Words of Grace: Top 10 Christian Prayers Every Believer Knows By Heart

The world feels heavy, but my heart is heavier for those who claim to believe, yet barely acknowledge Your presence. I’m not judging—well, maybe I am a little—but it’s because I care. I believe in You more than I believe in the air in my lungs. And if prayer is how we breathe spiritually, then we’re walking around as a suffocating generation.

CLICK HERE TO ENJOY ALL 10 PRAYERS….

So here it is: the 10 Christian prayers that have helped me stand when I had no strength, cry when I felt numb, and believe when I was tempted not to.

1 – The Lord’s Prayer (Our Father): A central Christian prayer taught by Jesus, found in the Bible, with variations across traditions.

This is the blueprint. Jesus Himself gave it to us, not just to recite, but to live. I pray it when I don’t know what to say. It reminds me that God is holy, sovereign, forgiving, and my provider. Every time I say, “Thy will be done,” I’m surrendering again. Honestly, it’s hard. But it’s real.

2 – The Hail Mary: A common Catholic prayer invoking the Virgin Mary, full of grace and mercy.

Some people avoid this prayer because they’re scared of sounding “too Catholic.” But I’m not afraid of reverence. Mary said yes to God when it meant scandal, shame, and sacrifice. When I pray this, I remember that obedience is costly, and God honors it.

3 – The Glory Be: A doxology, or prayer of praise, honoring the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This one is like spiritual punctuation. I pray it when I finish thanking God or after reading scripture. It’s my way of saying, “All glory is Yours, not mine.” I can be prideful—especially when I feel spiritually “on fire.” But this resets me. 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”

4 – The Nicene Creed: A fundamental profession of Christian faith summarizing core beliefs.

I had to memorize this in confirmation class, and I rolled my eyes at it back then. But now, I cling to every line. It’s our identity, our statement of belief. When the world pushes false doctrines, this prayer anchors me to the unshakable truth. “I believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ…” Amen.

5 – The Serenity Prayer: A prayer to feel peaceful, often used to promote acceptance and courage.

Acceptance doesn’t come naturally to me. I’m a fighter. But sometimes, the most courageous thing I can do is let go. This prayer pulls me back when anxiety takes over. Philippians 4:6-7 tells me not to be anxious, and this prayer helps me live that out. One sentence at a time.

6 – Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace (Prayer of St. Francis): A well-known prayer by St. Francis of Assisi, asking to be an instrument of peace and love.

This is my go-to when I’m angry, hurt, or ready to argue—which, let’s be honest, happens often. But it convicts me every time: “Where there is hatred, let me sow love.” I can’t claim to follow Christ and still spread bitterness. Lord, make me an instrument. Dismantle my ego.

7 – The Prayer of St. Richard of Chichester: A prayer for spiritual guidance and to feel God’s presence, ending with “Thanks be to you, Lord Jesus Christ”.

It’s not fancy. It’s not long. But wow, it reminds me to pause and just thank Jesus. Not for what I want—but for who He is. Psalm 103:2 says, “Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.” This prayer is my whisper of gratitude when the day has wrecked me.

8 – The Prayer to the Angel of God: An invocation for a guardian angel to protect and guide.

I used to think this one was “childish.” Until I found myself alone in my apartment, sobbing in the dark, feeling like evil was closing in. I prayed it out loud. “Angel of God, my guardian dear…” And peace came. Whether you believe in guardian angels or not, God’s protection is real. Psalm 91:11 confirms it.

9 – The Prayer of Jabez: A biblical prayer for God to bless and enlarge one’s territory.

Some people treat this prayer like a vending machine. But for me, it’s a reminder that I can ask big things of a big God—if my heart is right. “Keep me from evil,” Jabez prayed. That part matters. I don’t want a bigger platform if it pulls me away from righteousness.

10 – Thomas Merton’s Prayer: A prayer for God to lead one’s path, focusing on trust and surrender to divine will.

This prayer is terrifyingly honest—and that’s why I love it. Trust is not pretending I have it together. Trust is saying, “God, I don’t know the way, but I’m following You anyway.” Proverbs 3:5-6 tells me to lean not on my understanding. This prayer helps me do just that.

So here I am, Lord.

Still messy. Still mouthy. Still full of questions. But I’m also full of faith—and I refuse to stay silent about it.

These 10 prayers have changed me, broken me, rebuilt me. They are not magic words. They’re declarations of surrender, hope, and belief. I don’t care if people think I’m “too intense” or “too religious.” I’m just too in love with You to play it safe.

“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you.” – James 4:8

I don’t pray these because I have to. I pray them because I can. And I won’t stop.

