For a Christ-Centered 2024| The Complete Breastplate of St. Patrick!

I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,Through belief in the Threeness,Through confession of the Onenessof the Creator of creation. I arise todayThrough the strength of Christ’s birth with His baptism,Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom. I arise todayThrough the strength of the love of cherubim,In the obedience of angels,In the service of archangels,In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,In the prayers of patriarchs,In the predictions of prophets,In the preaching of apostles,In the faith of confessors,In the innocence of holy virgins,In the deeds of righteous men. I arise today, throughThe strength of heaven,The light of the sun,The radiance of the moon,The splendor of fire,The speed of lightning,The swiftness of wind,The depth of the sea,The stability of the earth,The firmness of rock. I arise today, throughGod’s strength to pilot me,God’s might to uphold me,God’s wisdom to guide me,God’s eye to look before me,God’s ear to hear me,God’s word to speak for me,God’s hand to guard me,God’s shield to protect me,God’s host to save meFrom snares of devils,From temptation of vices,From everyone who shall wish me ill,afar and near. I summon todayAll these powers between me and those evils,Against every cruel and merciless powerthat may oppose my body and soul,Against incantations of false prophets,Against black laws of pagandom,Against false laws of heretics,Against craft of idolatry,Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul;Christ to shield me todayAgainst poison, against burning,Against drowning, against wounding,So that there may come to me an abundance of reward. Christ with me,Christ before me,Christ behind me,Christ in me,Christ beneath me,Christ above me,Christ on my right,Christ on my left,Christ when I lie down,Christ when I sit down,Christ when I arise,Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,Christ in every eye that sees me,Christ in every ear that hears me. [Note that people sometimes pray a shorter version of this prayer just with these 15 lines about Christ above. The conclusion follows below.] I arise todayThrough a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,Through belief in the Threeness,Through confession of the Onenessof the Creator of creation. When St. Paul referred to putting on the “Armor of God” in his letter to the Ephesians (6:11) to fight sin and evil inclinations, he could have been thinking of prayers just like this one! We may not wear combat gear in our daily lives, but St. Patrick’s Breastplate can function as divine armor for protection against spiritual adversity.

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Prayer for Strength and Power in the Year 2024 Ahead

Prayer for Strength and Power in the Year Ahead Lord, we ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honored by our lives, and others would be drawn to you. In Jesus Name, Amen. A Prayer to Keep God First This New Year Dear God, Thank you that you make all things new. Thank you for all that you’ve allowed into our lives this past year, the good along with the hard things, which have reminded us how much we need you and rely on your presence filling us every single day.We pray for your Spirit to lead us each step of this New Year. We ask that you will guide our decisions and turn our hearts to deeply desire you above all else. We ask that you will open doors needing to be opened and close the ones needing to be shut tight. We ask that you would help us release our grip on the things to which you’ve said “no,” “not yet,” or “wait.” We ask for help to pursue you first, above every dream and desire you’ve put within our hearts.   We ask for your wisdom, for your strength and power to be constantly present within us. We pray you would make us strong and courageous for the road ahead. Give us ability beyond what we feel able, let your gifts flow freely through us, so that you would be honored by our lives, and others would be drawn to you. We pray that you’d keep us far from the snares and traps of temptations. That you would whisper in our ear when we need to run and whisper in our heart when we need to stand our ground. We pray for your protection over our families and friends. We ask for your hand to cover us and keep us distanced from the evil intent of the enemy; that you would be a barrier to surround us, that we’d be safe in your hands. We pray that you would give us discernment and insight beyond our years, to understand your will, hear your voice, and know your ways. Amen

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