Mourning then Mercy

 

Zechariah 12:10 – “And I will pour a spirit of mercy and compassion on My people, and they shall look on Him Whom they pierced, and they shall mourn for Him as for an only child and weep bitterly for Him as one weeps over a firstborn.”

 

Lord God, Heavenly Father, we can’t begin to imagine how much You suffered! Lifted high on the cross for all to look upon, Your Son felt the nails, brutally piercing His hands and feet. Below the cross His mother wept, and surely You did too.

Thinking about this moment also draws our tears, but only momentarily for we know the ending. We know Jesus Christ arose from the dead, appeared to many, comforted His mother and followers, and ascended into Heaven, where He pours out His Holy Spirit of mercy and compassion onto His people – onto us! Praise God!

from the book, Kneeling on the Promises of God

 

In the Amen of Jesus

 2 Corinthians 1:20 – “In Christ, every promise of God finds its ‘Yes!’ And also through Him is our ‘Amen!’ for the glory of God through us.”

 

Here it is, Lord – the theme and purpose of this book! Help us to hear and receive this wondrous word in ever greater measure.

The promises You made throughout the pages of the Bible find their answer – their “yes!” in Your Son, Jesus Christ. When we meditate on Your promises and claim them personally in prayer, they find their “yes” – their “amen!” in us too.

Praise You, Lord, for fulfilling Your promises in the Name of Jesus, Whose life, death, and resurrection  restored us into fellowship with You, our innermost selves, and Your beloved church Body of Christ.

Let nothing mar our belief in Your promises, Lord, for each promise is Your prayer for us! 

(c) Mary Harwell Sayler from her book, Kneeling on the Promises of God

A joyful prayer of Habakkuk

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19

 

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
and no grapes huddle together on the vines….

Even though olive crops dry up,
and fields lie fruitless and empty….

Even though flocks die in the fields,
and the cattle barns stand empty,

yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation
For You, Sovereign Lord, are my strength!

You make me as surefooted as a deer,
able to leap across high places.

 

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 Sayler

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Psalm 85:1-8 – a prayer of the family of Korah

What blessings You pour on Your land, O Lord!

You restored the fortunes of Your people
and forgave their guilt. Yes, You covered all
their sins. You withdrew wrath and fierce fury.
Now restore us again, O God of our salvation.
Put aside Your anger toward us. 

Will You be mad at us forever?
Will Your anger affect future generations?
Or will You revive us, so Your people
can again rejoice in You?

Show us Your ongoing love, O Lord.
Grant us Your salvation.

Help us to listen
carefully to what You say,
for You, Lord, speak peace to faithful people.

 

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 Sayler

A Prayer of Comfort

 

In times of need, the prayer of God’s people in Psalm 94 reminds us to seek and confess the comfort God brings. We, the people of now, can find consolation in this same prayer for our nation. Pray for yourself, of course! Then change “my” to “our” and “I” to “we.” Pray, too, for other nations (“their” and “they”) who need God’s comfort.

 

Psalm 94:17-19 – a prayer of God’s people

Unless the Lord had been my help,
my soul had almost dwelt in silence.

When I said, My foot slippeth;
thy mercy, O Lord, held me up.

In the multitude of my thoughts
within me thy comforts delight my soul.

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

 

Psalm 94:17-19 – a prayer of God’s people
in contemporary language

Unless You had been my help, Lord,
my soul would have lived in silence.

When I thought my foot slipped….
When I thought I was falling,
Your steady love,
Your unswerving mercy
held me up.

When I get anxious or
worried or upset,
You comfort my heart.
You console my soul.

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 Sayler

 

 

…

Hope for godly nations

Leviticus 26:3-6, 11-12 – “If you faithfully follow and obey My instructions, I will give you seasonable rains, productive lands, and fruitful trees. Then you will have plenty to eat and will live in safety. I will dwell among you and will not turn away. I will walk with you and be your God.”

 

We want to follow You, Lord. We want to obey. We want to walk closer to You.

Thank You for letting us know what You want, so we don’t have to guess!  Please draw us into reading and remembering what the Bible says, so we can claim Your promises and take Your word to heart, soul, mind, and spirit.  

from the book Kneeling on the Promises of God

Praying before we speak or write!

This prayer of David reminds us to seek God's guidance and inspiration before we say or write a single word! What a blessed way to start the day! 

Poets, writers, pastors, priests, caretakers, and other communicators for Christ might find, as I did, that Psalm 19:14 is especially relevant to our lives and the work God has given us to do.

Psalm 19:14 – a prayer of David

Let the words of my mouth
and the meditations of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,

O Lord, my strength
and my Redeemer.

Amen!

from the Book of Bible Prayers, researched on Bible Gateway and collected by Mary Sayler