Communion is a sacred time for you as a follower of Jesus. But before you participate in this memorable occasion, take time to spend some reflective moments in self-examination. What does that mean? How should you pray? While this is an individual matter between you and God, here are some prayer thoughts that might help you as you prepare for this beautiful time of remembrance.
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A Communion Prayer
Lord Jesus, I bow before you in humility and ask You to examine my heart today. Show me anything that is not pleasing to You. Reveal any secret pride, any unconfessed sin, any rebellion or unforgiveness that may be hindering my relationship with You. I know that I am Your beloved child, having received You into my heart and life and having accepted Your death as penalty for my sinfulness. The price You paid covered me for all time, and my desire is to live for You.
As I take the bread representing Your life that was broken for me, I remember and celebrate Your faithfulness to me and to all who will receive You. I can’t begin to fathom the agonizing suffering of Your crucifixion. Yet You took that pain for me. You died for me! Thank You, Jesus. Thank You for Your extravagant love and unmerited favor. Thank You that Your death gave me life—abundant life now, and eternal life forever. As You instructed Your disciples, I, too, receive this bread in remembrance of You.
And in the same way, as I take this cup representing Your blood poured out from a splintered cross, I realize that You were the supreme sacrifice for all my sin: past, present, and future. Because of Your blood shed for me, and Your body broken for me, I can be free from the power and penalty of sin. Thank You for Your victory over death. You took the death that I deserved. You took my punishment. Your pain was indeed my gain. And today I remember and celebrate the precious gift of life You gave me through the blood that You spilled.
But while my relationship is secure with you, I know sin can break our fellowship at times. I’m still human, and I often forget who I am and Whose I am. You want to convict and correct me, not shame me. You love me like a perfect parent. You’ll never disown me or leave me. You love me no matter what. But sin hurts both my heart and Yours. So before I take communion today, I’m asking You to truly search my heart and reveal hidden things for which to ask Your forgiveness.
Each time I take communion, Lord, I want to recommit my life, my heart, my thoughts, my everything to You. Fill me today with Your powerful Spirit. As I leave this place, help me to hold this fresh remembrance and the story that never grows old close to my heart. Help me to share its message faithfully as You give opportunity.
In Your Precious name,
Amen
Rebecca Barlow Jordan is an inspirational author, speaker, and passionate follower of Jesus who loves to encourage others heart to heart. She has written 11 books and over 1700 other articles, greeting cards, and other inspirational pieces. Her daily devotional Daily in Your Presence is available for delivery through Crosswalk.com. You can find out more about Rebecca at www.rebeccabarlowjordan.com.
Publication date: October 23, 2017
Image Courtesy: ©Thinkstock/RomoloTavani
This article is part of our larger Prayers resource meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Visit our most popular prayers if you are wondering how to pray or what to pray. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.
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Welcome to our growing library of communion prayers. If you know of a good prayer to say at communion, we invite you to add it at the bottom of the page.
The Bread and The Cup
Often times, prayers for the Eucharist will be broken up into two sections; For the Bread, and For the Cup. One prayer is to be said before the breaking of the bread, and one before the pouring of the wine.
For example:
For the Bread:
Crucified God, we wear beautiful crosses around
our necks, and hang them on our walls. We have
made your triumphant sign of suffering decorative,
when what it really needs to be is defining.
So make us cruciform Lord, in our weekly
remembrance of Christs death on the cross
in our breaking of this bread.
Let us show by the offering of our hearts and hands
the depth of our commitment to live for him who died for us.
In lives of sacrifice and service, empower our
witness to Jesus Christ, whose cross so powerfully
proclaims your love.
Amen.
For the Cup:
In lifting this cup of remembrance here this morning
Oh God of sacrifice, we are lifting high the cross of Christ
and proclaiming your great love.
We partake, with gratitude, all the gifts that ours
in Christ crucified – new life, real unity, eternal life,
and a meaningful purpose.
Fill us now again with the power of your spirit
that we might be bold in our witness to Jesus Christ,till all the world adores his sacred name.
Amen
A First Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You are present in the
Most Holy Sacrament. I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
I believe it because you have said it
and Im ready to give my life to
maintain this truth.
Amen
Prayer for Receiving the Lord
Sweet Jesus, thank You for everything You have bestowed upon me. You have sacrificed Your life to save all of mankind from our sins. You have generously shared with us Your life when You could have chosen not to. Forgive me for the sins I have done against You and for the ones I will be making.
I promise that I will be a better person for you and for others. Bless the hands of the hard working, the hearts of the loving and the souls of those who help.
