Praying for boldness

 

As the early church faced persecution, Jesus’ followers could have asked to be spared suffering or harm to themselves, but they did not. Instead, this Bible prayer from Acts shows the first Christian asking for boldness to speak God’s Word and bring the good news of Christ the Savior to people everywhere. May we, too, pray to be bold in ministering healing and making peace in Jesus' Name.

 

Acts 4:29-30 – a prayer of Jesus’ followers

from the King James Version

 

And now, Lord,

behold their threatenings:

and grant unto thy servants,

that with all boldness

they may speak thy word,

By stretching forth thine hand

to heal; and that signs

and wonders may be done

by the name of thy holy child Jesus.

 

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

 

Acts 4:29-30 – a prayer of Jesus’ followers

in contemporary English

 

Lord, can You hear how

they’re threatening us?

 

Please help us to speak Your word

with courage, Lord.

 

Show Your power!

 

Bring healing!

 

Perform miracles for us!

 

Amaze everyone with the authority

found in Jesus’ Name.

 

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.

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Good Friday prayer of Jesus

 

On Good Friday, Jesus the Son of God nailed our sins to the cross.  

Only a few days earlier, throngs of people had sung His praises and thrown down palm branches to ease His ride into Jerusalem. But now, crowds gathered to jeer at Him as He hung between criminals in the worse kind of torture – crucifixion.

Just to breathe, Jesus had to lift Himself up, thrusting His weight into the nails that held His hands against the hard wood while dragging His flesh further into the nails that fastened His feet.

And yet….

As the people railed against Him, hurling every kind of insult, and dogs snapped at His feet, and breathing itself became a torture, Jesus used these final moments to pray His last Amen on our behalf:

Luke 23:34 – a prayer of Jesus
from the King James Version (KJV)

Then said Jesus,

Father,
forgive them;

for they know not
what they do.

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

Luke 23:34 – a prayer of Jesus
in contemporary English

Father,
forgive them!

They don’t know
what they’re doing. 

 

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.

 

©2021

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Confessing with Jeremiah

Living in troubled times, the Prophet Jeremiah drew close enough to hear God’s word, and we can do this too! As Lent reminds us, we prepare for Easter by confessing and turning away (repenting) from whatever obstacles stand between us and the Lord.

May God Himself put on our minds and hearts any fear, anger, bigotry, violence, idolatry, complacency, or other sin we need to release into His forgiveness. Freed of these dark stains, we’re ready to receive the light and living water of Jesus Christ.

 

Jeremiah 14:20-22 – a prayer of Jeremiah
from the King James Version of the Bible

We acknowledge, O Lord, our wickedness,
and the iniquity of our fathers:
for we have sinned against thee.

Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake,
do not disgrace the throne of thy glory:
remember, break not thy covenant with us.

Are there any among the vanities
of the Gentiles that can cause rain?
or can the heavens give showers?
art not thou he, O Lord our God?

therefore we will wait upon thee:
for thou hast made all these things.

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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Jeremiah 14:20-22 – a prayer of Jeremiah
paraphrased into contemporary English

We confess!

We’ve acted badly, Lord,
and so have our ancestors.

Our whole family has sinned against You,
and yet, surely
Your character will not allow You
to abandon us, Lord,
nor disgrace Your glorious throne.

Please remember Your promises to us
for we rely on You.

What worthless foreign god could
send us rain?

The sky needs You
to do such things, O Lord our God.
And so
we wait for You to help.

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

 

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Job prays for a referee

 
Thousands of years ago, people thought terrible hardships meant a person had sinned against an avenging god. Obviously, Job’s friends had been taught to think that way, but Job knew he’d done nothing to disobey God, and he could think of nothing that might even have offended the Lord.
 
In this prayer, Job longs for a mediator, an advocate, an umpire, a referee – someone to stand between himself and God, interpret as needed, and restore them into fellowship. 

Centuries later that Mediator came to earth as our go-between – Jesus Christ, The One Who forgives and forever reunites us with the Almighty God.

