Isaiah prays through misery

 

The prophet Isaiah had a close relationship with God but agonized over his own mistakes and the corruption around him. No matter how bad things seemed, however, Isaiah acknowledged the power of the Lord God and remained faithful.

 

Isaiah 6:5 – a prayer of Isaiah from the King James Version (KJV)

 

Then said I,

Woe is me!

 

for I am undone;

because I am a man

of unclean lips,

 

and I dwell in the midst

of a people of unclean lips:

for mine eyes have seen

the King,

the Lord of hosts.

 

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

 

Isaiah 6:5 – a prayer of Isaiah in contemporary English

 

It’s no use! It’s over!

I’m doomed!

 

I’m so sinful,

even my lips are filthy,

and I live among

such foul-mouthed people!

 

And yet, somehow

my eyes have recognized

You, the King –

You, the Lord of Hosts,

You, the Commander

of Heaven’s Armies.

 

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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Give thanks for God’s gifts!

 Matthew 7:11 – Jesus promised, “If you imperfect people know how to give good gifts to your children, don’t you think your Father in heaven will give good gifts to those who ask?”

 

Lord, if we’ve ever thought of You as anything but loving, fair, merciful, and kind, we don’t know You very well! Forgive us, Heavenly Father, for thinking the worst of You when, like demanding children, we don’t get what we want when we want it!

 

Praise You, Heavenly Father, for being The One pure, holy, and true parent on Whom we depend.

 

Even if we complain, we thank You, Lord, for not rewarding bad behavior. Thank You for giving Your “Amen!” to every prayer we pray that’s based on Your promises, Your word. Praise You for giving us Your Holy Spirit if we just ask. Fill us with You, Lord. Keep us filled.

 

Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020, from Kneeling on the Promises of God – a book of Bible promises researched on Bible Gateway then paraphrased with relevant prayers following. If the book blesses you or those to whom you give a copy, positive reviews would greatly help to pass on the blessings! Thank you.

 

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Talking with God

 Psalm 144 – a prayer of David

 

How blessed You are, my Lord, my Rock,

for You prepare me for every conflict

and strengthen me to take on whatever comes.

 

You are my fortress – loving and kind,

my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield,

and the One in Whom I take refuge

as You subdue everyone who’s against me.

 

O, Lord, who are we that You

take note of us?

 

What is humankind that You

give us any thought?

 

We’re like a mere breath

with our days like a passing shadow.

 

Come down from Your heavens, O Lord.

Touch the mountains. Flash forth lightning.

 

Scatter Your enemies. Send out arrows

and confuse them.

 

Stretch forth Your hand from on high.

 

Rescue me! Deliver me from deep waters,

from the hands of deceitful people.

I don’t know them or why they do what they do!

 

To You, I’ll sing a new song, O God.

 

With stringed instruments, I’ll sing praises to You –

Savior of leaders,

Rescuer of Your servants.

Rescue me now! Deliver me from the hands

of deceitful people, who behave falsely,

but let our young people be like growing plants,

like beautiful pillars fashioned for a palace.

 

Give us a plentiful harvest with every kind of produce.

Let our flocks multiple and cover our fields.

Let our cattle be healthy and free of mishaps.

Let there be no reason to cry in the streets!

 

How blessed are Your people!

How blessed are those whose God is You, Lord!

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. If you prefer prayers from the King James Version, see the Book of KJV Prayers. 

 

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Pray for our leaders

1 Timothy 2:1-4 – “Make prayers, requests, intercession, and thanksgiving for everyone – for your leaders and all in authority – so we may lead a quiet and peaceable life of honesty and dignity. For this is good in the sight of God our Savior, Who wants everyone to be saved and come to know the truth.”

Lord, even if we despise someone in a position of authority, You don’t! Your will is for everyone to know the truth about You and be saved. And, who needs saving more than detestable people?

Give us Your prayers to pray, Lord, for our leaders at church, work, school, home, and country. Help us to intercede for those who don’t know You and desperately need You. To be honest, we don’t want to give thanks for unlikeable leaders! Yet we want to thank You for everything, and we choose to obey.

Thank You, Most High God, for the people You have placed in authority over us. Help them to lead with dignity, honor, honesty, and a mind set on You.

(c)2020, Mary Harwell Sayler, from book of Bible verses with contemporary prayers, Kneeling on the Promises of God

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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.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

 

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 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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