Do not think that the words of prayer as you say them, go up to God.
It is not the words themselves that ascend; it is rather the burning desire of your heart that rises like smoke toward heaven.
If your prayer consists only of words and letters, and does not contain your heart’s desire how can it rise up to God?
-Reb Nachman of Bratzlav
Morning Prayer
I give thanks unto You, Adonai, that, in mercy, You have restored my soul within me. Endless is Your compassion; great is Your faithfulness. I thank You, Adonai, for the rest You have given me through the night and for the breath that renews my body and Spirit. May I renew my soul with faith in You, Source of all Healing. Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who renews daily the work of creation.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father who art in Heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
For your kingdom is the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
"Thrice a day pray ye in this fashion."
Didache 8:3
Shema
Hear O'Israel, the LORD is our God, the LORD is One.
Blessed is the name of His glorious kingdom for ever and ever.
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day. Impress them upon your children. Recite them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. Deuteronomy 11:13-21
If, then, you obey the commandments that I enjoin upon you this day, loving the LORD your God and serving Him with all your heart and soul, I will grant rain for your land in season, the early rain and the late. You shall gather in your new grain and wine and oil - I will also provide grass in the fields for your cattle - and thus you shall eat your fill.
Take care not to be lured away to serve other gods and bow to them. For the LORD's anger will flare up against you, and He will shut up the skies so that there will be no rain and the ground will not yield its produce; and you will soon perish from the good land that the LORD is assigning to you. Therefore, impress these My words upon your very heart: bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on your forehead, and teach them to your children - reciting them when you stay at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up; and inscribe them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates - to the end that you and your children may endure, in the land that the LORD swore to your fathers to assign to them, as long as there is a heaven over the earth.
Numbers 15:37-41
The LORD said to Moses as follows: Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments throughout the ages; let them attach a cord of blue to the fringe at each corner. That shall be your fringe; look at it and recall all the commandments of the LORD and observe them, so that you do not follow your hearts and eyes in your lustful urge. Thus you shall be reminded to observe all My commandments and to be holy to your God. I the LORD am your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your God; I, the LORD your God.
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Blessing One:
Praised are you, LORD our God, King of the universe, creating light and fashioning darkness, ordaining the order of all creation.
You illumine the world and its creatures with mercy; in Your goodness, day after day You renew Creation. How manifold Your works, O LORD; with wisdom You fashioned them all. The earth abounds with Your creations. Uniquely exalted since earliest time, enthroned on praise and prominence since the world began, eternal God, with Your manifold mercies continue to love us, our pillar of strength, protective Rock, sheltering shield. sustaining stronghold.
Our praiseworthy God, with vast understanding fashioned the rays of the sun.
The good light He created reflects His splendor; radiant lights surround His throne. His heavenly servants in holiness exalt the Almighty, constantly recanted His sacred glory. Praise shall be Yours, Lord our God, for Your wondrous works, for the lights You have fashioned, the sun and the moon which reflect Your glory.
Our Rock, our Redeemer, our King, Creator of holy beings, You shall be praised forever. You fashion angelic spirits to serve You; beyond the heavens, they all await Your command. In chorus they proclaim with reverence words of the living God, eternal King. Adoring, beloved, and choice are they all, in awe fulfilling their Creator's will. In purity and sanctity they raise their voices in song and psalm, extolling and exalting, declaring the power, praise, holiness, and majesty of God. the great, mighty, awesome King, the Holy One. One to another they vow loyalty to God's kingship, one to another they join to hallow their Creator with Serenity, pure speech, and Sacred song; in unison chanting with reverence:
Holy, holy, holy, Adonai tzeva'ot; the whole world is filled with His glory.
As in the prophets vision, soaring celestial creatures roar, responding with a chorus of adoration:
Praised be the glory of the LORD throughout the universe.
To praiseworthy God they sweetly sing; the living, enduring God they celebrate in song. For He is unique, doing mighty deeds, creating new life, championing justice, sowing righteousness, reaping victory, bringing healing. Awesome in praise, Sovereign of wonders, day after day in His goodness He renews Creation. So sang the Psalmist: "Praise the Creator of great lights, for His love endures forever." Cause a new light to illumine Zion. May we all soon share a portion of its radiance. Praised are You; LORD, Creator of lights.
