Famous Christian prayers in easy words
On this page you can find some famous Christian prayers. I have changed the words to make them easy to read.
If you do not know what to pray, you can use these famous prayers to start you off. Choose one that says what you want to say, and say it to God as your own prayer.
You can read the whole page, or you can click one of these links to jump to the part you want to read.
The Serenity Prayer (a prayer to feel peaceful)
Christ With Me (a prayer for God to look after you)
The Body Prayer (a prayer without words)
Thomas Merton’s Prayer (a prayer for God to lead you)
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace (a prayer to love people)
The Serenity Prayer (a prayer to feel peaceful)
This is a prayer to feel peaceful and not worry. The first part was written about 100 years ago by Reinhold Niebuhr. He was an American church leader who studied the Bible. The second part was added later and is used by Alcoholics Anonymous. Here is the original version.
Dear God,
When I cannot change things, please help me feel calm and peaceful.
When I can change things, help me be brave and do what you want.
Help me know which things I can change, and which things I cannot change.
Help me think about today and not worry about tomorrow.
Help me keep going when things are hard.
Help me trust that you will make everything good in the end.
I know this will make me happier in my life.
And after I die I will be really happy with you forever.
Amen.
Christ With Me (a prayer for God to look after you)
This is part of a prayer that was written by Saint Patrick. He lived 1600 years ago and told people in Ireland about Jesus. Saint Patrick prayed this prayer to ask God to look after him. Here is the original version.
Please Jesus, be with me. Be in front of me and behind me.
Please Jesus, be in me. Be under me and above me.
Please Jesus, be on both sides of me.
Please Jesus, be in the places where I lie down, sit and stand up.
Please Jesus, be in people’s hearts when they think about me.
Please Jesus, be in people’s mouths when they talk to me.
Please Jesus, be in their eyes when they see me.
Please Jesus, be in their ears when they hear me.
Amen.
The Body Prayer (a prayer without words)
This prayer was taught by Julian of Norwich, who lived 700 years ago. She lived alone so she could spend all her time with God. She used this prayer to slow down and be with God. Here is a video of the original version.
This prayer has actions instead of words. Sit or stand up to begin. Think about God as you do these actions slowly.
Wait for God.
Hold your hands open in front of you.
This action means you are waiting for God to come and be with you.
Let God come.
Reach up high with your hands open.
This action means you are letting God come and be with you. You might feel something in your heart. Or you might not feel anything. That is okay.
Welcome God.
Put your hands on your heart.
This action means you are saying yes to God and to whatever he wants to give you today. He is in charge.
Listen to God.
Stretch your open hands out in front of you.
This action means you are ready to do what God wants you to do today. You may feel him ask you to do something now. If not, that is okay.
If you want to keep praying, you can do these actions again. Or you can pray in a different way.
Thomas Merton’s Prayer (a prayer for God to lead you)
Thomas Merton was an American monk who died in 1968. In this prayer he asked God to show him the right thing to do. Here is the original version.
Lord God,
I do not know where I am going. I am worried and confused.
I am trying to do what you want. But I do not know if I am doing the right thing.
But I want to make you happy. And I know that makes you happy.
I hope I will never stop wanting to make you happy.
If I want to make you happy, I know you will help me do the right thing.
Even if I do not know where to go, you will make sure I end up in the right place.
Because of this, I will trust you. I will trust you even when I feel lost.
I will not be afraid, because you are always with me.
You will never leave me on my own when life are hard.
Amen.
The Prayer of Thomas a Kempis (a prayer for strength)
Thomas a Kempis lived 700 years ago. He was a priest and a writer. He wrote this prayer to ask God to help him be strong and do the right thing. Here is the original version.
Father God,
Our hearts are not strong. We keep wanting to do bad things. It is hard for us to do good things.
Please make us stronger. Help us to do good things. Help us not to do bad things.
Help us not to be lazy. Help us fight our fear. Help us not to turn away from you.
Please help us because of Jesus. He saved us and made us friends with you.
Amen.
Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace (a prayer to love people)
This is a prayer by Saint Francis of Assissi, who lived 800 years ago. He loved animals and told people about Jesus. In this prayer he asked God to help him show God’s love to other people. Here is the original version.
Lord, help me to bring peace into the world.
When people hate each other, help me to bring love.
When people hurt each other, help me to bring forgiveness.
When people are confused, help me show them how to trust you.
When people have lost hope, help me to bring hope.
When the world seems dark, help me to bring light.
When people are sad, help me to bring joy.
God my king,
Help me want to comfort people more than I want them to comfort me.
Help me to want to understand people more than I want them to understand me.
Help me want to love people more than I want them to love me.
I am asking this because when I do good for other people, it is good for me too.
When I forgive people, I am forgiven too.
And when I die, I will live a new life with you forever.
Amen.
These famous prayers are a good place to start if you do not know what to pray. But you can use your own words when you talk to God too. Click here to learn more about how to pray.
Share this with a friend:
Join our email list to hear about new easy read pages!
Learn more about Christianity
Who We Are
Valley of Springs is the online home of Dan and Jo Acharya.
We write devotional blogs to help you grow in your faith and trust God in difficult times.
We also provide easy read Bible study and discipleship resources for Christians with learning difficulties, intellectual disabilities and special needs.
Jo is the author of ‘Refresh: a wellness devotional for the whole Christian life’ and ‘Living Well With God: easy read Bible lessons for people who find reading hard’.
Our Policies
Page Credits
CONVERT BEFORE EDITING, REMOVE IF NONE