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May 15, 2021

Call to Prayer

The book of Psalms provides beautiful, blessed Bible prayers to pray, but some psalms, such as Psalm 122, pray for us to pray!

No matter how you translate it, these verses from the Bible Gateway website send an urgent call to God’s people now.

Psalm 122:6-9

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

“Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem:
‘May those who love you be secure;
may there be peace within your walls,
security within your fortresses.’
Because of my brothers and friends,
I will say, ‘May peace be in you.’
Because of the house of the Lord our God,
I will pursue your prosperity.”

Psalm 122:6-9

Common English Bible (CEB)

^“Pray that Jerusalem has peace:
    ‘Let those who love you have rest.
    let there be rest on your fortifications.’
For the sake of my family and friends,
    I say, 'Peace be with you, Jerusalem.’
For the sake of the Lord our God’s house
    I will pray for your good.”

Psalm 122:6-9

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

“For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
    ‘May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your ramparts,
    prosperity within your towers.’
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
    ‘Peace be with you,’
For the sake of the house of the Lord, our God,
    I pray for your good.”

…

May 3, 2021

Agreeing to Agree in Prayer

People come from every background and culture, but in the Name of Jesus, we find common ground - common unity, community.

If we actually listen to one another, we’re apt to discover we usually share basic beliefs in God the Father our creator, the Son of God Jesus Christ our Savior, and the indwelling Holy Spirit our empowerment and guide.

And, if we really listen to people with opposing views, we’re apt to realize we usually want and need the same things: Family, friends, safety, shelter, water, food, housing, work, adequate income, respect, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, healing, faith in something or someone bigger than ourselves.

Disunity arises, however, as our priorities change. What we need most today might not be what we most needed last year. Meanwhile, “They” have varying needs and priorities too, so with almost eight billion people on earth, how can “they” and “we” ever match up – need for need, priority for priority?

We can’t! Nor do we need to think or be exactly alike. We’re each unique, thank God! However, we all need the Mind of Christ, which means loving other people as we do ourselves, regardless of our differences. It means forgiving one another, treating each other with respect, and not being quick to assume or judge. It means reading the Bible to see what God wants and praying to receive the Mind of Christ. It means genuinely praying this Bible prayer from the Apostle Paul and believing God can do what we cannot accomplish alone.

Romans 15:5–6, 13 – a prayer of Paul
from the King James Version of the Bible

Now the God of patience
and consolation grant you
to be likeminded one
toward another
according to Christ Jesus:

That ye may with one mind
and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.

Now the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:5–6, 13 – a prayer of Paul
paraphrased into contemporary English

God Who gives us
endurance
and encouragement,
please give us
a spirit of unity
among ourselves.

As we follow Christ Jesus,
may we glorify You –
God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ –
with one heart, one mouth.

God of hope, fill us
with all joy and peace
as we trust You –
as our hope overflows
by the power
of Your Holy Spirit.

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 Harwell Sayler, ©2019.

…

April 22, 2021

Praying for boldness

As the early church faced persecution, Jesus’ followers could have asked to be spared suffering or harm to themselves, but they did not. Instead, this Bible prayer from Acts shows the first Christian asking for boldness to speak God’s Word and bring the good news of Christ the Savior to people everywhere. May we, too, pray to be bold in ministering healing and making peace in Jesus' Name.

Acts 4:29-30 – a prayer of Jesus’ followers

from the King James Version

And now, Lord,

behold their threatenings:

and grant unto thy servants,

that with all boldness

they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand

to heal; and that signs

and wonders may be done

by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

Acts 4:29-30 – a prayer of Jesus’ followers

in contemporary English

Lord, can You hear how

they’re threatening us?

Please help us to speak Your word

with courage, Lord.

Show Your power!

Bring healing!

Perform miracles for us!

Amaze everyone with the authority

found in Jesus’ Name.

…

April 2, 2021

Good Friday prayer of Jesus

On Good Friday, Jesus the Son of God nailed our sins to the cross.

Only a few days earlier, throngs of people had sung His praises and thrown down palm branches to ease His ride into Jerusalem. But now, crowds gathered to jeer at Him as He hung between criminals in the worse kind of torture – crucifixion.

Just to breathe, Jesus had to lift Himself up, thrusting His weight into the nails that held His hands against the hard wood while dragging His flesh further into the nails that fastened His feet.

And yet….

As the people railed against Him, hurling every kind of insult, and dogs snapped at His feet, and breathing itself became a torture, Jesus used these final moments to pray His last Amen on our behalf:

Luke 23:34 – a prayer of Jesus
from the King James Version (KJV)

Then said Jesus,

Father,
forgive them;

for they know not
what they do.

Luke 23:34 – a prayer of Jesus
in contemporary English

Father,
forgive them!

They don’t know
what they’re doing.

…

March 19, 2021

Confessing with Jeremiah

Living in troubled times, the Prophet Jeremiah drew close enough to hear God’s word, and we can do this too! As Lent reminds us, we prepare for Easter by confessing and turning away (repenting) from whatever obstacles stand between us and the Lord.

