Praying to hear and be heard

 

Many Psalms began as the personal prayers of King David, who consistently turned to God with his problems and praise. These prayers and others in the Bible still speak for us today.

 

Psalm 143:1, 7-8

from the King James Version

 

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

give ear to my supplications:

in thy faithfulness answer me,

and in thy righteousness.

 

Hear me speedily, O Lord:

my spirit faileth:

hide not thy face from me,

lest I be like unto them

that go down into the pit.

 

Cause me to hear

thy loving kindness in the morning;

for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way

wherein I should walk;

for I lift up my soul unto thee.

 

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 

 

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Psalm 143:1, 7-8

paraphrased into everyday English

 

Hear my prayer, O Lord.

Bring Your ear close.

Answer me in Your righteousness,

Your faithfulness.

 

Answer me quickly,

for my spirit languishes!

If You hide Your face from me,

I’d be in the dark – in a pit!

 

Let me hear Your loving kindness

in the morning, Lord,

for I trust – oh, I trust –

in You!

 

Teach me the way in which

I should walk, for to You

I lift up my soul, my life.

For to You, I lift up my soul.

 

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations and paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

 

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Praying for God to protect

King David, a strong man of God, found strength in praying for God’s protection. Many of his Bible prayers in the book of Psalms provide a pattern of praying for God to protect us in frightening times that threaten our safety.

Psalm 140:1, 7 – a prayer of David
from the King James Version

Deliver me, O Lord,
from the evil man:
preserve me
from the violent man;

O God the Lord,
the strength of my salvation,
thou hast covered my head
in the day of battle.

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 

 

Psalm 140:1, 7 – a prayer of David
in everyday English

Deliver me from evil, Lord!
Protect me from violence.

O Lord, my God,
my mighty Savior,
You have covered
my head for the battle.

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations and paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

 

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Prayer for God’s intervention

Troubled times now, troubled times in Bible days….

This prayer from God’s Word can be prayed appropriately now and any time we place our praise, trust, and concerns before the Lord.

Psalm 71:1-12

paraphrased into everyday English

I put my trust in You, O Lord.

Help me never to be confused about that.

Rescue me. Free me for You do what’s right.

Stay inclined to listen to me and deliver me.

Be to me a Rock where I can safely hide.

Give Your command to rescue me,

for You are my high ridge and fortress.

Rescue me, my God, from the power of evil,

from the clutches of cruel oppressors.

O Lord, my only hope is in You.

From childhood I have trusted You, Lord.

Yes, from the moment of my birth

and even in my mother’s womb, You

have tended me.

No wonder I’m always praising You.

No wonder my life provides an example to many,

because You have been my strength and protection.

No wonder I daily declare Your praise and glory!

Now that I’m older, please don’t set me aside.

Please don’t leave me when my strength fails,

for people whisper against me and plot

to do me in. They say, “God has gone from him!

Let’s go get him, for who will help him now?”

O God, please don’t stay away.

Please hurry to help me, my God.

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual Bible prayers from many translations and paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

Psalm 71:1-12

from the King James Version

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust:

let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness,

and cause me to escape: incline

thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation,

whereunto I may continually resort:

thou hast given commandment

to save me; for thou art my rock

and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of

the hand of the wicked, out of

the hand of the unrighteous

and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute   and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

O God, be not far from me:

O my God, make haste for my help.

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)  collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 

For additional translations and adaptations of this psalm, visit Bible Gateway website – my online go-to site for biblical research.

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Praying for mercy

We often equate mercy with clemency and compassion, but God’s mercy offers much more. His mercy offers us forgiveness, redemption, and peace. That’s true for us individually and also for God's family. 

We’re all in this together! So let’s pray to receive God’s mercy over us and our country. Let's do all we can to be at peace with God, each other, and ourselves.

Deuteronomy 21:8-9 – a prayer of Moses

from the King James Version of the Bible

Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel,

whom thou hast redeemed,

and lay not innocent blood

unto thy people of Israel's charge.

And the blood shall be forgiven them.

So shalt thou put away the guilt

of innocent blood from among you,

when thou shalt do that which is right

in the sight of the Lord.

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 

Deuteronomy 21:8 – a prayer of Moses

paraphrased into everyday language

Lord, You freed us!

