Augustine’s Prayer on Seeking God’s Grace and Guidance Through Jesus Christ

Turn we to the Lord God, the Father Almighty, and with pure hearts offer to Him, so far as our meanness can, great and true thanks, with all our hearts praying His exceeding kindness, that of His good pleasure He would deign to hear our prayers, that by His Power He would drive out the enemy from our deeds and thoughts, that He would increase our faith, guide our understandings, give us spiritual thoughts, and lead us to His bliss, through Jesus Christ His Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Him, in the Unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

— Augustine Cited from Expositions on the Book of Psalms

This prayer arises from a humble heart, seeking God’s mercy and His will to be done. It is a heartfelt plea for Him to drive out the darkness that clouds our thoughts and actions. Aware of our own instability, we ask Him to strengthen our faith. In the face of life’s complexities, we look to the Lord for guidance. When our minds are burdened by sin, we ask for spiritual renewal. Above all, we acknowledge that it is God who leads us—through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit.

Saith Augustine of Hippo (354-430): A western church father who served as the Bishop of Hippo in North Africa, close to present day Annaba in Algeria, the writings and ministry of Augustine defined Christianity in the West, and even to this day, Christians in the West draw their Christian theology, spirituality, and philosophy from Augustine’s influence. If anybody wants to seriously examine Christian theology in the West, then Augustine’s Confessions and City of God are must reads. Many long and complex theological discussions on predestination, original sin, and salvation of unbaptized infants are rooted in ideas that Augustine wrestled over in writings concerning the errors perpetuated by Pelagius.