5 Powerful Prayers for Spiritual Growth and Development

Radiance Talley | May 9, 2022

The views expressed in our content reflect individual perspectives and do not represent the authoritative views of the Baha'i Faith.

If you have a case of the blues and would like to feel more connected to God, you may want to consider praying daily for your spiritual growth.

The Baha’i writings say that prayer “creates spirituality…mindfulness and celestial feelings.” The verses that were revealed by the Manifestations of God — Abraham, Zoroaster, Moses, the Buddha, Krishna, Jesus Christ, Muhammad, the Bab, and the founder of the Baha’i Faith, Baha‘u’llah — can heal, revive, and strengthen our souls.

Below are five prayers from the Baha’i writings that we are encouraged to ponder and recite for our spiritual growth and development.

1. A Prayer for Spiritual Growth, Purity, and Tranquility

In this prayer for spiritual growth that Baha’u’llah revealed, we ask God for tranquility, joy, and a pure heart:

Create in me a pure heart, O my God, and renew a tranquil conscience within me, O my Hope! Through the spirit of power confirm Thou me in Thy Cause, O my Best-Beloved, and by the light of Thy glory reveal unto me Thy path, O Thou the Goal of my desire! Through the power of Thy transcendent might lift me up unto the heaven of Thy holiness, O Source of my being, and by the breezes of Thine eternity gladden me, O Thou Who art my God!
Let Thine everlasting melodies breathe tranquillity on me, O my Companion, and let the riches of Thine ancient countenance deliver me from all except Thee, O my Master, and let the tidings of the revelation of Thine incorruptible Essence bring me joy, O Thou Who art the most manifest of the manifest and the most hidden of the hidden!

2. A Prayer for Spiritual Growth and Nearness to God

This prayer brings us closer to God as we ask to be free from limitations that hinder our spiritual progress. Baha’u’llah wrote:

O my Lord! Make Thy beauty to be my food, and Thy presence my drink, and Thy pleasure my hope, and praise of Thee my action, and remembrance of Thee my companion, and the power of Thy sovereignty my succorer, and Thy habitation my home, and my dwelling-place the seat Thou hast sanctified from the limitations imposed upon them who are shut out as by a veil from Thee.
Thou art, verily, the Almighty, the All-Glorious, the Most Powerful.

3. A Prayer for Spiritual Development and Renewal

This soothing prayer is perfect for calming your mind and refreshing your spirit:

O God! Refresh and gladden my spirit. Purify my heart. Illumine my powers. I lay all my affairs in Thy hand. Thou art my Guide and my Refuge. I will no longer be sorrowful and grieved; I will be a happy and joyful being. O God! I will no longer be full of anxiety, nor will I let trouble harass me. I will not dwell on the unpleasant things of life.
O God! Thou art more friend to me than I am to myself. I dedicate myself to Thee, O Lord.

4. A Prayer for Justice and Spiritual Progress

In order to spiritually grow, we have to work for justice and better our world. Baha’u’llah revealed this prayer, so we may become more just and trustworthy:

I beseech Thee, O my God, by all the transcendent glory of Thy Name, to clothe Thy loved ones in the robe of justice and to illumine their beings with the light of trustworthiness. Thou art the One that hath power to do as He pleaseth and Who holdeth within His grasp the reins of all things, visible and invisible.

5. A Prayer for Spiritual Growth and Divine Love

We have to love God for his love to reach us. This beautiful prayer implores God to set us aglow with the fire of divine love as we pursue our path of service to humanity. Abdu’l-Baha, the son of Baha’u’llah and the authorized interpreter of the Baha’i writings, wrote:

O my God! O my God! This, Thy servant, hath advanced towards Thee, is passionately wandering in the desert of Thy love, walking in the path of Thy service, anticipating Thy favors, hoping for Thy bounty, relying upon Thy kingdom, and intoxicated by the wine of Thy gift. O my God! Increase the fervor of his affection for Thee, the constancy of his praise of Thee, and the ardor of his love for Thee.
Verily, Thou art the Most Generous, the Lord of grace abounding. There is no other God but Thee, the Forgiving, the Merciful.

May these prayers for spiritual growth reinvigorate your spirit, bring solace to your soul, and inspire you on your path of service to humanity.

Tags: Prayer , Self-Help , Spiritual Growth

Radiance Talley

Radiance Talley is the director of operations at BahaiTeachings.org. She graduated from the University of Maryland with a degree in communication, a College Park Scholars Arts Citation, and a cognate in journalism. In addition to her writing, drawing, presentation, and public speaking experience, Radiance also...