Abba-our Heavenly Father
O God of the heavens, God of light, God of the angels and archangels obedient to Your authority and power; O God, glorified in your saints, Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Your only begotten-Son, who delivered the souls that were bound to death and enlightened those who dwelt in darkness; He who released us from all our misery and pain and has protected us from the assaults of the enemy.
And You, O Son and Word of God, who have intended us for immortality by your death and glorified us with Your glory; You who loosed us from the fetters of our sins through Your cross, rendering us pleasing to yourself and uniting us to God; You who rescued us from destruction and cured all our diseases; You who set us on the path to heaven and changed our corruption to incorruption:
Hear me, who cry to You with longing and fear, You before whom the mountains and the firmament under the heavens shrink back; You who make the elements of nature to tremble, keeping them within their own limits; and because of whom the fires of retribution dare not overstep the boundary set for them, but must await the decision of Your will; and for whom all creation sighs with great sighs awaiting deliverance; by whom all hostile nature’s have been put to flight, and the legion of the Enemy has been subdued, the Devil is frightened, the Serpent trampled under foot, and the Dragon slain; You who have enlightened the nations that confess and welcome Your rule, O Lord; You through whom life has appeared, hope has prevailed, through whom man of the earth was recreated by belief in You.
For who is like You, Almighty God? For this reason we beseech You, O Father, Lord of mercies, who existed before the ages and surpasses all good, calling upon Your holy name, through the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Holy One, and Your All-powerful Spirit:
Cast away from my soul every malady, all disbelief; spare me from the furious attacks of unclean, hellish, fiery, evil-serving, lustful spirits; the love of gold and silver; conceit, fornication; every shameless, unseemly, dark, and profane demon. Indeed, O God, expel from me every energy of the Devil, every enchantment and delusion; all idolatry, lunacy, astrology, necromancy; every bird of omen, the love of luxury and the flesh, drunkenness, carnality, adultery, licentiousness, shamelessness, anger, contentiousness, confusion; and all evil suspicion.
Yes, O Lord our God, breathe upon me the Spirit of your peace; watch over me and in this way produce the fruits of faith, virtue, wisdom, chastity, self-control, love, uprightness, hope, meekness, long suffering, patience, prudence and understanding in me, so that I may be welcomed by You in the name of Jesus Christ, believing in the consubstantial Trinity, giving witness to and glorifying your dominion, along with the angels and archangels and all the heavenly host, guarding our hearts by them.
For all things are possible to You, O Lord. Therefore we ascribe glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, now and ever and unto the age of ages. Amen. Adapted from an ancient prayer of St. Basil of Caesarea, Manual of Spiritual Warfare
Prayer to the Holy Trinity
O God, Thou who art one in nature and three in persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, first cause and last end of all creatures, the infinite Good, incomprehensible and ineffable, my Creator, my Redeemer, and my Sanctifier, I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, and I love Thee with all my heart.
In the midst of Thine infinite happiness, Thou didst choose me, through no merits of mine, in preference to countless other creatures, who would doubtless have corresponded with Thy blessings better than I have done; Thou didst love me from eternity; and when my hour in time had come, Thou didst draw me from nothingness into earthly existence and didst bestow upon me Thy grace, as a pledge of everlasting life.
From the depths of my misery, I adore Thee and I give Thee thanks. Thy holy Name was invoked over my cradle to be my profession of faith, my plan of action, and the only goal of my earthly pilgrimage; grant, O most Holy Trinity, that I may ever be inspired by this faith, and may carry out this plan with perseverance, so that, when I have reached the end of my journey upon earth, I may be able to fix my gaze upon the blessed splendours of Thy glory. Amen.
Psalm 54
O God, by your name save me, and by your might defend my cause. O God, hear my prayer; hearken to the words of my mouth. For the haughty men have risen up against me, the ruthless seek my life; they set not God before their eyes. Behold, God is my helper; the Lord sustains my life. Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O LORD, for its goodness.
Lectio Divina, 25th Week In Ordinary Time
Ephesians 6:10-18: The Armour of God
Finally, build up your strength in union with the Lord and by means of his mighty power, put on all the armor that God gives you, so that you will be able to stand up against' the Devil's evil tricks.
For we are not fighting against human beings but against the wicked spiritual forces in the heavenly world, the rulers, authorities, and, cosmic powers of this Dark Age. So, put on God's armor now!
Then when the evil day comes, you will be able to resist the enemy attacks; and after fighting to the end, you will still hold your ground.
So stand ready, with truth as a belt tight around your waist, with righteousness as your breastplate, and as your shoes the readiness to announce the Good News of peace.
At all times carry faith as a shield; for with it you will be able to put out all the burning arrows shot by the Evil One. And accept salvation as a helmet, and the Word of God as the sword which the Spirit gives you.
Do all this in prayer, asking for God's help. Pray on every occasion, as the Spirit leads. For this reason, keep alert and never give up; Pray always for all God's people. The Word of the Lord, Thanks be to God.
Psalm 91: Security Under God’s Protection
You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shade of the Almighty, Say to the LORD, “My refuge and fortress, my God in whom I trust.”
He will rescue you from the fowler’s snare, from the destroying plague, He will shelter you with his pinions, and under his wings you may take refuge; his faithfulness is a protecting shield.
You shall not fear the terror of the night nor the arrow that flies by day, Nor the pestilence that roams in darkness, nor the plague that ravages at noon. Though a thousand fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, near you it shall not come.
You need simply watch; the punishment of the wicked you will see. Because you have the LORD for your refuge and have made the Most High your stronghold,
No evil shall befall you, no affliction come near your tent. For he commands his angels with regard to you, to guard you wherever you go. With their hands they shall support you, lest you strike your foot against a stone. You can tread upon the asp and the viper, trample the lion and the dragon.
Because he clings to me I will deliver him; because he knows my name I will set him on high. He will call upon me and I will answer; I will be with him in distress; I will deliver him and give him honor. With length of days I will satisfy him, and fill him with my saving power.