Now please

make peace with us.

Don’t let the guilt

of unsolved offenses

reside with Your people.

Give us peace, Lord.

Give us peace.

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations and paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

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Moses intercedes for God’s people

During the season of Lent, God’s people often take time to draw closer to the Lord through personal confession and prayer for forgiveness. However, Moses confessed for the hundreds of thousands whom God had asked him to lead out of slavery.

As soon as their leader was out of sight, the people committed the most offensive act against the very God Who had rescued them! When Moses saw what was going on, he mediated for them, confessed their wrong-doing, pleaded with the Lord God on their behalf, and even put his own life on the line, knowing God could be trusted to do what was right.

Exodus 32:31-32 – a prayer of Moses

And Moses returned unto the Lord,

and said, Oh, this people have sinned

a great sin, and have made them gods of gold.

Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin;

and if not, blot me, I pray thee,

out of thy book which thou hast written.

From the Book of KJV Prayers - actual prayers from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019 

Exodus 32:31-32 – a prayer of Moses

(Now I see)

what terrible sins

these people have committed!

They have fashioned themselves

gods of gold!

Oh, Lord, please forgive them!

And, if that just is not possible,

please take me off Your list!

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations and paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

Today, praise God, we have Jesus Christ to intercede for us and reconcile us to our Heavenly Father and His.

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Bible Prayers: Thanksgiving to God

Thanksgiving reminds us to count our blessings and thank God for our families, friends, church, and country. It’s also an ideal time to pray these Bible prayers, first from the King James Version of the Bible, then these contemporary, paraphrased Bible prayers:

Psalm 75:1 – a prayer of Asaph

Unto thee, O God,

do we give thanks,

unto thee

do we give thanks:

for that thy name is near

thy wondrous works declare.

from the Book of KJV Prayers

Psalm 75:1 – a prayer of Asaph

We give thanks

to You, O Lord.

We give thanks.

For Your Name

is near.

Your Name

holds wondrous

deeds.

from the Book of Bible Prayers

Psalm 100 – a prayer of God’s people

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

Serve the Lord with gladness:

come before his presence with singing.

 Know ye that the Lord he is God:

it is he that hath made us,

and not we ourselves;

we are his people,

and the sheep of his pasture.

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving,

and into his courts with praise:

be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting;

and his truth endureth to all generations.

from the Book of KJV Prayers

Psalm 100 – a prayer of God’s people

Earth, I’m calling on you to make

a joyful noise to the Lord!

We worship You, Lord, with gladness.

We sing our way into Your presence.

We know You are God, and it is You,

Who has made us – we, Your people,

the sheep of Your pastures.

With thanks, we enter Your gates

and come into Your courts with praise.

We’re so grateful to You,

we bless and hallow Your Name.

How good You are, Lord! How faithful!

Your mercy  lasts forever, and Your truth

goes on and on to all generations.

from the Book of Bible Prayers

Psalm 106:47 – a prayer of God’s people

Save us, O Lord our God,

and gather us

from among the heathen,

to give thanks

unto thy holy name,

and to triumph in thy praise.

from the Book of KJV Prayers

Psalm 106:47 – a prayer of God’s people

O Lord, our God, rescue us.

Gather us together,

so we may give thanks

to Your holy Name.

May we glory

in Your praise.

from the Book of Bible Prayers

1 Timothy 2:1-6  – a prayer of Paul

I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks, be made for all…;

For kings, and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable

life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight

of God our Saviour; Who will have

all to be saved, and to come

unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator

between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all,

to be testified in due time.

from the Book of KJV Prayers

1 Timothy 2:1-6  – a prayer of Paul

Remind us, Lord,

to make our requests –

our prayers,

intercession,

and thanksgiving –

for everyone,

including our leaders

and all those in authority,

so we may live

peaceful,

quiet,

godly,

holy lives.

Surely this pleases You,

God our Savior,

for You want everyone

to be saved

and come to know

the truth in You.

You alone are God,

and we have One

mediator between You

and other people –

the One, Christ Jesus,

Who gave Himself

as a ransom for us

and everyone.

from the Book of Bible Prayers

Have a blessed Thanksgiving to God!

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

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