In the Amen of Jesus

 2 Corinthians 1:20 – “In Christ, every promise of God finds its ‘Yes!’ And also through Him is our ‘Amen!’ for the glory of God through us.”

 

Here it is, Lord – the theme and purpose of this book! Help us to hear and receive this wondrous word in ever greater measure.

The promises You made throughout the pages of the Bible find their answer – their “yes!” in Your Son, Jesus Christ. When we meditate on Your promises and claim them personally in prayer, they find their “yes” – their “amen!” in us too.

Praise You, Lord, for fulfilling Your promises in the Name of Jesus, Whose life, death, and resurrection  restored us into fellowship with You, our innermost selves, and Your beloved church Body of Christ.

Let nothing mar our belief in Your promises, Lord, for each promise is Your prayer for us! 

(c) Mary Harwell Sayler from her book, Kneeling on the Promises of God

God blesses us with His prayer, His Name

 Numbers 6:23-27 – “Bless My children. Tell them this:  'God blesses you and keeps you. The face of God shines upon you and is gracious to you. God looks upon you with peace.’  In this way, you will put My Name on My children, and I will bless them.”

We claim this blessing, Lord! Thank You for looking favorably upon us. Thank You for Your promise of grace and peace that give our faces such rest, such shine!

Praise You for receiving us and blessing us. Thank You for claiming us as Your children and giving us Your Family Name.

Mary Sayler, from Kneeling on the Promises of God

Jesus teaches us how to pray

Many Christians regularly pray the Lord’s Prayer or Our Father, and many churches include Jesus’ prayer in Sunday services, daily mass, or other times of worship. Throughout the week, however, and throughout the year, we can use this beautiful prayer “as is” or as an outline for whoever or whatever God brings to mind as we pray each phrase or line.

The prayer most often memorized or recited comes from the Gospel of Matthew, but Luke recorded the following version:

Luke 11:2-4 – a prayer of Jesus
from the King James Version of the Bible

And (Jesus) said unto them,
When ye pray, say,

Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
as in heaven, so in earth.

Give us day by day our daily bread.

And forgive us our sins;
for we also forgive every one
that is indebted to us.

And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.

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

 

Luke 11:2-4 – a prayer of Jesus
paraphrased into contemporary English

Father in heaven,
may Your Name
be kept holy among us.

Bring us into Your kingdom. 

Give us bread for the day.

Forgive us
as we forgive those who
have wronged us.

Keep us from temptation.

Deliver us
from a time of hard trials.

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

Amen!

Have a blessed New Year!

 

© 2021-2022, Mary Sayler

 

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Pre-prayer the Way with Zechariah

This prayer by the father of John the Baptist reminds us to prepare the way for Christ, our Christmas present from God presented in our homes then gifted to all peoples in need of God’s forgiving love.

 

Luke 1:68-70, 76, 77 – a prayer of Zechariah

from the King James Version of the Bible

 

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel;

for he hath visited and redeemed his people,

 

And hath raised up an horn of salvation

for us in the house of his servant David;

 

As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets,

which have been since the world began:

 

And thou, child, shalt be called the prophet

of the Highest: for thou shalt go before

the face of the Lord to prepare his ways;

 

To give knowledge of salvation unto his people

by the remission of their sins.

 

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

 

Luke 1:68-70, 76, 77 – Zechariah’s prayer

paraphrased into contemporary English

 

Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel!

You have visited us and provided

redemption for Your people!

You have raised up a mighty Savior

from the house of David,

just as You promised ages ago

through the holy prophets.

 

And, now my child will be

a prophet of the Most High

to go before the Lord

and prepare the way

for You to give people

good news of salvation

as You forgive our sins.

 

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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A Bible Prayer to keep us afloat

 

As floods and overwhelming circumstances threaten to do us in, this Bible prayer from Jesus’ followers is here for us to pray today.

 

Matthew 8:25 – a prayer of Jesus’ followers
from the King James Version of the Bible:

 

And (Jesus’) disciples came to him,
and awoke him, saying,

Lord,
save us:

we perish.

 

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

 

Matthew 8:25 – a prayer of Jesus’ followers,
Paraphrased in contemporary language:

 

Lord!
Save us! 

Do not let us
drown!

 

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

 

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Prayer of choosing, not losing, joy in God

 

Things are tough! People are still getting ill or angry. Many live in fear or poverty. Weather has gone ballistic. Stores are closing. Food is pricey, and restaurants ready to serve can’t find servers willing to work. No one can. Even God has trouble finding enough people ready to serve – ready to ease the increasing needs of those around us.

 

The prophet Habakkuk knew the feeling. But despite the hard times and disappointments around him, he trusted in God’s goodness. As the following Bible prayer shows, this servant of God chose to rejoice in the Sovereign Lord.

 

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 – a prayer of Habakkuk
paraphrased into contemporary English

 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and no grapes huddle together on the vines….

Even though olive crops dry up,
and fields lie fruitless and empty….

Even though flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns stand empty,

 

yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

 

For You, Sovereign Lord, are my strength!

You make me as surefooted as a deer,
able to leap across high places.

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

 

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 – a prayer of Habakkuk
from the King James Version of the Bible

 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labour of the olive shall fail,

and the fields shall yield no meat;

the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

 

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 

The Lord God is my strength, and

he will make my feet like hinds' feet,

and he will make me to walk

upon mine high places. 

 

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

 

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Praying from inside a whale

  

On rare occasions (this very month in fact!), we hear of someone who survived being swallowed by a whale. According to statistics, the likelihood of this is one in a trillion, but for some people, those odds take the Bible story of Jonah out of the mists of myth into praise of the power our Almighty God has over odds.

 

Since our Creator God is not into performing magic tricks, each miracle fulfills some plan or purpose. With Jonah, for example, God planned to send the prophet into enemy territory on what might have been the first missionary trip ever.

 

And the people believed.

 

 

Jonah 2:2-9 – a prayer of Jonah
paraphrased from many translations
as found on Bible Gateway

 

I called to You, Lord, in my distress,

and You answered me!

From the belly of death, I cried for help,

and You heard me!

 

When You tossed me into the depths

of the sea, the waters overcame me.

Billows and breakers swept over me,

and I said, “I’ve been banished

from Your sight!” I wondered if I

would ever see Your holy sanctuary again.

 

Water engulfed me, and I sank into the sea.

Seaweed wrapped around my head.

I sank to the sea-roots of mountains.

Around me, the earth

closed like prison bars,

but You raised me

from this sinkhole,

O Lord, my God!

 

As my life faded away,

I remembered You.

My prayer floated up to You,

reaching Your holy presence.

Worshippers of worthless things

forsake Your faithful love, but I

will give You my voice

in a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

I’ll do as I promised, Lord,

for You alone hold my salvation.

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.

 

 

Jonah 2:2-9 – a prayer of Jonah
from the King James Version of the Bible

 

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction

the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell

cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

 

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst

of the seas; and the floods compassed me about:

all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

 

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look

again toward thy holy temple.

 

The waters compassed me about,

even to the soul: the depth

closed me round about,

the weeds were wrapped about my head.

 

 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;

the earth with her bars was about me for ever:

yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,

O Lord my God.

 

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord:

and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

 

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is 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 

 

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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.”

 

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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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.

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

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

Father,
forgive them!

They don’t know
what they’re doing. 

 

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.

 

©2021

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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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