A Prayer to Say before Taking Communion
Share
One of the most important things we do as Christians is take communion. For a moment I want to focus your attention on the right way to approach communion. Should you just say a simple prayer before you take communion or is there more to it? Chances are you are going to be taking communion soon, so let’s make sure you are approaching this the right way.
What Is Communion?
Communion, which is also referred to as the Lord’s Supper, is an opportunity to remember and celebrate the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. This all goes back to the final meal Jesus had with his disciples prior to his arrest and ultimate crucifixion; this meal is also referred to as the Last Supper.
This event is recorded in the gospels in Matthew 26, Mark 14, and Luke 22. These accounts are all very similar. John records this event beginning in chapter 13, but his recording gives details that you don’t see in the other gospels. During this time Jesus took bread and broke it, which represented his broken body. He also took wine and poured it, which represented his spilled blood. Whenever we come to the communion table, we are remembering and celebrating the broken body and shed blood of Jesus.
How Frequently Should We Take Communion?
“For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death till He comes” (1 Corinthians 11:26, NKJV).
The Bible does not give a clear directive as to how frequently you should take communion. The frequency in which communion is taken varies from church to church, because there is no specific commandment that directs how often you should.
There are some churches that take communion every Sunday. Many churches do it the first Sunday of every month. There are even some churches that have no set schedule of when they will take communion. For most of my church experience, communion has been given the first Sunday of the month. However, I have also attended a church that did not have a set schedule for communion. Even though there is no command outlining the frequency of communion, it should be a regular part of the gathering of believers. However, what is more important than the frequency is the attitude you bring to it.
How Can I Prepare My Heart for Communion?
I have always believed it is wise to spend a moment in prayer before you take communion. When communion is served in your church, here are three things you can do to prepare your heart before you take it:
1. Reflect
“For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-25).
The beauty of taking communion is the opportunity to reflect on the great sacrifice that was made for our salvation. These elements are designed to be an eternal reminder of the price Jesus paid for our redemption. This should keep us humble before him remembering that if he didn’t do it for us, we would still be without hope.
2. Repent
“Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup” (1 Corinthians 11:28).
We should also have a repentant heart before we take communion. One of the reasons to pray before you take communion is to give God an opportunity to reveal any sin that you may have been harboring in your heart. Communion is a wonderful time to come to God in true repentance – not just acknowledging the sin but asking for the desire not to do it again. What better place of repentance than when you are remembering the sacrifice Jesus made for your sin? If that doesn’t move you to repent, then possibly nothing will.
3. Rejoice
“For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect” (1 Peter 1:18-19).
The other part of communion that we should be doing is rejoicing. While we are remembering what Christ did for us, it should not make us somber – it should cause us to rejoice! There are in fact many reasons you can rejoice.
You can rejoice because your sins are forgiven.
You can rejoice because you belong to him.
You can rejoice because you are redeemed.
You can rejoice because you have eternal life.
I could keep going, but I think you understand. You can rejoice when taking communion because your forgiveness, your redemption, your eternal life is all because of the great sacrifice Jesus made for you. Don’t let communion just be a solemn moment, let it be a celebratory moment because there are reasons to celebrate.
A Prayer to Say before Taking Communion
Here is an example of a type of prayer to say before you take communion. You don’t have to pray these exact words, but it is simply a guideline.
Lord,
I take the time to remember your great sacrifice for my sins. I remember your broken body and shed blood, not for anything you did wrong, but because you were paying the penalty for my sins. Before I take this bread and drink this cup, I repent of any sins I have committed before you. I also don’t take this moment lightly, but recognize how precious and holy this moment is. I want to take a moment to thank you for your sacrifice and to thank you for the result of your sacrifice. I not only remember it, but I rejoice over it. I thank you that because of what you did for me, I can have my sins forgiven and have access to eternal life. Thank you for loving me enough to pay this great price for my redemption.
In Jesus name,
Amen.
What Should I Do after Communion Sunday?
Let me give you a simple suggestion as to how you should live, not just after communion Sunday but after every day.
“As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Ephesians 4:1-3).
If you want to think of a way to honor Christ and remember the sacrifice he made for your sin – which is what communion is all about – there is no better way than how Paul instructs us here in Ephesians. You should live a life that reflects how much gratitude you have for what Jesus has done for you. Paul calls this walking worthy of the call you have received.
I would add to that walking everyday remembering how much your salvation cost, and never taking it for granted. When you remember the cost of your salvation and realize you had nothing to do with it, but it was all because of God’s love, grace, and mercy, then you can walk worthy. This will keep you humble, gentle, patient, bearing with other people, and keeping the unity of the Spirit. When you truly understand and remember what Jesus has done for you, there really is no other way you can possibly live.
A Daily Prayer
Communion is a wonderful time to remind yourself of what is most important. It is so easy to get sidetracked by the things going on around us, but when you come to the time of communion, it makes things very clear, very quickly. Let it be that we carry in our hearts the sacrifice Jesus made for us not just on communion Sunday, but every day. Let’s not just make it about a prayer before you take communion, but a prayer that shapes your focus daily. Let’s make it a point to celebrate our Savior every day, because the broken body and spilled blood are just as precious today as they were on the day he was crucified.
Related articles
Who Can Take Communion?
What Is Communion and Why Is it Celebrated Differently?
Why Can't Non-Christians Take Communion?
Photo credit: ©Getty Images/IngridHS
