God, we thank you for the gift of your presence -
Christ who is your Word made flesh;
Christ who is the wisdom of God and the power of God.
We need your wisdom especially in these troubled times.
In the midst of turmoil and uncertainty, as financial institutions crumble,
And the very economic and social fabric of our lives is shaken,
Many of us are gripped by anxieties and fears,
With the clouds of recession over us, and worsening prospects ahead.

But surely, God, we as your children do not look to the horizon,
Desperately waiting for an economic savior to emerge.
Financial kingdoms, economic empires may come and go,
But throughout, God, you remain our stronghold and refuge.
Those who know your name will put their trust in you.
For you, O God, will not abandon those who seek you.
Right now, God, we seek your wisdom
To guide us where the way is confusing.
We have no better guide than you.

We pray for the countless numbers
Affected by the housing and credit market collapse
Not only in the US, but with ripple effects felt worldwide.
We pray for those who are made homeless, who are retrenched,
Whose life savings and finances have been wiped out.
We pray for those who have come to the end of their rope.
God, be merciful to all who have fallen by the wayside.
We remember and lift up our friends, loved ones, relatives,
Colleagues, business partners, and ourselves.
Especially help the weak and vulnerable, the elderly, the pensioners,
The retirees, and the widows – that they will have ready access
To social aid and not be encumbered by red tape.
Restore hope to those who have lost their livelihood and homes.
Grant peace and healing to families and couples
Whose relationships have been strained.

We pray for those who do not know you and have no one to turn to,
The many who have been driven to despair and even suicide.
Lord, in these troubled times, we pray for strength and resilience.
Cause your church, the Body of Christ, to be a beacon of light and hope.
Make us ready to stand alongside those who are
Weighted down by the pressure of living.
Enable us to bring your compassionate presence
Through the sharing of each other’s burdens.

Christ, you are the light which darkness cannot overcome.
Indeed, darkness is not dark to you;
For the night is as bright as day.
Christ, be the light which dispels our darkness
And restore order to our inner chaos.
Deliver us from the darkness of our self-centered ways;
From greed, envy and ignorance;
From unrestrained passions;
From the darkness of despair, futility and despondency.

Christ, the wisdom of God
In our moments of anxiety and insecurity,
You are the voice of faith who proclaims, “Peace, be still.”
In a culture of greed and mistrust, fill us with hope.
Despite the pain of loss and failure,
Let hope enable us to see God in all situations and events.

You are a God who is in control,
A God of all possibilities,
A God of new beginnings.
You are the voice of reason,
Who summons us back to sanity.
You remind us of our kingdom priorities;
Although we are in the world,
We are to transcend the ways of the world.
Help us to live wisely, with moderation and prudence,
To exercise discernment and sound judgment,
And conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of our calling.

God, enable us by your wisdom to keep things in perspective.
For, God, you are bigger than the problems we face each day.
We remember your mercy and faithfulness.
Through your counsel and encouragement,
You have enabled us to overcome the many setbacks and adversities of life.
We continue now, to trust in your goodness and provision.
For you are a God who hears, answers, and acts on our behalf,
Out of the abundance of your eternal love.
We trust you in your grace and mercy to sustain us.
Amen.

- – - prayer written by M.Y. Lee

God of my Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the Father of glory, I pray that you may continue to give me the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of You, the eyes of my understanding being enlightened; that I may continue to know what is the hope of Your calling, what are the riches of Your inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of Your power toward me who believe, according to the working of Your mighty power which You worked in Messiah when You raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your own right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. And You put all things under Your feet, and gave Yeshua to be head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. (Eph. 1:17-21)

Father of my Lord Yeshua the Messiah, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, I pray that you would continue to grant me, according to the riches of Your glory, to be strengthened with might by Your Holy Spirit in the inner man, that Messiah may continue to dwell in my heart through faith; that I being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height and to know the love of Messiah which passes knowledge; that I may continue to be filled with the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Messiah Yeshua throughout all ages, world without end. Amen. (Eph. 3:16-21)

Father I pray that my love may continue to abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that I may approve things that are excellent, that I may be sincere and without offense till the day of Messiah, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Yeshua the Messiah, to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11)

