Best Loved Prayers and Words of Wisdom

I shall possess, within the veil,

A life of joy and peace.

The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,

The sun forbear to shine;

But God, who called me here below,

Will be forever mine.

John Newton (1725–1807)

The apologist’s evening prayer

Clive Staples Lewis was an Irish-born writer and scholar. An atheist from the age of fifteen he slowly returned to faith in his early thirties. He was a close friend and colleague of J R R Tolkein at Oxford, where he lived for many years. He wrote a number of books but is perhaps best known for The Chronicles of Narnia books.

From all my lame defeats and oh! much more

From all the victories that I seem to score;

From cleverness shot forth on thy behalf

At which, while angels weep, the audience laugh;

From all my proofs of thy divinity

Thou, who wouldst give no other sign, deliver me

Thoughts are but coins. Let me not trust instead

Of thee, their thin-worn image of my head.

From all me thoughts, even from my thoughts of thee

O thou fair Silence, fall, and set me free.

Lord of the narrow gate and the needle’s eye,

Take me from all my trumpery lest I die.

C S Lewis (1898–1963)

As the sun sets

St Basil the Great describes how early Christians, rather than taking the light of lamps for granted, would thank God for it using the words of this ancient hymn, which is believed to date from the second century.

Now, as the sun sets in the west,

Soft lamplight glows as evening starts;

Thus, light from light, God’s Son all blest

Comes from the immortal Father’s heart.

We therefore sing our joyful songs

To Father, Holy Spirit, Son,

To whom in every age belongs

By right all praise from every tongue.

Lord Jesus, Son of God, from you

All life, all joy come forth this night;

The world, and each soft glowing hue,

Reflect the glory of your light.

Anon. (2nd century)

Ask and you will receive

Jesus taught that those who seek God will find answers and direction. He also assured his followers that faithful prayer will be answered.

‘Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find;

knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who

asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone

who knocks, the door will be opened.’

Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.

Matthew 7:7–8; 21:22, NRSV

Ask God for wisdom

James writes to the early church, stressing the importance of a life lived in devotion to God. Believing in the right things is not enough – followers of Jesus must also live according to their faith. But this is no easy task and James reassures his readers that help is available.

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all

generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in

faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of