Borrowed Prayers for When You Don’t Know What to Say

I pulled out my red folder from the stack of school papers in front of me. My classmates shuffled their own notebooks, typed their last few sentences into Word documents, and found their own copies of our weekly class prayer.

The Christian Theology II class met once a week on Thursday nights. It was the last class time of the week in seminary, the end of the day at the end of a week of long classes.

I slipped my printed copy of “Night Prayer” from the folder pocket just in time to join my classmates in reciting our weekly, end of day liturgy:

“Lord, it is night.”

Finally, an exhale. An acknowledgement of the time and place in which I sat.

“The night is for stillness. Let us be still in the presence of God.”

I steadied myself in my seat. The fidgeting ceasing.

“It is night after a long day. What has been done has been done; what has not been done has not been done; let it be.”

Another long exhale. Quick thoughts of my to-do list flashed through my head. I never seem to reach my own high standards. But, I choose to release it all now. My productivity has no bearing on my worth here in the presence of God.

“The night is dark. Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives rest in you.”

I glance out the windows to my left. Nothing. The black night is all I can see. I think about my car: where it’s parked, the route I’ll walk to it, the drive home, the lamp light that will greet me there.

“The night is quiet. Let the quietness of your peace enfold us, all dear to us and all who have no peace.”

I imagine those who are restless tonight. They may be the ones waiting at the hospital, the ones rocking their sleepless babies, or someone sitting in this very room. Maybe they are sending up their own prayers of desperation now. Yes, Lord, cover them with your peace.

“The night heralds the dawn. Let us look expectantly to a new day, new joys, new possibilities.”

Yes, a new day tomorrow. There’s so much that can happen in a day—planned and unplanned. I can look forward with hope.

“In your name we pray. Amen.”

I returned the printed sheet to its folder. Typical noise of a dismissed class filled the room. Laptops were closed. Book bags were zipped. We stood up, put on our coats, slid our chairs under the tables, gathered our belongings. We slowly left the room. No one said a word.

Every week, we went through this same routine. The shuffle to find our syllabus with the prayer printed on it, the same words spoken aloud, the same quiet exit. I often found it hard to break the silence after our weekly prayer. I drove the five minutes home with the radio off, walked through the door, turned on a lamp or two, and set my book bag by my bed. Finally, I let out a long sigh.

Peace, contentment, a pause—all at the end of a long day.

****

Years later, utilizing borrowed prayers continues to be a meaningful part of my own spiritual formation. Prayer is often seen as a solitary task using our own internal voice to connect with God. In borrowed prayer, we join with fellow Christians in the greater longing for God. I have found that no matter how often I repeat the same prayer, I can find new depth of meaning in its words and a greater sense of calm with each reciting.

If you are new to borrowed prayers, here are a few tips to help you get started:

1. Choose a prayer.
You can find prayers to borrow countless ways. Try beginning with a Psalm or The Lord’s Prayer. You can also search for prayers from saints online or utilize a book of prayers.

2. Try saying the prayer at the same time every day out loud.
Consider opening the day or ending the day with the same prayer. Saying the prayer aloud can help you slow down and pay attention. It could become a sweet habit that signals to your body and spirit that this is a time for connecting with God.

3. Use your imagination.
You could imagine God sitting beside you, making the prayer more personal. Or you could imagine the people that have said this prayer before you. This makes the prayer more universal, connecting you with the body of Christians that have found meaning in this prayer.

When you don’t know what to say or how to say it, a borrowed prayer can be a simple, meaningful way of expressing praise and requests to God.

Note: Prayer referenced is “Night Prayer” from A New Zealand Prayer Book.