Father, I pray that I may continue to be filled with the knowledge of Your will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that I may continue to have a walk worthy of You, Lord, fully pleasing You, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to Your glorious power, for all patience and long-suffering with joy; giving thanks to You, Father, who has qualified me to be a partaker of the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12)

Father, I pray that You may continue to make me to increase and abound in love one for another and for all so that You may establish my heart blameless in holiness before You, God and Father, at the coming of my Lord Yeshua the Messiah with all His saints. (1Th. 3:12, 13)

Father, I pray that You would continue to count me worthy of Your calling and fulfill all the good pleasure of Your goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of my Lord Yeshua may be glorified in me and I in Him, according to the grace of You, God, and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (2Th. 1:11, 12)

I thank You, Father, for Your grace which was given to me by Messiah Yeshua, that I may continue to be enriched in everything by You, in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Messiah was confirmed in me, so that I come short in no gift; eagerly waiting for the revelation of my Lord Yeshua the Messiah, who will also confirm me to the end, that I may be blameless in the day of my Lord Yeshua.(1 Cor. 1: 4-8)

Father, I pray that You would continue to grant to me, Your servant, that with all boldness I may speak Your Word, by stretching forth Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Child, Yeshua. (Acts 4:29-30)

Also read : Prayer for Spiritual Growth

What is Taizé worship? Why do so many people (up to 7000 a week – primarily young people) go to Taizé to pray? Why is the Taizé prayer so attractive?

There is certainly a multitude of answers but perhaps a key response lies in the fact that, at the heart of the prayer, there is a monastic community. Taizé is a little village in the south of Burgundy, France. In this village, over 60 years ago, Brother Roger founded a community devoted to prayer and living a parable of reconciliation within the church and the human family. The Community is made up of brothers from all the continents and major denominations who gather together three times a day, seven days a week, throughout the year to pray (whether there are 7000 young people present or only twenty).

Taize Prayer

The Taizé prayer is not simply a prayer form or model that can be adapted or inserted into any context with the same results. There are, however, characteristics of the Taizé prayer that can be useful in understanding its dynamics. The distinguishing marks include repetition and silence and the insertion of these into the liturgy. Repetition is not a new phenomenon nor unique to Taizé. The use of repetitive prayers is a long attested reality in the history of Christian spirituality and liturgy (for example, in the Jesus Prayer and the Rosary).

What is unique to the prayer of Taizé is the adaptation of the repetitive form to simple musical lines and core biblical texts that can be sung by a whole assembly of various nationalities, languages, and denominations. The duration of repetitive songs (whether in canon form or ostinato) during prayer is not to be timed nor the number of repetitions calculated beforehand. The assembly is to immerse itself in the simple but profound harmonies and let itself be carried by this sung prayer.

Silence is perhaps the second most important aspect of this particular prayer practice. In the middle of the prayer is a long period of silence (rather than a sermon or meditation). Maintaining silence is not a technique or method enabling some special communication with God. It is simply holding oneself in a presence and letting Christ, through the Holy Spirit, pray in us. There are not many short silences in a Taizé prayer rather the prayer moves along according to a certain rhythm through song, psalm and reading leading up to a longer silence (around 10 minutes) which then culminates in intercessory prayer and more song.

Taize Worship Video

Taize Music

Taize style music is very popular among college-age worshippers today. The hallmarks of Taize services are simplicity, peaceful spirituality, and music based upon the chant styles of the Taize monastery in France. Founded in the aftermath of the second World War by Brother Roger, who died in a prayer service in the midst of the community in August 2005, Taize is dedicated to peace and ecumenical action.

Taize music is both simple and sophisticated. Brother Roger, founder of Taize, seeks to add a prayerful element to music, and a musical element to prayer, believing firmly in the old dictum, ‘those who sing, pray twice’. The songs of Taize are designed to be sung by those who have difficulty carrying a tune, as well as those whose training and background in music extends to high levels.

Taize worship relies on psalms heavily, as well as periods of silence, Bible readings, and prayers.

The way Taize chants ‘work’ is that they are simple phrases and simple tunes that gradually reveal depth and sophistication by being repeated over and over. According to Brother Roger, all who follow this journey of the spirit remain alongside other people, adding their prayers and voices together. ‘They do not separate prayer and commitment.’

Want to know more? Goto Taize Official Website