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Blessing Two:
Revelation
Deep is Your love for us, LORD our God, boundless Your tender compassion. You taught our ancestors life-giving laws. They trusted in You, our Father and King. For their sake graciously teach us, Father, merciful Father, show us mercy; grant us discernment and understanding. Then will we study Your Torah, heed its words, teach its precepts and follow its instruction, lovingly fulfilling all its teachings. Open our eyes to Your Torah, help our hearts cleave to Your mitzvot. Unite all our thoughts to love and revere You. Then shall we never be brought to shame. Trusting in Your awesome holiness, we will delight in Your deliverance. Bring us safely from the ends of the earth, and lead us in dignity to our hold land. You are the source of deliverance. You have called us from all peoples and tongues, constantly drawing us nearer to You, that we may lovingly offer You praise, proclaiming Your Oneness. Praised are You, LORD who loved His people Israel.
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Blessing Three:
God Alone is the Eternal Redeemer
Your teaching is True and enduring. Your words are established forever. Awesome and revered are they, eternally right; well ordered are they, always acceptable. They are sweet and pleasant and precious, good and beautiful and beloved. True it is that eternal God is our King, that the Rock of Jacob is our protecting shield. He is eternal and His glory is eternal; He is God for all generations. His sovereign throne is firmly established; His faithfulness endures for all time.
His teachings are precious and abiding; they live forever. For our ancestors, for us, for our children, for ever generation of the people of Israel, for all ages from the first to the last, His teachings are true, everlasting. True it is that You are the LORD our God, even as You were the God of our ancestors. Our king and our ancestors' king, our Redeemer and our ancestors' Redeemer, our Creator, our victorious Stronghold. You have always helped us and saved us. Your name endures forever. There is no God but you.
You were always the help of our ancestors, a shield for them and for their children, our delivery in every generation. Though You abide in the pinnacle of the universe, Your just decrees extend tot eh ends of the earth. Happy the one who obeys Your mitzvot, who takes to heart the words of Your Torah. You are, in Truth, Lord of Your people, their defender and mighty King. You are first and You are last. We have no King or Redeemer but You. You rescued us from Egypt; You redeemed us from the house of bondage. The firstborn of the Egyptians were slain; Your firstborn were saved. You split the waters of the sea. The faithful You rescued; the wicked drowned. The waters engulfed Israel's enemies; not one of the arrogant remained alive. Then Your beloved sang hymns and acclamation, extolling You with psalms and adoration. They acclaimed God King, great and awesome Source of all blessings, the everliving God, exalted in majesty, who redeems the meek, helps the needy and answers His people's call. Praises to God Supreme, ever praised is He. Moses and the people Israel sang with great joy this song to the LORD:
Who is like You, LORD, among al that is worshipped? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11)
The redeemed sang a new song for You. They sang in chorus at the shore of the sea, acclaiming Your sovereignty:
"The LORD shall reign throughout all time." (Exodus 15:18)
Rock of Israel, rise to Israel's defense. Fulfill Your promise to deliver Judah and Israel. Our Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Adonai tzeva'ot is His name. Praised are You, LORD, Redeemer of the people Israel.
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"Hear" = "Obey"
As a parent tells a child to listen to them with the intent that the child listens and obeys.
Amidah
Standing Prayer
My L-RD, open my lips, and my mouth shall declare Your praise.
Blessed are You, L-RD our G-d and G-d of our fathers, G-d of Avraham, G-d of Isaac, and G-d of Jacob, the great, mighty and awesome G-d, exalted G-d, who bestows bountiful kindness, who creates all things, who remembers the piety of the Patriarchs, and who, in love, brings a redeemer to their children's children, for the sake of His Name.
O King, a helper, a savior and a shield. Blessed are You L-rd, Shield of Abraham.
You are mighty forever, My L-rd; You resurrect the dead; You are powerful to save.
He causes the dew to descend. He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.
He sustains the living with lovingkindness, resurrects the dead with great mercy, supports the falling, heals the sick, releases the bound, and fulfills His trust to those who sleep in the dust. Who is like You, mighty One! And who can be compared to You, King, who brings death and restores life, and causes deliverance to spring forth!
You are trustworthy to revive the dead, Blessed are You L-rd, who revives the dead.
You are holy and Your Name is holy, and holy beings praise You daily for all eternity. Blessed are You, L-rd the holy G-d.
You graciously bestow knowledge upon man and teach mortals understanding. Graciously bestow upon us from You, wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Blessed are You L-rd, who graciously bestows knowledge.
Cause us to return, our Father, to Your Torah; draw us near, our King, to Your service; and bring us back to You in whole-hearted repentance. Blessed are You L-rd, who desires penitence.
Pardon us, our Father, for we have sinned; forgive us, our King, for we have transgressed, for You are a good and forgiving G-d.
Blessed are You, L-rd, gracious One who pardons abundantly.
O behold our affliction and wage our battle; redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name, for You G-d are the mighty redeemer. Blessed are You, L-rd, Redeemer of Israel.
