Sunday Readings and Family Prayer
FAMILY PRAYER
Designed for families with young children. An extract from the Sunday gospel is provided, along with some reflection questions, a family activity and a worksheet for children.
More resources from Liturgy Brisbane
Prayers for Children
Child’s Prayer for Protection
Angel of God, my Guardian dear,
To whom God’s love commits me here;
Ever this day, be at my side
To light and guard
To rule and guide.
Amen.
Every Day Prayer
He wakes me up; He makes me sleep.
Provides for me the food I eat.
When I cry, I call on him,
Because I know with him I win.
Even through the hardest day,
I trust in him in every way.
He’s the One who sees me through,
Jesus lives, I know it’s true.
With loving kindness, he smiles on me.
Because he died, I am free.
Lord, for all, I thank you so,
I know you’ll never let me go!
Amen.
Good Morning, Jesus
Jesus, you are good and wise
I will praise you when I rise.
Jesus, hear this prayer I send
Bless my family and my friends.
Jesus, help my eyes to see
All the good you send to me.
Jesus, help my ears to hear
Calls for help from far and near.
Jesus, help my feet to go
In the way that You will show.
Jesus, help my hands to do
All things loving, kind, and true.
Jesus, guard me through this day
In all I do and all I say.
Amen.
Prayers for Troubled Times
Strength
Give Us, O Lord, a Steadfast Heart
Give us, O Lord, a steadfast heart,
Which no unworthy affection may drag downwards;
Give us an unconquered heart,
Which no tribulation can wear out;
Give us an upright heart,
Which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.
Bestow upon us also, O Lord our God,
Understanding to know you,
Diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you,
And a faithfulness that may finally embrace you;
Through Jesus Christ our Lord.
—Thomas Aquinas
Dear Lord,
I ask you to turn this weakness into strength, this suffering into compassion, sorrow into joy, and pain into comfort for others. May your servant trust in your goodness and hope in your faithfulness, even in the middle of this suffering. Let him be filled with patience and joy in your presence as he waits for your healing touch.
Please restore your servant to full health, dear Father. Remove all fear and doubt from his heart by the power of your Holy Spirit, and may you, Lord, be glorified through his life.
All of this, I pray in the name of Jesus Christ.
Hope
God Is Our Hope
God is our hope when we are in trouble, including depression. When depression hits, fix your eyes on God, his power, and his love for you:
The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8, NIV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9, NIV)
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. (Psalm 34:18, NIV)
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10, NIV)
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.” (Jeremiah 29:11-12, NIV)
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; (John 14:16, KJV)
(Jesus said) “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20, NIV)
Fear
Oh Lord, let me hear You.
My soul is weary;
Fear, doubt, and worry surround me on every side.
Yet Your sweet mercy cannot be held back
From those that cry out to you.
Hear my cry.
Let me trust in Your mercy.
Show me how. Free me.
Free me from anxiety and stress,
That I might find rest in Your loving arms.
Amen.
Bible Verses About Faith for Life’s Challenges
Anxiety
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
A Broken Heart
The LORD is near to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18 (NASB)
Confusion
For God is not the author of confusion but of peace …
1 Corinthians 14:33 (NKJV)
Defeat
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair …
2 Corinthians 4:8 (NIV)
Disappointment
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 (NLT)
Doubt
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20 (NIV)
Failure
The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.
Proverbs 24:16 (NLT)
Fear
For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)
Grief
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Psalm 23:4 (NIV)
Hunger
Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Matthew 4:4 (NIV)
Impatience
Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
Psalm 27:14 (NIV)
Impossibilities
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God.”
Luke 18:27 (NIV)
Inability
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
Inadequacy
I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
Lacking Direction
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
Lacking Intelligence
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5 (NIV)
Lacking Wisdom
It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.
1 Corinthians 1:30 (NIV)
Loneliness
… the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
Mourning
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Matthew 5:4 (NIV)
Poverty
And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 (NKJV)
Rejection
No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:39 (NIV)
Sorrow
I will turn their mourning into joy and will comfort them and give them joy for their sorrow.
Jeremiah 31:13 (NASB)
Temptation
No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.
1 Corinthians 10:13 (NIV)
Tiredness
… but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
Unforgiveness
So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Romans 8:1 (NLT)
Unloved
See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!
1 John 3:1 (NLT)
Weakness
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
Weariness
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Worry
Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.
1 Peter 5:7(NLT)