Prayers for when you feel weak

There are days when you wake up already empty. The Christian tradition has never asked us to pretend otherwise — its prayers are full of weariness handed honestly to God. The strength scripture promises is rarely a sudden surge of energy. It is, more often, the next right step.

Psalm 23

Psalm 23 (KJV)

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
he leadeth me beside the still waters.

He restoreth my soul:
he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Yea, though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me
in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anointest my head with oil;
my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life:
and I will dwell in the house of the Lord
for ever.

Amen.

Read about Psalm 23

Anima Christi

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.

Within thy wounds, hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from thee.
From the malicious enemy, defend me.
In the hour of my death, call me,
and bid me come to thee,
that with thy saints I may praise thee
forever and ever.

Amen.

Read about Anima Christi

The Magnificat

Luke 1:46-55

My soul doth magnify the Lord,
and my spirit hath rejoiced
in God my Saviour.

For he hath regarded
the low estate of his handmaiden:
for, behold, from henceforth
all generations shall call me blessed.

For he that is mighty hath done to me great things;
and holy is his name.

And his mercy is on them that fear him
from generation to generation.

He hath shewed strength with his arm;
he hath scattered the proud
in the imagination of their hearts.

He hath put down the mighty from their seats,
and exalted them of low degree.

He hath filled the hungry with good things;
and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Amen.

Read about The Magnificat

Psalm 91

Psalm 91 (KJV, abridged)

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress:
my God; in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence.
He shall cover thee with his feathers,
and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
nor for the arrow that flieth by day;
nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge,
even the most High, thy habitation;
there shall no evil befall thee.

Amen.

Read about Psalm 91

St. Patrick's Breastplate

I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity,
by invocation of the same,
the Three in One and One in Three.

Christ with me, Christ before me,
Christ behind me, Christ in me,
Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise.

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.

I bind unto myself today
the strong name of the Trinity.

Amen.

Read about St. Patrick's Breastplate

If even praying feels like too much, pray the Jesus Prayer once. Twelve words is enough.

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