Prayer for senior citizens

Here is a senior citizen’s birthday prayer to pray personally or at a party honoring our family members, friends and neighbors as they celebrate.

Birthday Prayer for Senior Citizens

Dear Heavenly Father, we celebrate with you the birthday of one of your own who has lived long and well.  Thank you that they have journeyed through so many ages and stages of life cultivating the gifts of wisdom, patience, persistence and dependence on You.  We affirm the joy and wonder of your word in the Scripture that says, “Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life.”  (Proverbs 16:31 NIV)

We pray that you will continue to grant vigor, strength and health this day and on all of their birthdays to come.  Bless their days with beautiful memories, much love and few worries.  Provide the help they need when tasks are too difficult.  Be their constant companion when family and friends are far away.   Protect their dwelling place and provide for their daily needs.  Be with them on whatever path life continues to take them.  Bless them abundantly as they have blessed us with their grace, perspective and love.  In the name of the God of all Ages we pray.  Amen

Copyright Karen Barber 2012   All rights reserved.

prayerideas.org

Regardless of religious preference, if a preference at all, prayer is our own. It belongs to each of us in our own way. Written, spoken, or thought, I imagine that most of us pray at one time or another, or have, or will.

We each may have own words, but here is my personal sample prayer for senior citizens that I am happy to be able to share with you.

Pray for PEACE:

For awareness of nature and the beauty of our earth.

For forgiveness of ourselves for errors made.

For the ability to forgive others who have hurt us.

Pray for JOY:

For happiness to give and to receive.

For love shared and to be shared.

For treasured times and memories.

 Pray for OTHERS and for SELF:

For health, safety, guidance, mercy, and understanding.

 Pray for GRATITUDE:

For the abundance of blessings – yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

 AMEN: With thanksgiving for today!

Using the four guiding categories of Peace, Joy, Others/Self and Gratitude as your sample prayer for senior citizens, you can adapt and develop your own. Prayers are personal.

Betty Tate DeLorme
For more prayer thoughts from Betty, visit Prayer is Personal

life-after-60.com

As a senior citizen, I seem to treasure my morning quiet time more than ever, don’t you?  This page of prayers for senior citizens is a list of prayerful ideas and suggested practices especially for those of us who are over 60.   Daily Prayer and meditation lifts us when we are down, comforts us when we are sad, leads us when we feel lost, and keeps us centered in God, Spirit, the Creator, our Supreme Being. Many of us use a daily prayer and meditation guide. Some of us pray through music. Others live life as a prayer, like our friend, Helen, in this painting.  The artist is my sister, Nancy Tate Hellams.  Thank you, Nancy.  When someone mentions prayers and senior citizens in the same sentence, I always see your beautiful painting of Helen.

Note:  You do not have permission to copy or use this picture.  Thank you for your respect.

You will find on this page my favorite daily readers — books that help to keep me where I want to be in my life. You will also find music that inspires me. I hope that you will slow down for a few minutes and listen to the music as you read. I also included some of my favorite quotes about prayer and a helpful gratitude exercise.

The Simple Abundance Journal of Gratitude

I learned about gratitude journaling from Simple Abundance. If you are not now in the habit of a daily reading or meditation, the gratitude journal is a great way to start. All you do is list 5 things you are thankful for — every single day.

Be thankful for all the simple joys of your life — a bird song, the hug from a grandchild, a call from a friend, a beautiful day, food on the table. They all go on your daily list. Do not repeat any one thing. If you have not tried this, I cannot possibly encourage you enough. It’s an amazing experience. Prayers for senior citizens should always include gratitude. One of the shortest prayers for senior citizens is simply a “thank you.”

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“Grant that I may not pray alone with the mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart”
Martin Luther

Pocketful of Miracles: Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations to Nurture Your Spirit Every Day of the Year
Prayer, Meditations, and Affirmations

Pocketful of Miracles was written by Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., who also authored Minding the Body, Mending the Mind. The book draws from the core beliefs of the world’s religions. Pocketful of Miracles offers not only “seed thoughts”, but actual “practices.” I have used this little book for years, too. I have to admit, I have never completed the full year. In the past, I have just picked it up and read when I needed a new thought or a spark of an idea, or a new prayer. Next year, my friend and I are going to do the entire year with Pocketful of Miracles and discuss it as we go.

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Maybe God Is Trying to Tell You Something – Musical Prayers for Senior Citizens

I will never forget this scene in The Color Purple. Often when I have spent too much time chattering in prayer, I will think of this song, and quiet myself to listen. This was such a powerful scene in the movie, The Color Purple. I get chills just thinking about it.

“Prayer is not asking. It is a longing of the soul. It is daily admission of one’s weakness. It is better in prayer to have a heart without words than words without a heart.”
Mahatma Gandhi

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy

You would laugh if you could see my copy of this daily reader! In the front of my copy, there is a note “given to me by Tammy 1997.” After that, there is a long list of people I have gifted the book — and a string of dates from 1997 to the present. Simple Abundance is a daily reader for women who seek to live an authentic life. I have worked through the book completely at least 3 different years, and most years, I refer to it all through the year. Sarah Ban Breathnach leads us through the year, gardening sometimes, cooking sometimes, decluttering sometimes.

But at the same time that we are going about our busy lives, we are moving toward a more authentic and meaningful life. Do you remember hearing about writing down 5 things you are thankful for every day? Gratitude is the base of Simple Abundance.

PS I just noticed that my copy has highlighted areas, and notes in the margins, and a set of pages that will fall out if I am not careful. I remember ripping out those pages to take on vacation one year — to complete an imaging project. My copy of Simple Abundance has been well used, and I imagine if you have a copy, it looks much like mine.

Sunrise Melody Meditation

One of my favorite meditation videos, this one was created by my friend, Deb “Gypsy Owl” Bryan.  The video is short and simple – a chance to reflect on the joys and the sounds of a brand new morning. In-Joy!  Thank you, Deb!

Prayers for senior citizens can be elaborate, musical, or simply conversations with God throughout the day. To me, the most important part of prayer is that we are authentic. If our prayers is sincere; if we are being honest with ourselves and our God, then to me, we are in authentic prayer.

Healing After Loss- Daily Meditations Working Through Grief

Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief

Again and again, I hear from friends who are depending on this little guide every single day. Walking through grief is not a simple journey. The daily meditations in Healing After Loss make me feel as though a friend is waiting to talk to me privately every day — someone who is going through the exact same thing.

One dear friend said, “no more casseroles from me — from now on, I am taking a copy of this book to my grieving friends instead.” I agree with her. A recent widow may not be ready for the book for a couple of weeks, and that’s fine. The most important thing is that she has this book in her home as a resource — when she is ready for it.

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life-after-60.com