Heal us, O L-rd, and we will be healed; help us and we will be saved; for You are our praise. Grant complete cure and healing to all our wounds for You, Almighty King, are a faithful and merciful healer. Blessed are You L-rd, who heals the sick of His people Israel.
Bless for us, L-rd our God, this year and all the varieties of its produce for good; and bestow dew and rain for blessing upon the face of the earth. Satisfy us from Your bounty and bless our year like other good years, for blessing; for You are a generous G-d who bestows goodness and blesses the years. Blessed are You L-rd, who blesses the years.
Sound the great shofar for our freedom; raise a banner to gather our exiles, and bring us together from the four corners of the earth into our land. Blessed are You, L-rd, who gathers the dispersed of His people Israel.
Restore our judges as in former times, and our counsellors as of yore: remove from us sorrow and sighing, and reign over us, You alone, O L-rd, with kindness and compassion, with righteousness and justice. Blessed are You L-rd, King who loves righteousness and justice.
Let there be no hope for informers, and may all the heretics and all the wicked instantly perish; may all the enemies of Your people be speedily extirpated; and may You swiftly uproot, break, crush and subdue the reign of wickedness speedily in our days. Blessed are You, L-rd, who crushes enemies and subdues the wicked.
May Your mercies be aroused, L-rd our G-d, upon the righteous, upon the pious, upon the elders of Your people, the House of Israel, upon the remnant of their sages, upon the righteous proselytes, and upon us. Grant ample reward to all who truly trust in Your Name, and place our lot among them; may we never be disgraced, for we have put our trust in You. Blessed are You L-rd, the support and security of the righteous.
Return in mercy to Jerusalem Your city and dwell therein as You have promised speedily established therein the throne of David Your servant, and rebuild it, soon in our days, as an everlasting edifice. Blessed are You L-rd, Who rebuilds Jerusalem. Speedily cause the scion of David Your servant to flourish, and increase his power by Your salvation, for we hope for Your salvation all day. Blessed are You L-rd, who causes the power of salvation to flourish.
Hear our voice, L-rd our G-d; merciful Father, have compassion upon us and accept our prayers in mercy and favor, for You are G-d who hears prayers and supplications; do not turn us away empty-handed from You, our King, for You hear the prayer of everyone. Blessed are You L-rd, who hears prayer.
Look with favor, L-rd our G-d, on Your people Israel and pay heed to their prayer; restore the service to your sanctuary and accept with love and favor Israel's fire0offerings and prayer; and may the service of Your people Israel always find favor.
May our eyes behold Your return to Zion in mercy. Blessed are You L-rd, who restores His Divine Presence to Zion.
We thankfully acknowledge that You are the L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers forever. You are the strength of our life, the shield of our salvation in every generation. We will give thanks to You and recant Your praise, evening, morning and noon, for our lives which are committed into Your hand, for our souls which are entrusted to You, for Your miracles which are with us daily, and for Your continual wonders and beneficences. You are the Beneficent One, for Your mercies never cease; the Merciful One for Your kindnesses never end; for we always place our hope in You.
And for all these, may Your Name, our King, be continually blessed, exalted and extolled forever and all time.
And all living things shall forever thank You, and praise Your great Name eternally, for You are good. G-d, You are our everlasting salvation and help, O benevolent G-d. Blessed are You L-rd, Beneficent in Your Name, and to You it is fitting to offer thanks. Bestow peace, goodness, kindness and mercy, upon us and upon all Your people Israel. Bless us, our Father, all of us as one, with the light of Your countenance. For by it You gave us, L-rd our G-d, the Torah of life and loving kindness, righteousness, blessing, mercy, life and peace. May it be favorable in Your eyes to bless Your people Israel, at all times and at every moment, with Your peace. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer. My G-d, guard my tongue from evil and my lips from speaking deceitfully. Let my soul be silent to those who curse me; let my soul be as dust to all. Open my heart to Your Torah, and let my soul eagerly pursue Your commandments. As for all t hose who plot evil against me, hasten to annul their counsel and frustrate their design. Let them be as chaff before the wind; let the angel of the L-rd thrust them away. That Your beloved ones may be delivered, help with Your right hand and answer me. Do it for the sake of Your Name; do it for the same of Your right hand; for it for the same of Your Torah; do it for the sake of Your holiness! May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Strength and my Redeemer. He who makes peace in His heavens, may He make peace for us and for all Israel; Amen.
May it be Your will, L-rd our G-d and G-d of our fathers, that the Bet Hamikdash be speedily rebuilt in our days, and grant us our portion in Your Torah.
