Praying with Psalm 5

Hear my words, O Lord!
Listen to me sigh.
Attend to the sound of my cries,
my King and my God,
for to You do I pray.

In the morning, You hear my voice.
In the morning, I lay my pleas before You
and expectantly await Your answer.

O God, You do not delight in wickedness.
Nothing evil can live in You.

Arrogant people won’t be close to You.
You hate all wrongdoing.
Your truth destroys all lies.
You despise violence and deceit.

But because of Your overflowing love
and kindness, I can enter Your house
to worship You in the sanctuary.

Oh, Lord, I need You to lead me
or my foes and failures will overtake me!
Make Your way clear and obvious.

Let all foul talk, lying mouths, and
flattering tongues be silenced
and driven away
for such sins show
rebellion against You.

But let all who take refuge in You
be glad. Let them celebrate
and sing Your praises.

Spread Your protection
over all who love Your name.
For You bless the righteous, O Lord.
You shield them with Your favor.

prayer-a-phrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2016, with scriptures from many translations on Bible Gateway

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Praying with Psalm 4

Answer us when we call,
O God of our salvation!
Free us from these pressures
and distress!

Show us mercy.
Hear our prayer.

People! People!
How long will our hearts be hard?
How long will we love what is worthless
or chase after lies?

Know this: the Lord takes care
of the faithful.
The Lord God hears our cries.

We can be angry
without sinning.
We can take a rest and really
think about what’s troubling us.
We can do what’s right –
even when it’s hard --
and place ourselves
in God’s hands.

Many say, “I want to see
better times. I want the light
of God’s face to shine.”
But God has filled us
with more gladness
than we’ll ever get
from food and wine.

When we lie down,
we can sleep peacefully,
for You alone, O God
help us to rest in safety.

prayer-a-phrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2016, with scriptures from many translations on Bible Gateway

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Praying with Psalm 3

Psalm 3

How many are our foes, O Lord!
How many rise against us?
How many say God gives
no salvation for the soul?

But You, O Lord, are a shield around us,
our glory, and The One Who lifts our head.
When we cry aloud to the Lord,
You answer us from Your holy place.

We lay down and sleep.
When we awake, You have sustained us.

We need not be afraid
of many thousands of people
who have set themselves against us.

Rise up, O Lord!
Save us, O our God!
You alone can smack down our enemies
and break the bite of evil.

Salvation belongs to You, O Lord.
May Your blessings be on us
and all Your people.

prayer-a-phrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, © 2016

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Psalm 67 for today

God, be merciful to us and bless us.
Let Your face shine upon us,
so Your ways may be known on the earth
and Your saving strength among all nations.

Let the people praise You, O God.
Let all the peoples praise You.
O, let the nations be glad and sing for joy
for You shall judge us rightly
and govern the nations of the earth.
Let the people praise You, O God.
Let all the peoples praise You.

Then the earth will yield abundance,
and You, God, our God, shall bless us.
Yes, God shall bless us,
and all the ends of the earth will hold You in awe.

prayer-a-phrase by Mary Harwell Sayler

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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

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Praying for Christians everywhere

Colossians 1:9-14

Since we first heard about you,
we’ve been praying
and asking God to fill you
with spiritual wisdom,
insight,
and understanding
so you may walk in a way
that’s worthy and pleasing
to the Lord – bearing
the fruit of good work
and growing in knowledge of God.

May you be strengthened
with all power
according to God’s glorious might.

May you endure
with patience and joy,
giving thanks to our Father,
Who has qualified and enabled you
to share with the saints –
the inheritance of God’s holy people
who live in The Light.

May our Father rescue you from
the power of darkness
and transport you into the Kingdom
of the Son Who Is Loved, Who
loves you,
forgives sin and
redeems.


©2015, Mary Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s reading in Colossians, using a variety of translations found on Bible Gateway.

Praying for unity in Christ

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

May God our Father
and our Lord Jesus
bring us
together soon!

May the Lord
make our love
grow and overflow
for one another.

May He strengthen
our hearts to be holy
and blameless before
our Father God
at the coming of
our Lord Jesus
with all the saints.


© 2015, Mary Harwell Sayler prayer-a-phrased today’s Bible reading in 1 Thessalonians from translations found on Bible Gateway. For an earlier version of these verses, see "Apostle Paul prays on and onto us."


Come, Lord Jesus! Maranatha – our Lord come!

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