 
Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English
 
My life sprints by like a runner – so swiftly
it’s hard to catch a glimpse of happiness.
Life vanishes like a speedy little boat made of paper
or like an eagle swooping down on its prey.
If I made up my mind to forget my complaints
and put away a sad face to be cheerful,
I would still shudder with pain.
 
O, God, I know You’ll never say I’m innocent!
No matter what, I will be found guilty,
so why should I even try?
 
If I scoured myself with soap
and washed my hands with lye,
You might thrust me into a muddy ditch,
so even my clothes would hate my filth!
 
God, You’re not a regular person like me,
so how can I argue my case? How can I
take You to trial?
 
Oh, if only a Mediator stood between us –
someone who could bring us together again.
 
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
 
 
Job 9:25-35 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version
 
Now my days are swifter than a post:
they flee away, they see no good.
 
They are passed away as the swift ships:
as the eagle that hasteth to the prey.
If I say, I will forget my complaint,
I will leave off my heaviness,
and comfort myself: I am afraid
of all my sorrows, I know that thou
wilt not hold me innocent.
 
If I be wicked, why then labour I in vain?
 
If I wash myself with snow water, and
make my hands never so clean;
Yet shalt thou plunge me in the ditch,
and mine own clothes shall abhor me.
 
For he ( God) is not a man, as I am,
that I should answer him, and we should
come together in judgment.
Neither is there any daysman betwixt us,
that might lay his hand upon us both.

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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Job prays through to God

For many days, Job sat in shock, pain, and anger, looking for answers while listening to friends who didn’t believe in his innocence nor get why he kept questioning God. Although the Lord did not directly answer Job’s questions, His very presence quieted Job’s need to know.

 

Job 42:1-6 – a prayer of Job
from the King James Version of the Bible

 

Then Job answered the Lord, and said,

 

I know that thou canst do every thing,

and that no thought can be

withholden from thee.

 

Who is he that hideth counsel

without knowledge? therefore

have I uttered that I understood not;

things too wonderful for me,

which I knew not.

 

Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak:

I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me.

 

I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear:

but now mine eye seeth thee.

 

Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

 

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

 

 

Job 42:1-6 – a prayer of Job
in contemporary English

 

Lord, I know You can do anything!

No plan of Yours can be thwarted.

 

You asked why my ignorance hides

me from seeing Your view.

All I can say is, I didn’t understand

things too wonderful to know.

 

You told me to listen,

and You would speak.

 

You told me to answer Your questions

as I wanted You to answer mine!

 

I’ve heard a lot about You, Lord,

but now I’ve seen You for myself.

 

And so I take back my words

that questioned You, and I

repent in dust and ashes.

 

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

 

 

Bible Promise of joy for the New Year

 

Nehemiah 8:10 – “Let this day be holy unto the Lord! Let go of grief and sorrow because the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Heavenly Father, You created our emotions, so You know we cannot help how we feel! You know our moods and mind-sets swing. You gave us emotions as outlets or ways to let go, for You know that holding our feelings in or trying to bury them only makes an eruption likely at an unexpected moment or untimely time!

 

Help us to be honest with ourselves about our grief and sorrows. Help us to embrace our emotions as the outlets You intended, but let go of them and hang on to You in faith, believing You will work out everything for our good.  Oh, what joy that brings!

 

From Kneeling on the Promises of God – book of God’s promises from God’s Word followed by a prayer response by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

 

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Bible prayer for God’s healing

As 2020 comes to an end, let’s pray for our nation(s) to return to the Lord God. Let’s seek God’s healing and salvation for ourselves and all peoples. Let's faithfully praise the Lord throughout the New Year.

Jeremiah 17:13-14 – a prayer of Jeremiah

from the King James Version 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 

 

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Jeremiah 17:13-14 – a prayer of Jeremiah

in everyday English

 

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 researched on Bible Gateway then paraphrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019

 

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