Bible Prayers: praying

Showing posts with label praying. Show all posts

October 26, 2020

Pray for God to heal

The prophet Jeremiah strongly believed the only reliable hope for his country resided in the Lord God. He also had faith in God’s ability to heal him personally.

If we, too, have faith in the healing power of God for our country and ourselves, we can offer up our need in prayer and praise to the Lord. We can also agree with Jeremiah and each other as we pray this timeless prayer:

Jeremiah 17:13-14 – a prayer of Jeremiah

from the King James Version (KJV) 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

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.

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September 12, 2020

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.

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.

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July 29, 2020

Prayer for God’s intervention

Troubled times now, troubled times in Bible days….

This prayer from God’s Word can be prayed appropriately now and any time we place our praise, trust, and concerns before the Lord.

Psalm 71:1-12

paraphrased into everyday English

I put my trust in You, O Lord.

Help me never to be confused about that.

Rescue me. Free me for You do what’s right.

Stay inclined to listen to me and deliver me.

Be to me a Rock where I can safely hide.

Give Your command to rescue me,

for You are my high ridge and fortress.

Rescue me, my God, from the power of evil,

from the clutches of cruel oppressors.

O Lord, my only hope is in You.

From childhood I have trusted You, Lord.

Yes, from the moment of my birth

and even in my mother’s womb, You

have tended me.

No wonder I’m always praising You.

No wonder my life provides an example to many,

because You have been my strength and protection.

No wonder I daily declare Your praise and glory!

Now that I’m older, please don’t set me aside.

Please don’t leave me when my strength fails,

for people whisper against me and plot

to do me in. They say, “God has gone from him!

Let’s go get him, for who will help him now?”

O God, please don’t stay away.

Please hurry to help me, my God.

Psalm 71:1-12

from the King James Version

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust:

let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness,

and cause me to escape: incline

thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation,

whereunto I may continually resort:

thou hast given commandment

to save me; for thou art my rock

and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of

the hand of the wicked, out of

the hand of the unrighteous

and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

O God, be not far from me:

O my God, make haste for my help.

For additional translations and adaptations of this psalm, visit Bible Gateway website – my online go-to site for biblical research.

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May 14, 2020

Praying for mercy

We often equate mercy with clemency and compassion, but God’s mercy offers much more. His mercy offers us forgiveness, redemption, and peace. That’s true for us individually and also for God's family.

We’re all in this together! So let’s pray to receive God’s mercy over us and our country. Let's do all we can to be at peace with God, each other, and ourselves.

Deuteronomy 21:8-9 – a prayer of Moses

from the King James Version of the Bible

Be merciful, O Lord, unto thy people Israel,

whom thou hast redeemed,

and lay not innocent blood

unto thy people of Israel's charge.

And the blood shall be forgiven them.

So shalt thou put away the guilt

of innocent blood from among you,

when thou shalt do that which is right

in the sight of the Lord.

Deuteronomy 21:8 – a prayer of Moses

paraphrased into everyday language

Lord, You freed us!

Now please

make peace with us.

Don’t let the guilt

of unsolved offenses

reside with Your people.

Give us peace, Lord.

Give us peace.

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April 23, 2020

Praying for our Leaders – and theirs

As the pandemic continues to affect our country and almost every other country too, tensions increase and blame abounds, spreading the contagious dis-ease of bad attitudes and depressing outlooks.

We can contribute to the general malaise, or, as Christians, we can take another tack. Here’s how the Apostle Paul prayed in troubling times.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 – a prayer of Paul

from the King James Version of the Bible

I exhort therefore, that, first of all,

supplications, prayers, intercessions,

and giving of thanks, be made for all…;

For kings, and for all that are in authority;

that we may lead a quiet and peaceable

life in all godliness and honesty.

For this is good and acceptable in the sight

of God our Saviour; Who will have

all to be saved, and to come

unto the knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God, and one mediator

between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

Who gave himself a ransom for all,

to be testified in due time.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 – a prayer of Paul

paraphrased into current language

Remind us, Lord,

to make our requests –

our prayers,

intercession,

and thanksgiving –

for everyone,

including our leaders

and all those in authority,

so we may live

peaceful,

quiet,

godly,

holy lives.

Surely this pleases You,

God our Savior,

for You want everyone

to be saved

and come to know

the truth in You.

You alone are God,

and we have One

mediator between You

and other people –

the One, Christ Jesus,

Who gave Himself

as a ransom for us

and everyone.

May this Bible prayer remind us to pray for our leaders, whether we like them or not, and also to pray for those in authority in other countries too, yes, including tyrants!

May this Bible prayer remind us to pray for everyone God puts on our minds.

P.S. Even if I forget to say so, the Bible Gateway website has long eased and aided my search for Bible prayers and other biblical topics.

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January 25, 2020

Moses’ prayer of complaint

Earlier this week, someone posted an article on the Internet with images showing what happens to the brain when we complain. Reportedly, a habit of complaining rewires the brain, making a person more and more aware of every little negative thing!

When Moses led God’s people out of slavery and toward the promised land, he had to deal with countless complaints by countless people. As mediator between them and the Lord, he presented the grievances directly to God in prayer:

Exodus 5:22-23 – a prayer of Moses

And Moses returned unto the Lord,

and said, Lord, wherefore hast thou

so evil entreated this people?

why is it that thou hast sent me?

For since I came to Pharaoh

to speak in thy name,

he hath done evil to this people;

neither hast thou delivered thy people

at all.

Exodus 5:21-22 – a prayer of Moses

Lord, why

have You brought

so much trouble

on Your people?

Why did You send me?

Ever since I got here

things have gotten worse,

and You’ve done nothing

to help!

Continual candor and persistent prayer in frequent heart-to-heart talks with God helped Moses to develop a deep faith and trust. Undoubtedly, those choices and actions also kept his brain from being hot-wired to attract negativisms!

Today, scientists assure us that simply becoming aware of the tendency to complain is the first step in stopping the problem. In fact, the brain has a remarkable plasticity by which it can rewire itself as we conscientiously change our thought patterns. How? We have only to look back about 2,000 years for the answer that, as God-incidence would have it, happens to be today’s verse from Bible Gateway:

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things,” Philippians 4:8, King James Version (KJV.)

May the Lord God help us to hear and heed!

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November 18, 2019

A servant’s prayer

The aging Abraham must have completely trusted his eldest servant to send the man on such a long journey and important mission: To travel to Abraham and Sarah’s homeland to get a wife for their son Isaac.

Genesis 24:12 – a prayer of Abraham’s servant

from the King James Version of the Bible
and the Book of KJV prayers

"And he said

O Lord God of my master Abraham,

I pray thee,

send me good speed this day,

and shew kindness

unto my master Abraham."

Genesis 24:12 prayer paraphrased
from the Book of Bible Prayers

"Oh, Lord

God of my master,

please grant me

success today

and show

Your steadfast

love!"

Today, the Lord Himself is our Master! So we can be sure of His positive response to us as we pray this servant’s prayer and go about, doing God’s will.

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