Find the best prayers for Lent as we embark on the 40-day journey to Easter Sunday! The Lenten season developed as part of the historical Christian calendar and is typically celebrated by Catholics, Orthodox Christians, and some mainline Protestant churches that follow a liturgical calendar.
Although its format has varied throughout the centuries and different cultures, the basic concept of Lent remains: to open our hearts to God's refining grace through prayer, confession, fasting, and almsgiving as we anticipate Holy Week. Lent traditionally lasts forty days, modeled after Christ's forty-day fast in the desert, and ends on Good Friday. In the Western Church, Lent officially begins with a reminder of our mortality on Ash Wednesday.
Prayer is an important part of Lent as it is the main source of communication to God. As you meditate on the sacrifice of Jesus, these prayers for lent will help you verbalize your faith!
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Praying and Fasting for Lent
The Biblical practice of fasting can be found in both the Old Testament and the New, with Moses (Exodus 34:28; Deuteronomy 9:9-18), Elijah (1 Kings 19:8), and our Lord (Matthew 4:2) all participating in 40-day fasts. Fasting is a way of denying ourselves the excesses and distractions of life so that we might be more aware of the Lord's voice. It is also a way of disciplining yourself, strengthening your "spiritual muscles," so to speak so that when temptations arise in life, you are already used to saying "no" to your desires. And finally, fasting is also a way of participating, in a small way, in the sufferings of Christ and can be particularly powerful when accompanied by prayer and confession.
10 Prayers for Lent
Here are ten prayers you can use for Lent and Scriptures to help you during a time of reflection and repentance:
1. Lent Prayer for Strength and Guidance
Lord God Almighty, shaper and ruler of all creatures, we pray for your great mercy, that you guide us towards you, for we cannot find our way.
And guide us to your will, to the need of our soul, for we cannot do it ourselves. And make our mind steadfast in your will and aware of our soul’s need.
Strengthen us against the temptations of the devil, and remove from us all lust and every unrighteousness, and shield us against our foes, seen and unseen.
Teach us to do your will, that we may inwardly love you before all things with a pure mind. For you are our maker and our redeemer, our help, our comfort, our trust, our hope; praise and glory be to you now and forever.
Source: Alfred the Great, 9th century
2. Protect from Any Temptation
O Christ, Son of God, for our sake you fasted forty days and allowed yourself to be tempted. Protect us so that we may not be led astray by any temptation. Since man does not live by bread alone, nourish our souls with the heavenly food of your Word; through your mercy, O our God, you are blessed and live and govern all things, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects
3. Lent Prayer for Strength and Protection
Lord God, heavenly Father, you know that we are set in the midst of so many and great dangers, that by reason of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant us such strength and protection, to support us in all danger, and carry us through all temptations; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Source: Martin Luther, the German Litany
4. Prayer for God to Bring Beauty from Ashes:
Dear God, In this season of Lent, we’re reminded of our difficulties and struggles. Sometimes, the way has seemed too dark. Sometimes, we feel like our lives have been marked by such grief and pain we don’t see how our circumstances can ever change.
But in the midst of our weakness, we ask that you would be strong on our behalf. Lord, rise within us. Let your Spirit shine out of every broken place we’ve walked through. Allow your power to be manifested through our weakness so that others will recognize it is You who is at work on our behalf.
We ask that you trade the ashes of our lives for the beauty of your Presence. Trade our mourning and grief for the oil of joy and gladness from your Spirit. Trade our despair for hope and praise. We choose to give you thanks today and believe that this season of darkness will fade away.
Thank you that you are with us in whatever we face and that you are greater than this trial. We know and recognize that You are Sovereign, we thank You for the victory that is ours because of Christ Jesus, and we are confident that You have good still in store for our future. We thank you that you are at work right now, trading our ashes for greater beauty. We praise you, for you make all things new. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. ~ By Debbie McDaniel.
5. Lead Us to Love You Sincerely
O Lord Jesus Christ, by your almighty power, you opened the eyes of the blind and showed yourself to them. Turn our eyes away from worthless things, and lead us to love you sincerely; through your mercy,
O our God, you are blessed and live and govern all things, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Freely modified from Mozarabic Collects
6. Lent Prayer for a Clean Heart
Create a clean heart in me, O God: a humble heart, a meek heart, a peaceful heart, a benevolent heart, a devout heart which does evil to no one, which does not repay evil for evil, but overcomes evil with good, which loves you above all things, always thinks about you, speaks about you, gives you thanks, delights in hymns and spiritual songs, and has its citizenship in heaven. Amen.
Source: Girolamo Savonarola
7. Defend Us from All Enemies
O Lord, mercifully hear our prayer and stretch forth the right hand of your majesty to defend us from all enemies that rise up against us; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Gregorian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the First Sunday in Lent
8. Lent Prayer for Strength
O God, you see that we have no strength in ourselves. Keep us both outwardly and inwardly. Defend us from all adversities which hurt the body, and cleanse us from all evil thoughts which afflict the mind; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Gregorian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Second Sunday in Lent
9. Lent Prayer for Defense
Almighty God, look on the humble desires of your servants. Stretch forth the right hand of your majesty and be our sure defense; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Gregorian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Third Sunday in Lent
10. Lent Prayer for the Comfort of God's Grace
Almighty God, grant that we who deserve to be afflicted for our evil deeds may mercifully be relieved by the comfort of your grace; through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Source: Gregorian Sacramentary, 8th Century, Historic Collect for the Fourth Sunday in Lent
Bible Verses for Lent Readings
In addition to praying during Lent, there are many Bible verses suitable for Lenten reflection and can be included in your reading during the Lenten season. These Scriptures are powerful reminders of the love God shows us through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ:
Joel 2:12: "Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning."
Matthew 4:1-2: "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry."
Isaiah 58:6-7: "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"
Matthew 6:16-18: "When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."
Psalm 51:10: "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
2 Corinthians 6:2: "For he says, 'In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.' I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
Mark 8:34: "Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.'"
Psalm 34:18: "The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."
Matthew 6:21: "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Romans 12:1: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
These verses can serve as meaningful focal points for meditation, prayer, and reflection during the Lenten season, helping individuals deepen their spiritual journey and draw closer to God.
Related:
Powerful Lent Bible Verses
What to Give Up for Lent
What is the Purpose and Meaning of Lent?
Ash Wednesday Prayer
Sources:
Featured Prayers: Lent - acollectionofprayers.com
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