Prayer Of The Month

A Lutheran Prayer For Courage

This prayer comes from the Lutheran Book of Worship (Augsburg, 1978). It suggests that each of us is called by God to be a pioneer - forging our own unique path as we discover and develop our God-given nature and talents.

For some the path may be relatively straightforward; for others it may bring pain and struggle. But we all need faith and courage as we travel into the unknown future: perhaps we could take this prayer with us on our journey?

Lord God,
you have called your servants
to ventures of which we cannot see the ending,
by paths as yet untrodden,
through perils unknown.
Give us faith to go out with good courage,
not knowing where we go,
but only that your hand is leading us
and your love supporting us;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

To think about.....

Have you ever embarked on a new venture without knowing where it might lead? Did it feel exciting? Scary? What helped you to keep going?

Think of one or two pioneering people whom you admire: how do their lives illustrate the courage and faith described in this prayer? What can you learn from them?

Do you have any secret longings or ambitions? Why not take a fresh look at them, however crazy they may seem - could God be calling you to a new path "as yet untrodden"?