Prayer for Monday (Birthday of Guru Har Rai)

Countless are your names, countless your dwelling-places;
The breadth of your kingdom is beyond our imagination.
Even to try and imagine your kingdom is foolish.
Yet through words and through music
We speak your name and sing your praise.
Words are the only tools we have to proclaim your greatness,
And music our only means of echoing your virtue.

You put words in our hearts and minds.
With words we can describe the glory of your creation,
And so our words can reflect your glory.
You put music in our hearts and minds.
With music we can echo the beauty of heaven,
And so our music can express our deepest wish.

How can someone as insignificant as me
Express the vastness and wonder of your creation?
How can someone as sinful as me
Dare to hope for a place in heaven?

My only answer lies in the words and the music
Which you yourself have given me.

(Guru Nanak [1469-1538, Founder of Sikh religion])

Prayer for Sunday

Let nothing disturb thee;
Let nothing dismay thee;
All things pass:
God never changes.
Patience attains
All that it strives for.
He who has God
Lacks for nothing:
God alone suffices.

(St. Teresa of Avila – 16th century)

Prayer is not asking.
Prayer is putting oneself in the hands of God, at his disposition,
and listening to his voice in the depths of our hearts.

(Mother Teresa)

Prayer for Saturday

Hear me, LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am faithful to you;
save your servant who trusts in you.
You are my God; have mercy on me, Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
for I put my trust in you.

You, Lord, are forgiving and good,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, LORD;
listen to my cry for mercy.
When I am in distress, I call to you,
because you answer me.

Among the gods there is none like you, Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.

Teach me your way, LORD,
that I may rely on your faithfulness;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths,
from the realm of the dead.

Arrogant foes are attacking me, O God;
ruthless people are trying to kill me—
they have no regard for you.
But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
just as my mother did.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
that my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

(Psalm 86 [NIV 2010])