.

A New Commandment

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.JOHN 13:34-35

LET US PRAY

O God, may we do more than speak love. May we make it the core and cornerstone of the life that we live. Help us, Lord, to be your present-day disciples in love and in truth. In Jesus name. AMEN.