Hope for godly nations

Leviticus 26:3-6, 11-12 – “If you faithfully follow and obey My instructions, I will give you seasonable rains, productive lands, and fruitful trees. Then you will have plenty to eat and will live in safety. I will dwell among you and will not turn away. I will walk with you and be your God.”

 

We want to follow You, Lord. We want to obey. We want to walk closer to You.

Thank You for letting us know what You want, so we don’t have to guess!  Please draw us into reading and remembering what the Bible says, so we can claim Your promises and take Your word to heart, soul, mind, and spirit.  

from the book Kneeling on the Promises of God

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 

…

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

 

…

Praying the Lord’s Prayer for the Nations

Our Father Who Is in Heaven,
Most Blessed and Sacred is Your Name.

May Your Kingdom come
to the United States and all
continents – to reign over us
with justice, mercy, and love,
and may Your Will prevail
on earth as it does in Heaven.

Lord, give us this day
the sustenance we need
for mental, physical, and spiritual
well-being, but also for our
social and emotional health.

Forgive us for getting out of bounds!
And thank You for giving us what we need
to forgive each person – past or present
and each group – past or present,
who has ever intruded against us.

Lead us not into temptation
to do wrong or cause harm
or give in to fears and disbelief,
but deliver us from evil,
apathy, and cruelties of all kinds.

For Yours is the Kingdom we want!
Yours is the power we need.
Yours is the glory we worship
and adore in the Name
of Christ Jesus our Lord.

prayer-a-phrase by Mary Harwell Sayler, © 2015

…

Global Day of Prayer

On this Global Day of Prayer, may 2 Chronicles 7:14 move us to pray as God guides in Jesus’ Name.

If My people who
are called by My Name
will humble themselves -

If My people who
are called by My Name
will call on Me –

If My people will turn
from their wicked ways –

I will hear from the heights.

I will forgive and repair
the separation
that comes from sin.

I will heal the lands.


©2014 Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased 2 Chronicles 7:14 from the many translations found on Bible Gateway.



…

Praying for God’s help

Psalm 31

O LORD, in You I run for shelter.
Let me not be put to shame.
Deliver me In Your righteousness.

Fold Yourself around me,
and quickly rescue me.

Be my strong rock!
Be the stronghold that saves me
for You are my fort and fortification.
For the sake of Your Name, You lead and guide me.
You pull me from unknown traps.
You are my strength!

Into Your hand I commit my spirit.

And You, O LORD God of Truth, have brought me back!

Others may trust in worthless ideals and obsessions,
but LORD, I trust in You.

I rejoice in the kindness of Your love
and am glad, just knowing
You understand my complaint.
You understand the troubles of my soul!

You did not hand me over
into hurtful hands
but handed me a place
with ample room to stretch and grow.

Even in my distress, I can see
how gracious You are, O LORD!

My eyes closed down with grief,
my soul and my body also.
For years, sorrow upon sorrow
spent my life with sighs.

My strength failed in wrongdoings,
and my body wasted away.
I became a reproach to my adversaries,
even close neighbors –
and an object of dread to those who know me.
People in the street would see me and flee!

I am forgotten – like a person dead,
like a broken bowl.

Some spoke ill words into me.
Terror surrounded me.
People ganged up against me
and schemed to take all of me.

But I trust You, O LORD!
I want to tell everyone, “You are my God.”

What happens to me belongs in Your hand,
but, oh, deliver me from the hands
of those who harangue me.

Face me, O LORD, with Your shine.
In the kindness of Your love,
save me, and let not Your servant
be put to shame for calling on You.

Let those who never think of You
be put to shame and silenced forever.
Mute their lying lips
from speaking with pride and derision
against people who just want to do right!

Oh, how great is the goodness
You have stockpiled for Your people
and have waiting for those
who find their sanctuary in You!

In the secret place of Your presence,
You hide us away
from secret schemes.
Secretly You shelter us
in the sanctuary of Your Word –
safe from troubling words.

Blessed be the LORD!
How marvelous His loving kindness!

When I was overwhelmed, I feared
I'd be forever closed off from Your sight,
but You heard my pleas
and cries to You.

O love the LORD, all of you who are
His people!
The LORD takes care of the faithful
and compensates His people well.

Be strong!
Let your heart take courage
as you hope, as you hope in our Lord.

© 2012, Mary Harwell Sayler, prayer-a-phrase poem of Psalm 31