A Prayer of Comfort

 

In times of need, the prayer of God’s people in Psalm 94 reminds us to seek and confess the comfort God brings. We, the people of now, can find consolation in this same prayer for our nation. Pray for yourself, of course! Then change “my” to “our” and “I” to “we.” Pray, too, for other nations (“their” and “they”) who need God’s comfort.

 

Psalm 94:17-19 – a prayer of God’s people

Unless the Lord had been my help,
my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

When I said, My foot slippeth;
thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

In the multitude of my thoughts
within me thy comforts delight my soul.

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

 

Psalm 94:17-19 – a prayer of God’s people
in contemporary language

Unless You had been my help, Lord,
my soul would have lived in silence.

When I thought my foot slipped….
When I thought I was falling,
Your steady love,
Your unswerving mercy
held me up.

When I get anxious or
worried or upset,
You comfort my heart.
You console my soul.

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected from a variety of translations researched on Bible Gateway then paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Sayler

 

 

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Praying before we speak or write!

This prayer of David reminds us to seek God's guidance and inspiration before we say or write a single word! What a blessed way to start the day! 

Poets, writers, pastors, priests, caretakers, and other communicators for Christ might find, as I did, that Psalm 19:14 is especially relevant to our lives and the work God has given us to do.

Psalm 19:14 – a prayer of David

Let the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength
and my Redeemer.

Amen!

from the Book of Bible Prayers, researched on Bible Gateway and collected by Mary Sayler

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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Sacrificing fear and anger for prayer

Flames and people raging. Wild fires. Wild accusations. Everywhere anger. Everywhere fear! What in the blazes is going on! 

This Bible prayer from Psalms reminds us: Throw prayer onto the flames!

May every fear, every worry, every flare-up become fuel for prayer. May everything that incenses us become incense to the Lord.

 

Psalm 141:1-3 – a prayer of David
from the King James Version

Lord, I cry unto thee:

make haste unto me;

give ear unto my voice,

when I cry unto thee.

 

Let my prayer

be set forth before thee

as incense;

and the lifting up of my hands

as the evening sacrifice.

 

Set a watch, O Lord,

before my mouth;

keep the door of my lips.

 

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 141:1-3 – a prayer of David
paraphrased into everyday English

 

I’m calling to You, Lord.

Please hurry and help!

 

Let my prayers come before You

like incense.

 

Let the lifting of my hands

be like an evening sacrifice.

 

Let my words be under

Your control.

 

Be the doorkeeper of my lips.

 

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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Praying to our Creator God

 How strange that the slogan “All Lives Matter” has been a recent source of dissension and debate! Instead of viewing those words as a political or social statement, let’s try to get a glimpse of God’s perspective. 

Revealed throughout the Bible, this higher view shows us clearly that all lives matter to our Creator God – the God of Love Who favors each of us equally and uniquely – the Holy God Who created each of us to be forever in His presence, His family.

Perhaps this Bible prayer from the book of Psalms will help us to refocus our vision.

 

Psalm 139:13-24 – contemporary version

Lord, You formed my inward parts.
You wove me in my mother’s womb!
I give thanks to You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made.

Your works fill me with wonder,
and my very soul knows that quite well.

My frame was never hidden from You
when I came together in secret – as though
skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes have seen my embryonic self,
and in Your book You have written
all the days ordained for me – even before
my day of birth had yet begun.

How precious are Your thoughts, O God!
How vast the sum of them!

If I tried to count them, it’d be like trying
to count each particle of sand.

When I’m awake, I’m with You, but oh, I wish
You’d get rid of malice and hatefulness!

I wish violent people would stay far from me,
for they say terrible things about You,
and Your enemies take Your Name in vain.

Search me, O God, and know my heart.

Test me to know my anxious thoughts, and see

if there’s anything hateful or hurtful in me.

Lead me in Your everlasting way.

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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Psalm 139:13-24 – KJV

For thou hast possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 

I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works; and that

my soul knoweth right well.

 

My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth.

 

Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect; and in thy book

all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them.

 

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me,

O God! how great is the sum of them!

 

If I should count them, they are more

in number than the sand: when I awake,

I am still with thee.

 

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:

depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly,

and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart:

try me, and know my thoughts:

 

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

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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Thanking God with Asaph

Asaph and his musically inclined descendants served as Temple Musicians,  ministering before the Ark of the Lord, singing songs of praise, and thanking God with Bible prayers such as this psalm: 

Psalm 75:1 – a prayer of Asaph
from the King James Version

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

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Psalm 75:1 – a prayer of Asaph
paraphrased into contemporary English

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 – 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 in time of trouble

O Lord, turn Your ear toward me
and hear me please
for I feel poor and pitiful
with none to trust
but You.

Keep my soul safe, O God,
for I am faithful.

Save me to serve You.

Answer my all-day call
with Your grace and mercy.

To You I lift my mind,
my will, my spirit,
and You raise my soul on high!

For You are kind
and eager to forgive
all who call on You.

O Lord, I give You
the voice of my plea
for You will hear
and answer.



©2014, Mary Harwell Sayler studied several translations of Psalm 86:1-7 on Bible Gateway before writing the above prayer-a-phrased poem.

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