21
Christianity-Prayers
21A A Prayer
From chaos and emptiness,
From loneliness and lifelessness,
Come, Creator, Come.
From darkness and shapelessness,
From the abyss and awfulness,
Come, Creator, Come.
From fearfulness and hopelessness,
From weakness and dreadfulness,
Come, Creator, Come.
~A Celtic Prayer - David Adam
http://www.mentalhealthministries.net/inspiration/prayers.h tml
21B Prayer litany
God our Creator, you give breath to each person you made.
You treasure the gifts of each unique person.
But when life becomes a burden rather than a gift,
God of life, hold us.
When darkness strangles the will to live, when days become endless nights,
God of light, shine on us.
When no one seems to understand, when we walk and wait alone,
God of love, embrace us with your presence.
Where there is despair, bring hope; where there is shame, give value and worth;
where there is emptiness, bring fulfillment; where there is suffering in mind and body, bring healing.
God of hope, hear our prayer for life.
21C Prayer Litany for Suicide Prevention Week
God, we celebrate the gift of life for each person. We commit to nurturing the well-being of each
person here. We know for some, life seems like an unbearable burden filled with suffering.
Help us to seize opportunities to ease the burden of those weighed down.
We tend to keep our heaviest burdens private, hesitant to trust our sisters and brothers with our
weaknesses, failures, or secret burdens.
Help us to talk about our fears, our anger, and our despair with someone we trust.
1
21
We celebrate that life has purpose and meaning. For some, purpose and meaning are like dry bones,
dead and lifeless.
Remind us that You know us by name. In You we know our place and purpose in this world.
We are created to live in community, yet some feel alone, unloved and disconnected.
Give us courage to reach out with love to someone who needs us. May we be Your presence with
them. Teach us to be gentle and non-judgmental.
We remember those who ended their life before it was time. We wish they had been able to find a way
and a purpose to live, a way out of the pain.
Comfort those who grieve and bring healing.
21D Prayer for someone contemplating suicide
(Suggestion: Keep sentences short and simple. Their minds ma y be troubled and
confused. Perhaps they will remember one thought from the prayer.)
God of compassion, you know and love (Name). Walk with her/him during this dark time. Be her/his
friend. Clear the confusion in her/his mind. Show her/him your love and concern. Give her/him a way
to live through this painful time . Give her/him the courage to take one step at a time toward a path of
safety and life. Bring relief from the pain that seems so unbearable at this moment. Amen.
~Cindy Holtrop, Pathways to Promise
21E Blessing
(Each of us longs to be blessed. This blessing brings comfort and the strong
reassurance to not be afraid when life is so uncertain.)
God go before you to lead you,
God go behind you to protect you,
God go beneath you to support you,
God go beside you to befriend you.
Do not be afraid.
May the blessing of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be upon you.
Do not be afraid.
(Unknown source)
2
21
Model Prayers
21F Prayer for Those Who Have Died by Suicide
Bless, O God of eternal life,
all who have died by their own hand.
Grant them peace from their inner turmoil
and the compassion of your love.
Comfort those who mourn their loved ones.
Strengthen them to face the questions of pain,
the guilt and anger, the irreparable loss.
Help us to reach out in love to others who prefer death
to the choices of life and to their families who grieve.
Amen.
21G Prayer for One who Contemplates Suicide
O God of eternal life,
bless all who contemplate taking their own life.
Grant them peace from the internal fears and doubts,
from the turmoil of failures,
from the pain and suffering in their souls.
Endow them with hope for the days ahead,
courage to make new beginnings,
and love to strengthen their resolve to live.
Amen.
21H For the Family and Friends of a Person Affected by Suicide: (BOOK)
O'Donohue, J. (2008). To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings. Random House LLC. (Pages
162-3)
3