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Birthday Prayers
For Self or for Someone You Love

The following short prayers are drawn from several sources and edited for contemporary usefulness. Feel free to cut and paste, add and subtract, revise and amend as needed:

May this day and all your days be filled with the wonder of God’s special love for you. Happy Birthday.

On this your birthday, I pray for your happiness, of course, but also for a greater sense of fulfillment in work, an ease of communication with those you love, and a sense of satisfaction in all that you have accomplished. Above all, may you rest secure in the knowledge of God's constant love and care for you, personally.

On this your special day, I pray for you. I pray for smiles and love, for friends that are true. I pray for sunshine, for warmth and tenderness. I pray for unexpected moments of joy and laughter. But most of all, I pray for peace for you.

I am thinking of you on your birthday and holding you close to my heart. My prayer for you this day and everyday is for a sense of fulfillment ... for a feeling of closeness to those you love ... for confidence and enjoyment in all that makes you special to others ... and for a deep and abiding peace within.

May God keep you in touch with all that you are and all that you are meant to become.

Also appreciated on a birthday or any day is the Irish Blessing:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you;
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings,
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home
And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,
May blue be the skies above you,
May pure be the joys that surround you,
May true be the hearts that love you

St. Theresa's Prayer

May today there be peace within. May you trust God
that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the
infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts
that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.
May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence
settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance,
praise and love. It is there for each and every one.

Prayer for my own Birthday:

Lord, let this feast of my birth be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings I have received from You this day and all the days of my life. On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in your love.

Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday. Lord You have been good to me all these years and I thank You for all the blessings I have recieved but especially for life itself.

Creator God, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year. Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand. Let my ways be pleasing to you. As You have promised, be with me, Lord. Grid me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light. Enable me to draw closer to You that I may walk in your peace and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be. I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowledge of your love for me and for all your people. Amen.

Birthday prayers for a boy:

Watch over your child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and guide him wherever he may be. Strengthen him when he stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise him up if he falls; and in his heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we
pray, on your child, .... , as he begins another year. Grant
that he may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen his
trust in your goodness all the days of his life; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Watch over thy child, O Lord, as his days increase; bless and
guide him wherever he may be. Strengthen him when he
stands; comfort him when discouraged or sorrowful; raise
him up if he falls; and in his heart may thy peace which
passeth understanding abide all the days of his life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God our Creator, the birth of your child Jesus brought great joy to Mary and Joseph. We give thanks to you for the child whose birthday we celebrate today. May he ever grow in your faith, hope, and love. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Birthday prayers for a girl:

Watch over your child, O Lord, as her days increase; bless and guide her wherever she may be. Strengthen her when she stands; comfort her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise her up if she falls; and in her heart may your peace which passes understanding abide all the days of her life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we
pray, on you child, ... , as she begins another year. Grant
that she may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen her
trust in your goodness all the days of her life; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen.

Watch over thy child, O Lord, as her days increase; bless and
guide her wherever she may be. Strengthen her when she
stands; comfort her when discouraged or sorrowful; raise
her up if she falls; and in her heart may thy peace which
passeth understanding abide all the days of her life;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God our Creator, the birth of your child Jesus brought great joy to Mary and Joseph. We give thanks to you for the child whose birthday we celebrate today. May she ever grow in your faith, hope, and love. We ask this in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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The Rev. Charles P. Henderson is a Presbyterian minister and Executive Director of
  CrossCurrents.
He is the author of God and Science (John Knox Press, 1986).  
A revised and expanded version of the book is appearing here.
God and Science (Hypertext Edition, 2005).
He is also editor of a new book, featuring articles by world class scientists and theologians, and illustrating the leading views on the relationship between science and religion:
Faith, Science and the Future (CrossCurrents Press, 2007).

Charles also tracks the boundry between the virtual and the real at his blog: Next World Design, focusing on the mediation of art, science and spirituality in the metaverse.  

For more information about Charles Henderson.