06/09/2026
The threat of thunderstorms and severe weather today brings a good reason for Christians to continue steadfast in faith in the one true God and call upon Him in prayer. The following is from a book of prayers of Johann Friedrich Starck, a Lutheran pastor who lived in Germany from 1680-1756. I think you'll find that his encouragement to pray, along with the words of his prayer, are just as fitting today as they were over 300 years ago.
EXHORTATION
"He makes darkness His covering, His canopy around Him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before Him hailstones and coals of fire broke through His clouds. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice, hailstones and coals of fire." (Psalm 18:11-13)
Among the external things by which ungodly children of this world, as a rule, are terrified and incited to pray, are thunderstorms. When God causes a severe tempest to arise with thunder and lightning, the lips of blasphemers at once begin to pray, not from love of God—for why did they not pray before? —but from fear of God's punishment.
Believing Christians know, indeed, that thunder and lightning are produced by natural causes; but they also know that they carry out the commands of God. Just as God can arm any other creature against humanity, He can easily frighten human beings and animals also by thunder, and set houses, villages, and towns on fire with His lightning. Accordingly, godly Christians should refrain from those hideous curse words in which thunder and lightning are invoked. They should not grow timid at the approach of a thunderstorm, become terrified, and ready to despair from fright. They should remember that God keeps thunder and lightning in His hands, and is well able to protect them, even if they should be out in the field and under the open sky.
However, in that case they should turn to God in prayer even more fervently, and recognize in the storm that they are nothing and God is all, that God is a mighty God, while we human beings are but poor worms, dust and ashes, which God could destroy with one nod or stroke. Accordngly, they should stand awed and reverent before the majesty of God, not only when it thunders but also when the sun is shining, and should be careful not to offend Him by words and deeds. Especially, however, should they live in such a manner as to be assured at all times of God's favor, even if He should take us out of this world in a thunderstorm.
PRAYER
Strong and almighty God, I hear Your voice in the clouds. I see Your lightning flash, and I listen to the roar and noise of Your thunder. Strong is Your arm and great is Your might. If You choose, You can, in the twinkling of an eye, dash me and all people, together with all creatures, to the ground. But, O Lord, remember Your tender mercies and Your loving-kindness, for they have always been of old. Remember not the sins of my youth or my many transgressions. According to Your mercy, remember me for Your goodness' sake. Rebuke me not in Your anger nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
With sincere humility of heart I acknowledge that I have abundantly deserved to be destroyed and dashed to pieces by You in Your just wrath. But, O long-suffering God, spare me in this thunderstorm. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving-kindness; according to the multitude of Your tender mercies blot out my transgressions. I repent, and am heartily sorry that up till now I have offended You so often, and with my thoughts, words, and deeds have provoked You to anger. But I pray for mercy and forgiveness of all my sins and transgressions.
Consider, heavenly Father, that I am Your creature and also Your child. Where will children go in their troubles and anxieties but to their father? And so I come to You, O my Father, and pray You: be merciful to me, Your child! O Father, protect me, shelter me, guard me. My refuge is under the shadow of Your wings. Hide me in Your tender hand. Place an angel guard around me, that no calamity may touch me, no lightning harm me, no bolt strike me. O Lord Jesus, only Son of God, my mediator, advocate, and Savior, be not far from me, for trouble is near. Make haste to deliver me; be my strong defense. Do not leave me or take Your hand from me, O God of my salvation. Behold, I am forsaken by all creatures and human beings, but do not leave me. Have compassion on me and save me. I cling to You, O Jesus. I hide myself in Your holy wounds, and cry with Your disciples: Lord, save us! We perish! O precious Holy Spirit, stir up my heart to prayer and devotion, that I become roused through this thunderstorm and become godly. Henceforth, when Your Holy Word is knocking at my door, help me to heed the call, so that I may repent, turn, and cease from all sins, that I may then become a willing listener, and not conform to the world in its sinful ways.
O Holy Trinity, have mercy on me and all godly Christians! Shelter with Your almighty hand my body and my life, my house and my home. Preserve the fruits of the field. Do not let the lightning set my house on fire, nor Your thunderbolts strike me. Be my helper in trouble, for the help of mankind is useless. O mighty defender of Your children, look on me and let me dwell beneath Your sheltering protection. At the noise of Your thundering the mountains shake and the earth trembles. Must not a poor worm like me, then, quake before You? Let me now recognize that this world is passing away, that all I see will be one day consumed by fire, so that I will not become enticed with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, and thus stir up Your anger. O Lord, preserve me from sudden and evil death. Let this thunderstorm pass by without harm. O Lord, who is like You, so majestic, almighty, and awe-inspiring, and yet so merciful and gracious, startling us and at the same time sheltering us? O spare me, and let me also this time find mercy and deliverance. Lord God, Father in heaven, have mercy upon us! Lord God Son, Savior of the world, have mercy upon us! Lord God Holy Spirit, comforter, have mercy upon us! Be gracious to us, and spare us, good Lord! Be gracious to us and help us, good Lord! From all calamity by fire and water, good Lord, deliver us! From sudden and evil death, good Lord, deliver us!
God moves in a mysterious way His wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps in the sea And rides upon the storm.
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense, But trust Him for His grace;
Behind a frowning providence Faith sees a smiling face.
You fearful saints, fresh courage take; The clouds you so much dread
Are big with mercy and will break In blessings on your head. Amen. (LSB 765:1, 2, 5)
*from Starck's Prayer Book, CPH 2009, pg. 353
