Daily Prayer/Meditation

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for God's Guidance

Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you
in the way you will
and not as I choose.
Let me die to myself so that I may serve you;
let me live to you who are life itself.
Amen.

- St. Teresa of Avila

Christian

 

[Green Gaia]

Cat Owner's Prayer


Because I'm only human,
It's sometimes hard to be
The wise, all-knowing creature
That my cat expects of me.

And so I pray for special help
To somehow understand
The subtle implications
Of each proud meowed command.

Oh, let me not forget that chairs
Were put on earth to shred;
And what I like to call a lap
Is actually a bed.

I know it's really lots to ask
But please, oh please, take pity;
And though I'm only human,
Make me worthy of my kitty!


- Author Unknown

Appropriate for many faiths

 

[Green Gaia]

Blessing Over Bread

Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, King of the universe who brings forth bread from the earth.

Baruch atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam hamotzi lechem min ha-aretz.

Jewish

 

[Green Gaia]

Salutation to the Dawn


Look to this day!
For it is life, the very life of life.
In its brief course
Lie all the verities and realities of your existence:
The bliss of growth;
The glory of action;
The splendor of achievement;
For yesterday is but a dream,
And tomorrow is only a vision;
But today, well lived, makes every yesterday
a dream of happiness,
And every tomorrow a vision of hope.


- Attributed to Kalidasa

Hindu, appropriate for many faiths

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for Freedom From Suffering


May all beings everywhere plagued
with sufferings of body and mind
quickly be freed from their illnesses.
May those frightened cease to be afraid,
and may those bound be free.
May the powerless find power,
and may people think of befriending
one another.
May those who find themselves in trackless,
fearful wilderness--
the children, the aged, the unprotected--
be guarded by beneficent celestials,
and may they swiftly attain Buddhahood.


- The Buddha

Buddhist

 

[Green Gaia]

For Calm and Comfort


With your soothing fingers,
wipe away the lines that worries have etched on our faces.
Surround us with calm,
let us rest in the glow of peace,
as if we were encircled with the Moon’s own light.
Let our concerns and tensions drain away from us,
pouring as water into your Earth.


- Ceisiwr Serith

Pagan

 

[Green Gaia]

Modeh Ani -- A Morning Prayer

I am thankful before You,
Living and Sustaining Ruler,
Who returned my soul to me with mercy.
Your faithfulness is great.

Modeh ani l'fanecha melech chai v'kayam sh'hechezarta bi nishmati b'chemla rabah emunatecha.

Jewish

 

[Green Gaia]

Breton Fisherman’s Prayer


Dear God, be good to me;
The sea is so wide,
And my boat is so small.

 

[Green Gaia]

For Those Who Serve Others


O Lord our heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless, we beseech thee, all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, the same thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.



Christian
source: Book of Common Prayer 1979

 

[Green Gaia]

My Day Is Ending


Lord,
You have been with me all through this day,
stay with me now.
As the shadows lengthen into darkness
let the noisy world grow quiet,
let its feverish concerns be stilled,
its voices silenced.
In the final moments of this day
remind me of what is Real.

But let me not forget
that you were as present in
the stresses of the day just past
as you are now
in the silence of this night.

You have made me for
day and for night,
for work and for rest,
for both heaven and earth.

Here in this night
let me embrace and not regret
the mysterious beauty of my humanity.
Keep me in the embrace of your Reality through the night,
and the day to come.
Surround me with your silence
and give me the rest that only you can give--
Real peace,
now and forever.


- Evelyn Underhill

Christian

 

[Green Gaia]

That They May Face the Winds


Great Spirit, Great Spirit, my Grandfather,
all over the Earth the faces of living things are all alike.
With tenderness have these come up out of the ground.
Look upon these faces of children without number
and with children in their arms
that they may face the winds
and walk the good road to the day of quiet.


- Black Elk

Native American

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for Sweetness

May the wind blow sweetness,
the rivers flow sweetness,
the herbs grow sweetness,
for the People of Truth!

Sweet be the night,
sweet the dawn,
sweet be earth's fragrance,
sweet be our Heaven!

May the tree afford us sweetness,
the sun shine sweetness,
our cows yield sweetness --
milk in plenty!

Hindu
Source: The Rig Vega

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for the Courage to Look Within


May all sentient beings have the courage to look within themselves and see the good and bad that exists in all of us. May we open our hearts, shining the light of love into the dark recesses where doubt and fear reside. May we have the courage to step into that light and embrace whatever we find, letting it rise to the surface freed by the act of loving kindness.

Buddhist

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer of Thanks


We thank thee, Lord, for daily bread
As by thy hands our souls are fed.
Grant us to grow more like to thee,
Today and through eternity.


- Anonymous

Christian

 

[Green Gaia]

Children's Bedtime Prayer


Father-Mother God,
Loving me.
Guard me while I sleep.
Guide my little feet
Up to Thee.


- Mary Baker Eddy

Christian Science

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for the Prophet Muhammad (Salawat)


O Allah, bless our Muhammad and the people of Muhammad;
As you have blessed Abraham and the people of Abraham.
Surely you are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

O Allah, be gracious unto Muhammad and the people of Muhammad;
As you were gracious unto Abraham and the people of Abraham.
Surely you are the Praiseworthy, the Glorious.

Allaahumma salli 'alaa Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Muhammadin
Kamaa sallaita 'alaa Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Ibraaheema
Innaka hameedun Majeed

Alaahumma baarik 'ala Muhammadin wa 'alaa ali Muhammadin Kamaa baarakta 'alaa Ibraaheema wa 'alaa ali Ibraaheema
Innaka hameedun Majeed



Muslim

 

[Green Gaia]

Forgive Our Misdeeds


Our Father,
forgive all our misdeeds
and wipe away our sin,
for you are great and compassionate;
your mercy knows no bounds.
My heart lies before you, O my God.
Look deep within it.
See these memories of mine, for you are my hope.


- St. Augustine

Christian

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for the Sick


Heavenly Father, giver of life and health: Comfort and relieve thy sick servants, and give thy power of healing to those who minister to their needs, that those for whom our prayers are offered may be strengthened in their weakness and have confidence in thy loving care; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.



Christian
source: Book of Common Prayer 1979

 

[Green Gaia]

Rosh Hashanah Prayer


God is the incomparable King of The Universe. The destiny of humanity is to come to this realization. Whereas human kings rule in accordance with the principle of :"might makes right," God is the Holy King, Who is, at the same time, beyond comparison in His power, "Vas er vil, Tut er" - "Whatever He wills, He can do," yet He is also the Father of the orphan and the Judge of the widow, Who is always on the side of the powerless.

He is the Incorruptible and Righteous Judge of the World, Who favors no one, and cannot be bribed.

He is the true God and His word, the Torah, is true and eternal.



Jewish
source: From The Malchiyot (Kingliness) prayer in the High Holidays liturgy

 

[Green Gaia]

Prayer for Peace


In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the merciful.
Praise be to the Lord of the Universe who has created us and made us into tribes and nations, that we may know each other, not that we may despise each other.

If the enemy incline towards peace, do thou also incline towards peace, and trust in God, for the Lord is the one that heareth and knoweth all things. And the servants of God, Most Gracious are those who walk on the Earth in humility, and when we address them, we say "Peace."



Islam