When you can’t find the words to pray
About 2 minutes · say the bold lines out loud if you can
New to praying? Just read it slowly, or stay with one line. That counts.
Pray
If even this is too much, say only the first line. It is a whole prayer.
Lord, have mercy.Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
From the Bible
Paul says that when we don’t know what to pray, God’s Spirit prays for us, “with sighs too deep for words.” A sigh counts. And when you want words, Jesus already gave us some.
26Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but that very Spirit intercedes with sighs too deep for words.
Romans 8:26 · NRSV · Other translations
The Lord’s Prayer
The prayer Jesus taught. If you learned the traditional words, they’re one tap below.
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours,
now and forever. Amen.
Show the traditional form (“Our Father, who art in heaven”)
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 trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
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.
Matthew 6:9–13. Historic text of the Western church. English Language Liturgical Consultation.
Both forms are in current use. Pray whichever one you learned.