Bible Prayers: conflict

Showing posts with label conflict. Show all posts

June 15, 2020

Praying for God’s protection

In this prayer-psalm, King David asks God to protect him – not from the enemy, whoever or whatever that might be – but from fear. He also prays, in essence, to be kept untouched by the ills and ill-will around him.

Psalm 64:1-2 – a prayer of David

from the King James Version of the Bible

Hear my voice,

O God, in my prayer:

preserve my life

from fear of the enemy.

Hide me

from the secret counsel

of the wicked;

from the insurrection

of the workers of iniquity:

Psalm 64:1-2 – a prayer of David

paraphrased into contemporary English

Hear my voice, O God,

even when I complain!

Protect my life from fear

and dread of terror.

Hide me from hateful plots

and hate-filled people,
from trouble-making mobs.

Praise You, Lord God, for heeding our prayers and keeping us safely tucked into Your Holy Spirit.

…

June 1, 2020

Pray for forgiveness, peace, healing!

As riots abound around our country and the world, Pentecost week has come, reminding us of the coming of the Law of Moses to bring God's people together and, centuries later, the coming of the Holy Spirit to empower us as we minister to and build up God's people everywhere. And so, in the Name of the Lord God and all that is Holy, let's do everything we can to communicate God's love:

Let's try to truly hear what others have to say, especially if their lives differ greatly from ours.
Let's aim to identify each problem and look for workable solutions instead of lumping everything into an impassible mountain.
Let's pray together.
Pray with the family of Korah.
Pray for the Lord to remind us, we, too, are One in the Family of God.
Pray for the Holy Spirit to bring forgiveness, peace, and healing in Jesus’ Name.
Pray for God’s Love to be clearly visible as the banner He places over ALL of His people.

Psalm 60:1-5 – a prayer of the family of Korah from the King James Version of the Bible

O God, thou hast cast us off,

thou hast scattered us, thou hast

been displeased;

O turn thyself to us again.

Thou hast made the earth

to tremble; thou hast broken it:

heal the breaches thereof;

for it shaketh.

Thou hast shewed

thy people hard things:

thou hast made us to drink

the wine of astonishment.

Thou hast given a banner to them

that fear thee, that it may be displayed

because of the truth. Selah.

That thy beloved may be delivered;

save with thy right hand, and hear me.

Psalm 60:1-5 – a prayer of the family of Korah - prayerfully paraphrased into everyday English

O God, have You rejected us?

You have been angry with us

and broken down our defenses.

Restore us now!

You made the land quake

and split open.

Now heal these rifts

before the world falls apart!

You made Your people

quake from hardships

and stagger from the cup

You gave us to drink.

And yet, You have raised a banner

over those who fear You,

so we can rally together

when we’re under attack.

Save us with Your hand of power!

Answer us, so those dear to You

may be delivered into safety.

…

January 20, 2020

The conflicting prayers of Moses

Have you ever responded eagerly to a call by God only to have fear or apprehension enter the equation? Moses did.

At first, the Burning Bush consumed his curiosity – but, amazingly, not the bush! As he turned aside to better see, he immediately heard God’s call.

Moses answered like a school kid at roll call! But when he realized God wanted him to do something big, trepidations set in, and he begged God to send someone else.

You know the rest of the story. Despite his hesitation, Moses obeyed God’s will and did the job he’d been asked to do – leading God’s people out of slavery.

Exodus 3:4 – a prayer of Moses

And when the Lord saw that he (Moses)

turned aside to see,

God called unto him

out of the midst of the bush, and said,

Moses, Moses.

And he (Moses) said,

Here am I.

Exodus 4:13

And he (Moses) said,

O my Lord, send, I pray thee,

by the hand of him

whom thou wilt send.

…

Exodus 3:4 – a prayer of Moses

Here I am, Lord.