«Lord, help me!» — at a difficult turning point, this is powerful prayer in its purest form. But over two thousand years, the Church has also gathered prayers used as «weapons» — short, concentrated prayers said in extreme situations: sudden illness, great fear, danger, debt and families on the verge of breaking apart. Here you will find the most commonly used ones, with their order.
How to say a powerful prayer
- With the name: the prayer is for a particular person — «for the servant of God (name)»;
- With persistence: 9, 12 or 40 consecutive days (not once and done);
- With forgiveness: before making a petition, we forgive everyone who has upset us — prayer over a troubled soul does not rise;
- With confession, in serious cases: grace flows where there is purity;
- With patience: «no» and «later» are answers too.
The urgent prayer (in any danger)
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God,
through the prayers of Your Most Pure Mother
and of all Your saints,
have mercy and save me!
Repeated slowly three times — it is the Church's «short circle» for emergencies. (Details in the Prayer of the Heart.)
A powerful prayer for health
Lord, Who healed the sick,
touch Your servant (name) with Your mercy.
Give him patience, give him sleep, give him strength of body
and enlighten those who care for and treat him.
And what medicine cannot do, may Your grace accomplish. Amen.
For those who are seriously ill, add prayers to Saint Nectarios (the most sought-after healer) and the prayer for health.
A powerful prayer for family and home
Lord, bless this house
and everyone who enters it.
Drive away every quarrel, every evil zeal, every evil thought,
and pour Your peace over this threshold.
What has broken between us, bind together;
what has grown dark, illuminate. Amen.
Prayer in fear and a panic attack
O God, attend to my help!
O Lord, make haste to help me!
You are with me — whom shall I fear?
It is said slowly, with the breath, together with Psalm 90 — the psalm of protection above all others.
What Christ says about powerful prayer
«Whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you have received it, and you will have it» (Mark 11:24) — and He also says: «not My will, but Yours». The power of prayer comes not from a perfect formula, but from the trust of the person who says it and the goodness of the One to whom it is addressed. This is why the ordinary person's «weak prayer» often prevails over the «perfect prayer» of someone listening to themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most powerful prayer in the world? The Our Father — because it was given by Christ Himself. Next comes the Prayer of the Heart, called by the Fathers «stronger than all».
Why do I not receive what I ask for? Spiritual writers give three answers: we ask for something that would harm us; it is not yet the time; or God is preparing more than we ask for. «Ask, and it will be given to you» nevertheless remains a promise, not a formula.
Read also
The psalms for urgent needs
The strongest psalms in danger: Psalm 3 (for the sick), Psalm 69 (the urgent prayer) and Psalm 90 (protection). All 151: The Psalter — the complete list.