In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Being One with Jesus
Dear God, I come to You today to praise and glorify Your name. You have showered us with wonderful gifts. The best gift of all is giving Your son to save us from our sins.
There is no worse grief for a father than to lose his son. You have been unselfish and very giving even to those who have turned their backs on You. I pray that they come back to Your welcoming arms. I dedicate this prayer to those who need someone to call on to when the days get rough and the nights are worst.
Give them the strength and courage to come back to You, Father. Being with Jesus has ultimately changed my life. Let it be for them as well.
In Your glory always, I pray. Amen.
Prayer at a Child’s First Communion
Lord Jesus Christ, in the Sacrament of
the Eucharist You left us the outstanding
manifestation of your limitless love for us.
Thank You for giving our child the
opportunity to experience this love
in receiving the Sacrament for the first time.
May your Eucharist presence keep him/her
ever free from sin, fortified in faith,
pervaded by love for God and neighbor,
and fruitful in virtue, that he/she may
continue to receive You throughout life and
attain final union with You at death.
Amen.
Prayer to Receive the Lord
Lord, as You enter my body, please cleanse me from all my sins.
Teach me to become as pure as You and Your mother Mary. I pray that I become a better person and be kinder to my neighbours. May Your presence in me make me a better person and do whatever is only on Your will.
Thank You for keeping me warm on those cold toasty nights and safe from harm. I pray that all my loved ones live in Your presence and that they always do what is right. I pray for the world to have peace especially in their hearts.
I pray this for Your glory, Lord. Amen.
A Prayer of Thanksgiving
Loving and compassionate God,
God of infinite goodness and mercy,
Your blessed name be glorified.
Yours is the glory,
You are the ruler of all the land and everything on it;
You are the ruler of the world and all its inhabitants.
God of all of us, teach us to live the way you have always wanted.
You are our God and savior,
And our trust is always in you.
We thank you for the blessings that you give us every day.
We thank you for providing food to those in need.
We thank you for blessing us with the desire for your justice for those who are poor.
We thank you for blessing us with the voice to speak for the voiceless.
We thank you for allowing us to be your hands and feet in the world,
For the blessing of being part of the great family that is your Church.
Hear our prayer and help us remember always your call to justice and compassion.
Our God, you will conquer all injustice; with your help we will be victorious.
Source: bread.org
Prayer After Communion
Lord Jesus, I love and adore you. You’re a special friend to me.
Welcome, Lord Jesus, o welcome. Thank you for coming to me. Thank you, Lord Jesus, o thank you for giving yourself to me. Make me strong to show your love wherever I may be. Be near me, Lord Jesus, I ask you to stay close by my forever and love me, I pray. Bless all of us children in your loving care and bring us to heaven to live with you there.
I’m ready now, Lord Jesus, to show how much I care. I’m ready now to give your love at home and everywhere.
Amen.
Source: goodshepherdgalway.com
Catholic Communion Prayers
Here are some prayers for the Blessed Sacrament from the Catholic tradition.
The Sanctity of Life
My God, we adore You here in the Blessed Sacrament.
As we kneel before You, we recognize You
as the Creator of all Life. We thank You and
praise You for the lives you have given to us
and to those we love. Give us a true and lasting
respect for all life, for we recognize it as coming
from You. We pray for all who have suffered or
died as a result of disrespect whether that suffering
and death has come as a result of abuse, war, gossip,
or abortion.
We pray for an end for all disrespect of life. As we
kneel before You we ask You to forgive all those who
do not respect the sanctity of life. We repeat the words
you spoke as you hung on the cross, ‘Father, forgive them,
for they know not what they do.
Hail to Thee, True Body
Hail to thee, true body born
From Virgin Mary’s womb!
The same that on the cross was nailed
And bore for man the bitter doom.
Thou, whose side was pierced and flowed
Both with water and with blood;
Suffer us to taste of thee,
In our life’s last agony.
O kind, O loving one!
O sweet Jesus, Mary’s Son!
Prayers for After Communion
Here are some simple, short prayer to say after the communion has ended.
Go As Children of God
Go as risk takers,
For God has nourished you with bread and cup.
Go as new creatures,
For God is saving you from your sin.
Go as children of God,
For God will be with us all.
Amen
Gracious God
Gracious God, here at this table we have been, in the company of Jesus Christ, our savior and redeemer.
You have revealed your loving ways to us in broken bread
and poured cup.
Now, as your light has illuminated
our lives. Help us be a light for others.