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Prayer for the State of Israel
Our Father who is in heaven, Rock of Israel and its Redeemer, bless the State of Israel, the first flowering of our redemption. Defend her with the pinion of Your devotion, spread over her the shelter of Your peace, and send Your light and truth to her leaders, officials, and advisors, affirming them with good counsel from You. Strengthen the hands of the defenders of our holy land, grant them salvation, and crown them with a crown of triumph. May You give peace in the land and eternal gladness to its inhabitants.
Please take note of our brothers, the entire house of Israel, in all the lands to which they have been dispersed, and quickly lead them upright to Zion, Your city, and to Jerusalem, the dwelling place of Your Name. As it is written in the Torah of Moses Your servant: "If Your dispersed ones will be at the ends of the heavens, from there the LORD, your God, will bring you to the land that your fathers possessed, and cause you to possess it, and He will grant more goodness and abundance than your fathers." (Deuteronomy 30:4-5)
Unite our hearts to love and fear Your Name, and to keep all of the words of Your Torah. Quickly send us the son of David, Your righteous Messiah, to ransom those who wait for Your final Salvation.
Appear in the beauty of the brilliance of Your strength over all the inhabitants of Your world, and let all who have breath say, "The LORD, God of Israel is King, and His Kingdom rules over all." Amen.
Prayer for the Restoration of Zion
O LORD, in accordance with all of your acts of righteousness, let your anger and wrath turn away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. Our Father, our King, lift a banner to the peoples to return Israel to its pasture. Gather us together from the four corners of the earth to our land, and plant us within its borders on the mountain of our inheritance. Bring us to Zion, your city, with singing and to Jerusalem, your holy city, with eternal joy. Built it in your compassion and let it remain perched and inhabited in its place. Establish your Holy Temple in it and gladden us in your House of Prayer. Return your Dwelling Presence to Zion, your city, and send us Yeshua our Messiah a second time. Let him reign upon the throne of David in Jerusalem, your holy city. Lift up the horn of the salvations of your people Israel in the house of David your servant - salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us, just as you h ave spoken through your prophets. O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay, for your own sake, our God, for your name is called upon your city and upon your people. Hurry, HaShem, to help us! Ransom your people Israel from all its iniquities and from all of its troubles, for the time to be gracious has come, for the appointed time has come. Amen.
For Healing
Give ear, Adonai, to my prayer, heed my plea for mercy. In time of trouble I call to you, for You will answer me.
When pain and fatigue are my companions, let there be room in my heart for strength. When days and nights are filled with darkness, let the light of courage find its place. Help me to endure the suffering and dissolve the fear. Renew within me the calm spirit of peace.
Blessed are You, Adonai, Healer of the sick.
Before Surgery
Adonai, You are with me in my moments of strength and of weakness. You know the trembling of my heart as the turning point draws near.
Grant wisdom and skill to the mind and hands of those who will operate on me, and those who assist them. Grant that I may return to fullness of life and wholeness of strength, not for my sake alone but for those about me. Enable me to complete my days on earth with dignity and purpose. May I awaken to know the breath of Your healing power, now and evermore.
MY spirit I commend to You, my body, too, and all I prize; both when I sleep and when I wake You are with me; I shall not fear.
A Prayer for Help Against Sinning
Who will set a guard over my mouth, and an effective seal on my lips, so that I may not fall because of them, and my tongue may not destroy me?
O LORD, Father and Master of my life, do not abandon me to their designs, and do not let me fall because of them!
Who will set whips over my thoughts, and the discipline of wisdom over my mind, so as not to spare me in my errors, and not overlook my sins?
Otherwise my mistakes may be multiplied, and my sins may abound, and I may fall before my adversaries, and my enemy may rejoice over me.
O LORD, Father and God of my life, do not give me haughty eyes, and remove evil desire from me.
Let neither gluttony nor lust overcome me,
and do not give me over to
shameless passion.
Amen.
Sirach 22:27-23:6
Forgiveness
LORD God, please have mercy on Your daughter, whom You have redeemed through Your greatness and strong hand. Disregard my stubbornness, and my wickedness and sin. I am Your daughter, whom You brought out by Your great power and outstretched arm.
Numbers 9:26-29 paraphrased
For Marriage
"Blessed are you, O God of our ancestors,
and blessed is your name in all generations forever.
Let the heavens and the whole creation bless you forever.
You made Adam, and for him you made his wife Eve as a helper and support.
From the two of them the human race as sprung.
You said, 'It is not good that the man should be alone;
let us make a helper for him like himself.'
I now am taking this kinswoman
of mine,
not because of lust,
but with sincerity.
Grant that she and I may find mercy and that we may grow old together.'
