ORTHODOX PRAYERS FOR ALL SEASONS AND OCCASIONS Part II

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

ORTHODOX PRAYERS FOR ALL SEASONS AND OCCASIONS [Part II]

Our Lord Jesus Christ teaches us of how we must pray:

"And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love
to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that
they may be seen by me. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward.
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut
your door, pray to your Father Who is in the secret place; and your Father
Who sees in secret will reward you openly.
And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For
they think that they will be heard for their many words.
Therefore do ot be like them. For your Father knows the things you
have need of before you ask Him" [Matthew 6:5-8].

THANKSGIVING AFTER DELIVERANCE FROM TROUBLE

Almighty and Merciful God, I most humbly and heartily thank Thy Divine Majesty
for Thy loving kindness and tender mercies, that Thou hast heard my humble prayer,
and graciously vouchsafed to deliver me from my trouble and misery. Grant me, I
beseech Thee, Thy helping grace, that I may obediently walk in Thy holy commandments,
and lead a sober, righteous and godly life, ever remembering Thy mercies, and the
blessings Thou hast undeservedly bestowed upon me, that I may continuously offer
to Thee the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving, O Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Amen.

A PRAYER OF A SICK PERSON

O Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, Physician of our souls and bodies, Who didst become man
and suffer death on the Cross for our salvation, and through Thy tender love and compassion,
didst heal all manner of sickness and afflictions; do Thou O Lord, visit me in my suffering,
and grant me grace and strength to bear this sickness with which I am afflicted, with Christian
patience and submission to Thy will, trusting in Thy loving kindness and tender mercy. Bless,
I pray Thee, the means used for my recovery, and those who administer them. I know O Lord,
that I justly deserve any punishment Thou mayest inflict upon me for I have offended Thee and
sinned against Thee, in thought, word and deed. Therefore, I humbly pray Thee, look upon my
weakness, and deal not with me after my sins, but according to the multitude of Thy mercies.
Have compassion on me, and let mercy and justice meet; and deliver me from this sickness
and suffering I am undergoing. Grant that my sickness may be the means of my true repentance
and amendment of my life according to Thy will, that I may spend the rest of my days in Thy
love and fear: that my soul, being helped by Thy grace and sanctified by Thy Holy Mysteries,
and may be prepared for its passage to the Eternal Life, and there, in the company of Thy
blessed Saints, may praise and glorify Thee with Thy Eternal Father and Life-Giving Spirit.
Amen.

THANKSGIVING AFTER RECOVERY FROM SICKNESS

Almighty God,our heavenly Father, Source of life and Fountain of all good things, I bless
Thy Holy Name, and offer to Thee most hearty thanks for having delivered me from my
sickness and restored me to health. Grant me Thy continuing grace, I pray Thee, that I may
keep my good resolutions and correct the errors of my past life, and improve in virtue, and
live a new life in dutiful fear of Thee, doing Thy will in all things, and devoting this new life
which Thou hast given me to Thy service: that thus living for Thee, I may be found ready
when it pleaseth Thee to call me to Thee, O Heavenly Father, to Whom with Thine Only-begotten
Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, is due all Honor, praise, glory, and thanksgiving: now and ever,
and unto ages of ages. Amen.

PSALM 51[50]

Have mercy upon me, O God, according to Thy lovingkindness; according to the multitude
of Thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin.
For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before me. Against Thee, Thou
only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight — that Thou may be found just when Thou
speak, and blameless when Thou judge.
Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin my mother conceived me. Behold, Thou’
desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part Thou will make me to know wisdom.
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make
me hear joy and gladness, that the bones Thou have broken may rejoice. Hide Thy face from
my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me
away from Thy presence, and do not take away Thy Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and uphold me by Thy generous Spirit. Then I will
teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to Thee.
Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, the God of my salvation, and my tongue shall
sing aloud of Thy righteousness. O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth shall show forth
Thy praise.
For Thou do not desire sacrifice, or else sI would give it; The sacrifices to God are a broken
spirit, a broken and a contrite heart–These, O God, Thou will not despise.
Do good inThy good pleasure to Zion; built the walls of Jerusalem, then Thou shall be pleased
with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering; Then they
shall offer bulls on Thy altar.
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Please note: The original meaning of the word "hypocrite" was "actor." "Hypocrites" are play-actors practicing theatrical piety. They put on their show in synagogues and in the streets to please people, not God. Wearing masks of compassion, inwardly they are cruel and heartless. Their "reward" is the applause of people– nothing more. The Almighty God is not impressed with what people think of us, or even with our own opinion of ourselves. He sees who we really are, and He knows our motives as well as our deeds. Everything will be judged,and our good deeds will be rewarded "openly."

The "hypocrites" miss the spirit of prayer, which involves an intimate, personal relationship with God and leads to the vision. Mere "vain repetitions" do not establish such a relationship, for God does not need our "babble." To be made intimate with Him, BE HUMBLED, BE SINCERE, BE CONTRITE, BE HONEST, BE TRUTHFUL, AND BE REMINDED OF OUR SINS, BOTH SILENCE AND WORDS ARE NECESSARY. Therefore, we always pray "WITHOUT CEASING" AND WE DO USE "MANY WORDS"–BUT THEY MUST COME FROM THE HEART TO SEEK GOD HIMSELF.

Christian worship, with familiar psalms, hymns, prayers and readings from the Holy Scripture, brings God the praise "in spirit and truth" which He seeks (John 4:23). In no way do these liturgical acts violate Jesus’ command against vain words and repetition.

__________
"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George