Praying to hear and be heard

 

Many Psalms began as the personal prayers of King David, who consistently turned to God with his problems and praise. These prayers and others in the Bible still speak for us today.

 

Psalm 143:1, 7-8

from the King James Version

 

Hear my prayer, O Lord,

give ear to my supplications:

in thy faithfulness answer me,

and in thy righteousness.

 

Hear me speedily, O Lord:

my spirit faileth:

hide not thy face from me,

lest I be like unto them

that go down into the pit.

 

Cause me to hear

thy loving kindness in the morning;

for in thee do I trust:

cause me to know the way

wherein I should walk;

for I lift up my soul unto thee.

 

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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Psalm 143:1, 7-8

paraphrased into everyday English

 

Hear my prayer, O Lord.

Bring Your ear close.

Answer me in Your righteousness,

Your faithfulness.

 

Answer me quickly,

for my spirit languishes!

If You hide Your face from me,

I’d be in the dark – in a pit!

 

Let me hear Your loving kindness

in the morning, Lord,

for I trust – oh, I trust –

in You!

 

Teach me the way in which

I should walk, for to You

I lift up my soul, my life.

For to You, I lift up my soul.

 

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

 

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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 

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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

 

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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.

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

 

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.

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

 

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Praying to our Creator God

 How strange that the slogan “All Lives Matter” has been a recent source of dissension and debate! Instead of viewing those words as a political or social statement, let’s try to get a glimpse of God’s perspective. 

Revealed throughout the Bible, this higher view shows us clearly that all lives matter to our Creator God – the God of Love Who favors each of us equally and uniquely – the Holy God Who created each of us to be forever in His presence, His family.

Perhaps this Bible prayer from the book of Psalms will help us to refocus our vision.

 

Psalm 139:13-24 – contemporary version

Lord, You formed my inward parts.
You wove me in my mother’s womb!
I give thanks to You, for I am
fearfully and wonderfully made.

Your works fill me with wonder,
and my very soul knows that quite well.

My frame was never hidden from You
when I came together in secret – as though
skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes have seen my embryonic self,
and in Your book You have written
all the days ordained for me – even before
my day of birth had yet begun.

How precious are Your thoughts, O God!
How vast the sum of them!

If I tried to count them, it’d be like trying
to count each particle of sand.

When I’m awake, I’m with You, but oh, I wish
You’d get rid of malice and hatefulness!

I wish violent people would stay far from me,
for they say terrible things about You,
and Your enemies take Your Name in vain.

Search me, O God, and know my heart.

Test me to know my anxious thoughts, and see

if there’s anything hateful or hurtful in me.

Lead me in Your everlasting way.

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

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Psalm 139:13-24 – KJV

For thou hast possessed my reins:

thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. 

I will praise thee;

for I am fearfully and wonderfully made:

marvellous are thy works; and that

my soul knoweth right well.

 

My substance was not hid from thee,

when I was made in secret,

and curiously wrought

in the lowest parts of the earth.

 

Thine eyes did see my substance,

yet being unperfect; and in thy book

all my members were written,

which in continuance were fashioned,

when as yet there was none of them.

 

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me,

O God! how great is the sum of them!

 

If I should count them, they are more

in number than the sand: when I awake,

I am still with thee.

 

Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God:

depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.

For they speak against thee wickedly,

and thine enemies take thy name in vain.

 

Search me, O God, and know my heart:

try me, and know my thoughts:

 

And see if there be any wicked way in me,

and lead me in the way everlasting.

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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Thanking God with Asaph

Asaph and his musically inclined descendants served as Temple Musicians,  ministering before the Ark of the Lord, singing songs of praise, and thanking God with Bible prayers such as this psalm: 

Psalm 75:1 – a prayer of Asaph
from the King James Version

Unto thee, O God,

do we give thanks,

unto thee

do we give thanks:

for that thy name is near

thy wondrous works declare.

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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Psalm 75:1 – a prayer of Asaph
paraphrased into contemporary English

We give thanks

to You, O Lord.

We give thanks.

For Your Name

is near.

Your Name

holds wondrous

deeds. 

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

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Bible Promise: praying to God With Us

Genesis 28:15 – “Look! I Am with you. I watch over you as you come and go. I will not leave you before I have done everything I promised.”

What joy we have in Your presence, Lord! What empowering promises You have given us to claim!

You, our Heavenly Father, our Loving God, and the Creator of all life in heaven and on earth, have given Your Word to be with us. No matter where we are, You are there.

We need You now, Lord.

We need You now.

 

©2020, Mary Harwell Sayler from her book Kneeling on the Promises of God

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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.

From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual Bible prayers from many translations and paraphrased into everyday English by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

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.

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

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

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