Amen
Prayer of Thanksgiving After Communion
Lord Jesus, thank You for being with me today! You have been my guide and guard in all my days and I pray that continue to be so. Thank You for always keeping me safe and warm, for keeping me away from harm.
Thank You for giving me the gift of living another day and for my family who are never away. Bless those who are in need of Your loving protection. Let them be under Your wing and they will never be astray.
May this prayer keep all evils away and only the good will stay. Amen.
Eternal Light
Eternal Light, shine in our hearts.
Eternal Goodness, you have drawn us to your heart.
and united us in the sacrament of Christs body and blood.
Eternal Power, be our support.
Eternal Wisdom, scatter the darkness of our ignorance.
Eternal Pity, have mercy upon us.
That with all our heart and mind and soul and strength
we may seek your face and be brought by your infinite
mercy to your holy presence; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
Bible Verses About Faith
“In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one;”
It is common to use scripture in communion prayers. Click here to read Bible Verses About Faith
Return to 15 Great Communion Prayers
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A communion prayer is a reflective time when sitting at the table to invite all to share in the Banquet of Life. Bread and drink is shared just as that Jesus performed at the Last Supper with His apostles. Here is a look at some great communion prayers for elders to inspire you.
Prayer #1
I come to your table. Your painful sacrifice is on my mind. I look at the communion cracker. I see piercing. I see bruising. I see the brutality of the punishment that you endured for me. I see your everlasting love.
I gaze at the blood of redemption. I see your crimson mercy shimmering in this cup. I see your life being poured out for me. Holy, holy, holy is the Lord.
In Jesus’ Name we celebrate this communion.
Amen.
Prayer #2
I come to your table to partake of intimate communion with you. I look at the bread. I see your suffering. I see the bruising, the stripes, and the piercing. Yet, the piercing of your body is nothing in comparison to the piercing of your heart. You made the ultimate sacrifice so that I could have everything I need to be right with you.
I look at the cup. This is the blood that oozed out of you as you suffered on the cross. Blood flowed out of your thorn-torn head as you not only bowed your human head but your mind, will, and emotions as well. I now bow my mind, will, and emotions to your will as I drink this cup.
Amen.
Prayer #3
Crucified God, we wear beautiful crosses around our necks, and hang them on our walls. We have made your “triumphant sign” of suffering decorative, when what it really needs to be is defining. So make us cruciform Lord, in our weekly remembrance of Christ’s death on the cross in our breaking of this bread.
Let us show by the offering of our hearts and hands the depth of our commitment to live for him who died for us.
In lives of sacrifice and service, empower our witness to Jesus Christ, whose cross so powerfully proclaims your love.
Amen.
Prayer #4
In lifting this cup of remembrance here this morning Oh God of sacrifice, we are lifting high the cross of Christ and proclaiming your great love. We partake, with gratitude, all the gifts that ours in Christ crucified – new life, real unity, eternal life, and a meaningful purpose.
Fill us now again with the power of your spirit that we might be bold in our witness to Jesus Christ,“till all the world adores his sacred name”.
Amen.
Prayer #5
Sweet Jesus, thank You for everything You have bestowed upon me. You have sacrificed Your life to save all of mankind from our sins. You have generously shared with us Your life when You could have chosen not to. Forgive me for the sins I have done against You and for the ones I will be making.
I promise that I will be a better person for you and for others. Bless the hands of the hard working, the hearts of the loving and the souls of those who help.
In Your name, I pray. Amen.
Prayer #6
Dear God, I come to You today to praise and glorify Your name. You have showered us with wonderful gifts. The best gift of all is giving Your son to save us from our sins.
There is no worse grief for a father than to lose his son. You have been unselfish and very giving even to those who have turned their backs on You. I pray that they come back to Your welcoming arms. I dedicate this prayer to those who need someone to call on to when the days get rough and the nights are worst.
Give them the strength and courage to come back to You, Father. Being with Jesus has ultimately changed my life. Let it be for them as well.
In Your glory always, I pray. Amen.
Prayer #7
Lord, as You enter my body, please cleanse me from all my sins.
Teach me to become as pure as You and Your mother Mary. I pray that I become a better person and be kinder to my neighbors. May Your presence in me make me a better person and do whatever is only on Your will.
Thank You for keeping me warm on those cold toasty nights and safe from harm. I pray that all my loved ones live in Your presence and that they always do what is right. I pray for the world to have peace especially in their hearts.
I pray this for Your glory, Lord. Amen.
Here is just one example of a communion prayer as it is given by an elder at the Church of God in Christ.
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