Prayers of Old Remind Us That We Are Not Alone

God Has Been Faithful

Looking at prayers that came from those before us was just an opportunity for me personally to dive into where the church has been and to understand that we’re not alone. We have been able to walk through our faith, in a way, that the church has done in the past. I’ve been able to see how God is faithful through all generations and recognize that we don’t have to reinvent the wheel.

Cloud of Witnesses

Jonathan W. Arnold, Zachariah M. Carter

This comprehensive anthology combines prayers and petitions of the greatest figures throughout history to bolster the reader’s knowledge of prayer and develop their walk with Christ.

As I began looking into this as a student of history and the church, I was able to see what the church leaders and what the average lay people struggled through and understood who God was along the way.

Some of the prayers come from church leadership, some come from lay leaders, and some come from just people who are delving into their own experiences. It was telling for me and Zach as we worked through these prayers to be able to understand that we’re not alone.

Jonathan W. Arnold is coeditor with Zachariah M. Carter of Cloud of Witnesses: A Treasury of Prayers and Petitions through the Ages.

Jonathan W. Arnold (DPhil, University of Oxford) serves as associate professor of theological studies at Cedarville University in Cedarville, Ohio. He and his wife, Lindsay, have four children.

10 Prayers from History to Pray for Your Loved Ones

Jonathan W. Arnold, Zachariah M. Carter

April 24, 2024

Oh Lord, with your gracious and merciful eye, look upon the contrition of my heart. According to your certain promise, stay with me as I acknowledge you to be the maker and defender of all creation.