Intersessory prayer - A prayer adapted

As with a blog post I shared a few weeks ago - Cultivating Daily Repentance: A Prayer - I found a prayer from my own prayer book that has now become a nightly prayer with the kids. We do have our own quick way of going around and each saying a "special prayer" for someone each evening, but they often fall very close to home - family, friends we saw that day or sometimes someone we know has a need for prayer. But I also want my children to remember that we are called to pray for everyone and to keep our prayer for all those in need - known to us or unknown.

So this prayer below that I adapted with more child accessible language and using the group prayer format we use in our family prayers was a beautiful and much needed addition to our prayers and movement towards incorporating more intercessory prayer. I have heard of many ways that other families incorporate prayer for others and plan to blog some ideas for that in the future. I would love to hear from you if you have ideas.

And also I recently noticed and added a subscription button to this blog in case you would enjoy getting notified of new posts. Mostly I would just love to hear from you how you are working on (successes and falls) shepherding your own little flock.

Prayer of Intercession

O Lord, lover of mankind, forgive those who hate and wrong us. Do good to those who do good. Grant our friends and family the things they ask for and life eternal. Visit the sick and grant them healing. Guide those at sea. Travel with travelers. Struggle alongside the orthodox. To those who serve and are kind to us, grant forgiveness of sins. On those who have asked us, unworthy as we are, to pray for them, have mercy according to Thy great mercy. Remember, O Lord, our family and friends who have fallen asleep and grant them rest where the light of Thy countenance shines. Remember, O Lord, those who bear fruit and do good works in Thy holy churches and grant them the things that they ask for and life eternal. Remember also, O Lord, us Thy humble sinful and unworthy servants and enlighten our minds with the light of knowledge of thyself and guide us in the way of Thy commandments by the prayers of our immaculate Lady Mother of God and ever Virgin Mary and of all the saints for Thou are blessed to the ages of ages. Amen.

(Adapted from the Jordanville prayer book Evening Prayers)

With love in Christ,

Sasha Rose