May God Himself put on our minds and hearts any fear, anger, bigotry, violence, idolatry, complacency, or other sin we need to release into His forgiveness. Freed of these dark stains, we’re ready to receive the light and living water of Jesus Christ.

Jeremiah 14:20-22 – a prayer of Jeremiah
from the King James Version of the Bible

We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness,
and the iniquity of our fathers:
for we have sinned against thee.

Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake,
do not disgrace the throne of thy glory:
remember, break not thy covenant with us.

Are there any among the vanities
of the Gentiles that can cause rain?
or can the heavens give showers?
art not thou he, O Lord our God?

therefore we will wait upon thee:
for thou hast made all these things.

…

Jeremiah 14:20-22 – a prayer of Jeremiah
paraphrased into contemporary English

We confess!

We’ve acted badly, Lord,
and so have our ancestors.

Our whole family has sinned against You,
and yet, surely
Your character will not allow You
to abandon us, Lord,
nor disgrace Your glorious throne.

Please remember Your promises to us
for we rely on You.

What worthless foreign god could
send us rain?

The sky needs You
to do such things, O Lord our God.
And so
we wait for You to help.

…

February 26, 2021

Job prays for a referee

Thousands of years ago, people thought terrible hardships meant a person had sinned against an avenging god. Obviously, Job’s friends had been taught to think that way, but Job knew he’d done nothing to disobey God, and he could think of nothing that might even have offended the Lord.

In this prayer, Job longs for a mediator, an advocate, an umpire, a referee – someone to stand between himself and God, interpret as needed, and restore them into fellowship.

Centuries later that Mediator came to earth as our go-between – Jesus Christ, The One Who forgives and forever reunites us with the Almighty God.

Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English

My life sprints by like a runner – so swiftly
it’s hard to catch a glimpse of happiness.
Life vanishes like a speedy little boat made of paper
or like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
If I made up my mind to forget my complaints
and put away a sad face to be cheerful,
I would still shudder with pain.

O, God, I know You’ll never say I’m innocent!
No matter what, I will be found guilty,
so why should I even try?

If I scoured myself with soap
and washed my hands with lye,
You might thrust me into a muddy ditch,
so even my clothes would hate my filth!

God, You’re not a regular person like me,
so how can I argue my case? How can I
take You to trial?

Oh, if only a Mediator stood between us –
someone who could bring us together again.

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 Harwell Sayler, ©2019

Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version

Now my days are swifter than a post:
they flee away, they see no good.

They are passed away as the swift ships:
as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
If I say, I will forget my complaint,
I will leave off my heaviness,
and comfort myself: I am afraid
of all my sorrows, I know that thou
wilt not hold me innocent.

If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?

If I wash myself with snow water, and
make my hands never so clean;
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,
and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
For he ( God) is not a man, as I am,
that I should answer him, and we should
come together in judgment.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,
that might lay his hand upon us both.

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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January 29, 2021

Job prays through to God

For many days, Job sat in shock, pain, and anger, looking for answers while listening to friends who didn’t believe in his innocence nor get why he kept questioning God. Although the Lord did not directly answer Job’s questions, His very presence quieted Job’s need to know.

Job 42:1-6 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version of the Bible

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

I know that thou canst do every thing,

and that no thought can be

withholden from thee.

Who is he that hideth counsel

without knowledge? therefore

have I uttered that I understood not;

things too wonderful for me,

which I knew not.

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:

but now mine eye seeth thee.

Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Job 42:1-6 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English

Lord, I know You can do anything!

No plan of Yours can be thwarted.

You asked why my ignorance hides

me from seeing Your view.

All I can say is, I didn’t understand

things too wonderful to know.

You told me to listen,

and You would speak.

You told me to answer Your questions

as I wanted You to answer mine!

I’ve heard a lot about You, Lord,

but now I’ve seen You for myself.

And so I take back my words

that questioned You, and I

repent in dust and ashes.

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 Harwell Sayler, ©2019

December 31, 2020

Bible prayer for God’s healing

As 2020 comes to an end, let’s pray for our nation(s) to return to the Lord God. Let’s seek God’s healing and salvation for ourselves and all peoples. Let's faithfully praise the Lord throughout the New Year.

Jeremiah 17:13-14 – a prayer of Jeremiah

from the King James Version of the Bible

O Lord, the hope of Israel,

all that forsake thee shall be ashamed,

and they that depart from me

shall be written in the earth,

because they have forsaken the Lord,

the fountain of living waters.

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed;

save me, and I shall be saved:

for thou art my praise.

…

Jeremiah 17:13-14 – a prayer of Jeremiah

in everyday English

Lord God and hope of Your people,

whoever abandons You will be put to shame!

All who turn away from You will find their whole lives

written only in dust,

for they have abandoned You and Your fountain

of living water.

Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed.

Save me, and I will be saved,

for You alone are my praise.

…