This ancient prayer comes from the Eastern Orthodox Christian prayer tradition and begins with the words of Psalm 68:1: “May God arise, may his enemies be scattered; may his foes flee before him.” The prayer developed those biblical words into a confession of Christ’s victory through His crucifixion, death and resurrection. It is traditionally included among Orthodox evening prayers, particularly before sleep. 

This one has one of the best “Wait…WHAT?” church-history stories in our collection so far, because the prayer everybody calls “The Prayer of St. Francis” was almost certainly not written by St. Francis of Assisi.

The Wesley Covenant Prayer is one of those prayers that sounds simple at first and then you realize it is asking for everything.

The Prayer of Humble Access comes from the Anglican tradition, especially the Book of Common Prayer, and it is prayed in connection with Communion.

It appears in Martin Luther’s Small Catechism, published in 1529. Luther included morning and evening prayers as part of practical instruction for Christian households—something parents could teach their families and actually use every day.

St. Patrick’s Breastplate is fascinating, and this one needs a little more historical care because there are really three layers to separate: the ancient prayer, the tradition connecting it to Patrick, and the later English hymn most people know.

**There’s one historical wrinkle here that actually makes this entry especially interesting: the prayer is traditionally called the Prayer of St. Ephrem, but we cannot confidently say Ephrem personally wrote the exact prayer we have today.

“Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner.”

**This prayer is not a Bible verse itself—it comes from the 1300s—but every line is rooted in Scripture. “Water from the side of Christ” points straight to John 19:34 (ESV): “But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once there came out blood and water.” The rest asks Jesus to do what He already promised: make us holy, hide us in His wounds, keep us from the enemy, and call us home so we can praise Him forever with the saints.