Do You Know The 3 Most Popular Prayers?

Prayer is a very personal activity. When we pray, we develop and enrich our one-on-one relationship with God. And though our personal prayers are unique and independent to each of us, there are a few simple prayers that are prayed by thousands, and sometimes millions of people every day.

At a prayer community like Prayers for Special Help we see first hand which prayers are requested again and again, day after day by Christians all over the world. What are these prayers, and what is the reason for their continued popularity?

Let’s go over 3 of the most sought after prayers according to search volume.

The Serenity Prayer

The serenity prayer has a unique history. It was probably written by Reinhold Neibuhr in the mid 20th century, but the prayer’s continued popularity is largely due to it’s adoption by Alcoholic’s Anonymous and other 12 step programs.

However, the Serenity Prayer reaches contains a powerful message for everyone, not just recovering addicts or die-hard Christians. The prayer is a beautiful reminder that some things are within our control, yet some things will always be outside our control. It’s a stoic message that Seneca would be proud of.

The Lord’s Prayer

The Lord’s Prayer is perhaps the most popular christian prayer of all.  If you’ve ever attended church on a regular basis, there is a good chance you already have it memorized.

The prayer occurs in the New Testament during the Sermon on The Mount.  Here we have Jesus telling us exactly how we should pray; we should approach god as a child would approach his father–honest about our failures and need for God, instead of focusing on our desires and wants.

The Prayer to St Jude

The Prayer to St Jude is a bit controversial among modern Christians, and protestants in particular.  The idea of praying to Saints instead of directly to God could be seen as idolatry to some, and indeed, the prayer contradicts Jesus’ message for prayer to not focus on personal needs.

Yet, despite the criticisms, The St Jude Prayer remains one of the more sought after prayers, and is the most famous prayer to any one particular saint.  Many Roman Catholics invoke this prayer when all else seems hopeless, and thousands seek it out on a daily basis.

What do you think?

What is your favorite prayer? Do you think praying to Saints is OK? Let us know in the comments, and if you think prayer is important, please share this post with your friends!