The Sermon on the Mount Prayer

This is a prayer I have constructed for use during my early morning devotional time. Being that the Sermon on the Mount was Jesus’ main teaching to the Twelve, it’s crucial to us, also.

Heavenly Father,

Remind me today, every time I’m tempted, that I’m blessed when:

·        I need you, as eternity is mine,

·        I mourn, for You comfort me,

·        I’m humble, for I’ll inherit the earth,

·        I hunger and thirst for justice, for I’ll be satisfied,

·        I’m merciful, for I’ll be shown mercy,

·        My heart is pure, for I’ll see You,

·        I work for peace, for I’ll be called a child of God,

·        I’m persecuted for doing right, for the Kingdom of Heaven is mine,

·        People mock me and persecute me and lie about me and say all sorts of evil things against me because I follow You. Help me be happy about it! Remind me that the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.

Remind me I’m the salt of the earth. Remind me of the power of your truth.

Remind me I’m the light of the world — designed to shine. Help me live pure before others. Make my deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise You because of my deeds.

Help me understand that even if I’m angry with someone I’m subject to judgment! Help me refrain from name-calling and cursing others.

Remind me when I’m making a pious sacrifice that if anyone has something against me, to leave my sacrifice right there. Make me “Go” and be reconciled to that person first, then make my offering.

Make me settle my differences with others quickly, with understanding, compassion and grace.

Help me to resist looking at women with lust. Remind me that it’s better for me to lose a hand or an eye than for my whole body to be thrown into hell. Help me be faithful to my wife, matrimonially and sexually, and to my family in all ways.

Help me keep my word, not exaggerate or testify falsely, and to keep my promises.

Help me when someone slaps me on the right cheek; remind me in that moment to offer the other cheek also. If it’s my shirt they want from me, make me give them my coat, too. If someone demands that I carry his gear for a mile, give me the heart and courage to carry it two. Help me give generously to those who ask, and make me to not turn away from those who want to borrow.

Help me love my enemies and to pray for those who persecute me! Help me know that You give sunlight to both the evil and the good, and You send rain on the just and the unjust alike. Help me love not only those who love me, but especially those who don’t.

Make me watchful not to do my good deeds publicly, to be admired by others. Make me give to anyone in need in a way that my left hand knows nothing of what my right hand is doing. Make me give my gifts in private.

Help me pray not in glamorous ways. Help me go away by myself, shut the door behind me, and pray to You in private.

Help me pray for real and important needs, for protection from temptation to do evil, for power to do good and forgive as You have forgiven me, for Your will to be done here as in heaven, and for the knowledge of good through Your Holy Spirit.

Help me resist the temptation for making myself look impressive.

Help me to store my treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Remind me where my treasure is, there the desires of my heart are also.

Help me serve You and not money.

Help me know the folly of my worries and to not worry about how I’m clothed or what I’ll eat.

Help me seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, so You will give me everything I need.

Help me not worry about tomorrow, and remind me that tomorrow will bring its own worries; that today’s trouble is enough for today.

Make me not judge others. I’m no better or worse than anyone else.

Help me to ignore the speck in my friend’s eye when I probably have a log in my own. Help me first deal with the log in my own eye, and ever be committed to that end.

Help me to discern appropriate wisdom and not allow the crude to trample the Kingdom’s pearls.

Help me to keep on asking, so I will receive what I ask for. Help me keep on seeking. Help me keep on knocking.

Help me trust You; the Giver of all good gifts.

Help me do to others whatever I would have them do to me.

Make me to enter every day through the narrow gate, knowing the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Help me beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. Make me to identify them by their fruit. Help me see truly, Lord.

Make me to listen to Your teaching and be wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Make my faith ever a firm foundation.

In Christ’s name I pray, AMEN.

© 2014 S. J. Wickham.