Ten Famous Christian Prayers Trivia Quiz

Answer: Psalm 23

This psalm of David, found in the Book of Psalms in the Bible, begins, in the King James version, "The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake."

The psalm is used regularly in both Christian and Jewish tradition. In Judaism, it traditionally sung as part of the third Shabbat meal.

Answer: Prayer of Saint Francis

Though the text is anonymous, it is traditionally called "The Prayer of St. Francis". Alternately, it is called "Peace Prayer" or simply known by its first line. Its earliest known publication was in the French language in 1912. In English, the prayer traditionally reads:

"Lord, make me an instrument of your peace
Where there is hatred, let me sow love
Where there is injury, pardon
Where there is doubt, faith
Where there is despair, hope
Where there is darkness, light
And where there is sadness, joy
O Divine Master, grant that I may
Not so much seek to be consoled as to console
To be understood, as to understand
To be loved, as to love
For it is in giving that we receive
And it's in pardoning that we are pardoned
And it's in dying that we are born to Eternal Life."

Answer: Jesus Prayer

This short, single-line prayer is often said as a sort of mantra. Commonly used in the Orthodox church, the Jesus prayer is seen as a way to clean and open the mind. In "The Way of the Pilgrim", it is regarded as the "unceasing prayer" St. Paul mentions in the New Testament when he says, "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (I Thessalonians 5:16-18; ESV).

Answer: Lord's Prayer

This central Christian prayer appears in the New Testament and was a model prayer provided by Jesus to his disciples when they asked him to teach them to pray. It is often used in the liturgies of Christian churches to this day. In the King James version of the Bible, Jesus said:

"After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen" (Matthew 6:10-13).

Answer: The Prayer of St. Patrick

Also known as St. Patrick's Breastplate, this prayer begins with an invocation of the Trinity as the warrior arises to prepare for spiritual battle:

"I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation."

The most famous lines from the poem, which are sometimes presented as the entire prayer, are as follows:

"Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me."

Answer: Covenant Prayer of John Wesley

John Wesley was the founder of Methodism. He adapted a Covenant Service to be used for the renewal of a believer's covenant with God. The Covenant Prayer, as recorded in the 1936 "Book of Offices of the British Methodist Church," reads:

"I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

Answer: A prayer of Martin Luther

This prayer is often titled "An Empty Vessel" after its first line. It was written by the great Protestant reformer (and founder of Lutheranism) Martin Luther and published in "Die Gebete Luthers." In English, the poem begins:

"Behold, Lord, an empty vessel that needs to be filled. My Lord, fill it.
I am weak in the faith; strengthen me. I am cold in love; warm me and make me fervent, that my love may go out to my neighbor."

Answer: Children's Bedtime Prayer

This bedtime prayer has been said by children at night since sometime in the 18th century. One of the oldest published versions appeared in "The Spectator" in March of 1711, though its origins may be older. Various alternate versions of the poem exist. One of the most popular forms of the prayer is as follows:

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;
If I should die before I wake,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to take."

A version less fixated on human mortality goes -

"Now I lay me down to sleep,
I pray thee, Lord, my soul to keep;
Angels watch me through the night
Until I wake in morning light."

Other versions conclude -

"If I should live for other days,
I pray thee, Lord, to guide my ways."

Answer: The Prayer of Jabez

This prayer originates in the Old Testament, in 1 Chronicles 4:10: "Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, 'Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.' And God granted his request" (NIV).

In 2000, Bruce Wilkinson published a bestselling book about this prayer that encouraged Christians to use it on a daily basis to seize their blessings. It has been criticized by some as pedaling "prosperity theology", the idea that God will shower those who believe with financial blessings.

Answer: Psalm 51

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee" (Psalm 51: 10-13, KJV).

This is a confessional Psalm of David that represents his repentance upon being confronted by the prophet Nathan about his sin. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband killed. It has come to be seen as a model for confession among Christians.

This psalm has been turned into a popular praise song called "Create in Me a Clean Heart" by Keith Green.