10 Most Popular Prayers of All Time for Christians

I was thinking about my favorite prayers last night, and I wanted to see if my FAVPRITES were among the most popular Christian prayers of all time. So like the good Christian woman I am, I sat down, opened up my laptop, and emailed, as well as skyped, all of my friends and family asking them what their favorite prayers are, and many of them loved the same ones that I did.

Now my family and friends don’t make up the whole world of Christianity, so I decided to hit up the Internet to find out what the most popular Christian prayers are, and honestly, I wasn’t surprised for one minute with what I discovered, and I’m pretty sure that no one reading this will be shocked by the results either.

Listed below are the 10 most popular Christian prayers of all time…..

#10 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Twenty-Third Psalm – Psalms 23: 1-6

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
he leads me beside still waters;
he restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the valley
of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil;
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff–they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
forever.

#9 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Covenant Prayer – John Wesley

I am no longer my own, but yours.
Put me to what you will, place me with whom you will.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be put to work for you or set aside for you,
Praised for you or criticized for you.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and fully surrender all things to your glory and service.
And now, O wonderful and holy God,
Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer,
you are mine, and I am yours.
So be it.

And the covenant which I have made on earth,
Let it also be made in heaven. Amen.

#8 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Lead Us – St. Augustine

Lead us, O God, from the sight of the lovely things of the world
To the thought of thee their Creator;
And grant that delighting in the beautiful things of thy creation,
we may delight in thee, the first author of beauty
and the Sovereign Lord of all thy works, blessed for evermore.

#7 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Let Me Serve You – St. Theresa of Avila

Govern everything by your wisdom, O Lord, so that my soul may always be serving you in the way you will and not as I choose. Let me die to myself so that I may serve you; let me live to you who are life itself. Amen.

#6 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Trinity – St. Ethelwold

May God the Father bless us,
may Christ take care of us,
the Holy Ghost enlighten us all the days of our life.
The Lord be our defender and keeper of body and soul,
both now and for ever, to the ages of ages.

#5 Most Popular Christian Prayer: The Serenity Prayer – Reinhold Niebuhr

God, grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time,
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as a pathway to peace;
taking, as Jesus did,
this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that You will make all things right
if I surrender to Your will;
so that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with You forever in the next.
Amen.

#4 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Receive Grace – John Wesley

O God, seeing as there is in Christ Jesus an infinite fullness of all that we can want or desire, May we all receive from him, grace upon grace; grace to pardon our sins, and subdue our iniquities; to justify our persons and to sanctify our souls; and to complete that holy change, that renewal of our hearts, Which will enable us to be transformed into the blessed image in which you created us. O make us all acceptable to be partakers of the inheritance of your saints in light. Amen.

#3 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Trust – St. Augustine

My God, let me know and love you, so that I may find my happiness in you. Since I cannot fully achieve this on earth, help me to improve daily until I may do so to the full Enable me to know you ever more on earth, so that I may know you perfectly in heaven. Enable me to love you ever more on earth, so that I may love you perfectly in heave. In that way my joy may be great on earth, and perfect with you in heaven. O God of truth, grant me the happiness of heaven so that my joy may be full in accord with your promise. In the meantime let my mind dwell on that happiness, my tongue speak of it, my heart pine for it, my mouth pronounce it, my soul hunger for it, my flesh thirst for it, and my entire being desire it until I enter through death in the joy of my Lord forever. Amen.

#2 Most Popular Christian Prayer: Strengthen Us – Thomas a Kempis

Creative Talk to God Road Sign

God, our Father, we are exceedingly frail and indisposed to every virtuous and gallant undertaking. Strengthen our weakness, we beseech you, that we may do valiantly in this spiritual war; help us against our own negligence and cowardice, and defend us from the treachery of our unfaithful hearts. for Jesus Christ’s sake.

#1 Most Popular Christian Prayer: The Lord’s Prayer – Matthew 6:9-13

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread
and forgive us our debts and we forgive
our debtors,
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil,
for thine is the kingdom and the power
and the glory, forever. Amen.

I know that not all of these are everyone’s favorite prayers, but i think it’s safe to say that these are all amazing prayers that we should share with others when we have the opportunity to do so!

But with all of this said, if you’re reading this, and if you have some extra time on your hands, could you please do me a HUGE favor and let me know in the comments section which of these 10 prayers listed above is the one you have recited more than the others. Also, can you let me know which prayer, any prayer, it doesn’t have to be from this list, is your favorite prayer of all time and why!

I really appreciate all of you that have taken the time to read this article!

Finally, I just started the new Instagram account @christian.tech.nerd and I’d LOVE for anyone with an Instagram account to please follow me so I can follow you back!