Sometimes we do not always have the words we need to express ourselves to God. Below are some starting points you might like to try.
There are also some great online resources including daily prayer apps:
Church of England Daily Prayer
This prayer which Jesus taught summarises all that Christians want to say to God:
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.
Lead us not into temptation
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power,
and the glory are yours
now and for ever.
Amen.
I believe in the sun even when it is not shining.
I believe in love even when I cannot feel it.
I believe in God, even when he is silent.
Prayer of a Jewish Prisoner [C20th]
O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life,
until the shadows lengthen,
the evening comes,
the fever of life is over,
and our work on earth is done;
then Lord, in your mercy,
grant us safe lodging,
a holy rest,
and peace at the last.
Amen.
John Newman [C19th]
O gracious and holy Father,
give us wisdom to perceive you,
intelligence to understand you,
diligence to seek you,
patience to wait for you,
eyes to see you,
a heart to meditate on you,
and a life to proclaim you,
through the power of the spirit
of Jesus Christ our Lord.
Attributed to St Benedict [C6th]
O thou great Chief, light a candle in my heart,
that I may see what is therein,
and sweep the rubbish
from thy dwelling-place.
An African Schoolgirl’s Prayer [C20th]
O Divine Master,
grant that I may not so much seek
to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life.
Amen.
St Francis of Assisi [C13th]
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
have mercy on me, a sinner
The ‘Jesus Prayer’
Almighty and most merciful Father,
we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep,
we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts,
we have offended against thy holy laws,
we have left undone those things which we ought to have done,
and we have done those things which we ought not to have done.
But thou, O Lord, have mercy upon us,
spare thou them which confess their faults,
restore thou them that are penitent,
according to thy promises declared unto mankind
in Christ Jesus our Lord;
and grant, O most merciful Father, for his sake,
that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, and sober life,
to the glory of thy holy Name.
Amen.
after The Book of Common Prayer (1662)
O Lord, our heavenly Father,
almighty and everlasting God,
who hast safely brought us
to the beginning of this day:
Defend us in the same with thy mighty power;
and grant that this day we fall into no sin,
neither run into any kind of danger;
but that we, being ordered by thy governance,
may do always what is righteous in thy sight;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The Book of Common Prayer (1662)
Watch, O Lord, with those who wake,
or watch, or weep tonight,
and give your angels
charge over those who sleep.
Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ.
Rest your weary ones.
Bless your dying ones.
Soothe your suffering ones.
Pity your afflicted ones.
Shield your joyous ones.
And for all your love’s sake.
Amen.
St Augustine of Hippo [C4th-5th]
Thanks be to you, our Lord Jesus Christ,
for all the benefits which you have given us,
for all the pains and insults
which you have borne for us.
Most merciful Redeemer, Friend and Brother,
may we know you more clearly,
love you more dearly,
and follow you more nearly,
day by day.
Amen.
Richard of Chichester [C13th]
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow,
Praise him, all creatures here below,
Praise him above you heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost.
Thomas Ken [C17th-18th]
Christ has no body now on earth but yours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which to look
at Christ’s compassion on the world;
Yours are the feet
with which he is to go about doing good;
And yours are the hands
with which he is to bless us now.
St Teresa of Avila [C16th]
Teach us to serve you as you deserve;
to give and not to count the cost,
to fight and not to heed the wounds,
to toil and not to seek for rest,
to labour and not to ask for any reward,
save that of knowing that we do your will.
Amen.
St Ignatius of Loyola [C16th]
Living God, we pray for growth in St Michael’s and St Mary’s:
make us effective evangelists,
deepen our spirituality,
and strengthen us for service,
in your name and to your glory.
Amen.