And they both said, "Amen, Amen."
Tobit 8:5-8
Prayer for Jerusalem
"As for me, I exalt my God, and my soul rejoices in the King of heaven.
O Jerusalem, the holy city, he afflicted you for the deeds of your hands, but will again have mercy on the children of right righteous.
Acknowledge the Lord, for he is good, and bless the king of the ages, so that his tent may be rebuilt in you in joy.
May he cheer all those within you who are captives,
and love all those within you who are distressed,
to all generations forever.
A bright light will shine to all the ends of the earth;
many nations will come to you from far away,
he inhabitants of the remotest parts of the earth to your holy name,
bearing gifts in their hands for the king of heaven.
Generation after generation will give joyful praise in you;
the name of the chosen city will endure forever.
Cursed are all who speak a harsh word against you; cursed are all who conquer you and pull down your walls, all who overthrow your towers and set your homes on fire. But blessed forever will be all who revere you.
Go, then, and rejoice over the children of the righteous, for they will be gathered together and will praise the Lord of the ages.
Happy are those who love you, and happy are those who rejoice in your prosperity. Happy also are all people who grieve with you because of your afflictions;
for they will rejoice with you and witness all your glory forever.
My soul blesses the Lord, the great King!
For Jerusalem will be built as his house for all ages.
How happy I will be if a remnant of my descendants should survive to see your glory and acknowledge the king of heaven.
The gates of Jerusalem will be built with sapphire and emerald. and all your walls with previous stones.
The towers of Jerusalem will be built with gold, and their battlements with pure gold.
The streets of Jerusalem will be paved with ruby and with stones of Ophir.
The gates of Jerusalem will sing hymns of joy,
and all her houses will cry,
'Hallelujah!
Blessed be the God of Israel!'
and the blessed will bless the holy name forever and ever."
Tobit 13:7-17
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Solomon's Prayer for Wisdom
"O God of my ancestors and Lord of mercy,
Who have made all things by your word,
and by your wisdom have formed humankind
to have dominion over the creatures you have made,
and rule the world in holiness and righteousness,
and pronounce judgment in uprightness of soul,
give me the wisdom that sits by your throne,
and do not reject me from among your servants,
For I am your servant the son of your serving girl,
a man who is weak and short-lived,
with little understanding of judgment and laws;
for even one who is perfect among human beings
will be regarded as nothing without the wisdom that comes from you.
You have given command to build a temple on your holy mountain,
and an altar in the city of your habitation,
a copy of the holy tent that you prepared from the beginning.
With you is wisdom, she knows your works
and was present when you made the world;
she understands what is pleasing in your sight
and what is right according to your commandments.
Send her forth from the holy heavens, and from the throne of your glory
send her,
that she may labor at my side,
and that I may learn what is pleasing
to you.
For she knows and understands all things, and she will guide me wisely in my actions
and guard me with her flory.
Then my works will be acceptable,
and I shall judge your people justly,
and shall be worthy of the throne of my father.
For who can learn the counsel of God?
Or who can discern what the Lord wills?
For the reasoning of mortals is worthless,
and our designs are likely to fail;
for a perishable body weighs down the soul,
and this earthy tend burdens the thoughtful (anxious) mind.
We can hardly guess at what is on earth,
and what is at hand we find with labor;
but who has traced out what is in the heavens?
Who has learned your counsel, unless you have given wisdom and sent your holy spirit from on high?
And thus the paths of those on earth were set right,
and people were taught what pleases you,
and were saved by wisdom."
Wisdom of Solomon 9
Night Prayer
Adonai, may it be Your will that I lie down in peace and rise up in peace. Let not my thoughts, my dreams, or my daydreams disturb me. Watch over my family and those I love.
O Guardian of Israel, Who neither slumbers nor sleeps, I entrust my spirit to You. Thus as I go to sleep, I put myself into Your safekeeping.
Grant me a night of rest. Let the healing processes that You have placed into my body go about their work. May I awaken in the morning refreshed and renewed to face a new tomorrow.
Hear, O Israel, Adonai our God, Adonai is One!
We praise You, Adonai, Whose shelter of peace is spread over us, over all Your people Israel, over every creation, and over Jerusalem.
Prayer for Salvation of Other
"to open their eyes so they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, that by faith in Me they may receive forgiveness of sins and a share among those who are sanctified.'"
Acts 26:18
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"And in view of this, we always pray for you that our God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you, and you by Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
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"Then He said to His disciples, 'The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.'"
Matthew 9:37-38
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"He told them: 'The harvest is abundant, but the workers are few. Therefore, pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest.'"
Luke 10:2