Bible Prayers

June 8, 2021

Bible prayer for the nations

With Memorial Day just behind us and the 4^th of July coming soon, we’re reminded of our patriotic past but also our future uncertainties, which gives us time to pray NOW!

May this and other Bible prayers guide us into keeping God’s Word as we pray, not only for our nation, but for all peoples who need God's help:

A prayer of God’s people from
the King James Version of
Lamentations 5:1-5, 19-21

Remember, O Lord, what is come upon us:

consider, and behold our reproach.

Our inheritance is turned to strangers,

our houses to aliens.

We are orphans and fatherless,

our mothers are as widows.

We have drunken our water for money;

our wood is sold unto us.

Our necks are under persecution:

we labour, and have no rest.

Thou, O Lord, remainest for ever;

thy throne from generation to generation.

Wherefore dost thou forget us for ever,

and forsake us so long time?

Turn thou us unto thee, O Lord,

and we shall be turned; renew our days

as of old.

A timely prayer of God’s people as
paraphrased from many translations
of Lamentations 5:1-5, 19-21

Lord, do You remember

what has happened to us?

Can You see how disgraced

we have been?

Strangers

have our inheritance,

foreigners our homes.

We are orphaned

and fatherless.

Our mothers are widows.

We have to pay

for water to drink,

and firewood costs too much!

People who pursue us

close in on our heels.

We’re so tired, Lord,

and we have no rest.

But, You, Lord, remain

the same forever.

From generation to generation,

You remain on Your throne,

and yet You keep forgetting us.

Why have You let us go for so long?

Restore us, O Lord!

Bring us back to You!

Give us the joy we once had.

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.

…

May 25, 2021

A prayer of Lamentations

The Bible makes it clear that God’s people will face hardships and suffering, yet we’re to continue to appeal to God in prayer. Not surprising then, many Bible prayers in Psalms and elsewhere are laments. Even less surprising is that the book of Lamentations expresses honest prayers of lament! Notice, however, that this and other bewailing prayers end with thanks, praise, or acknowledgement of God’s goodness.

Lamentations 3:55-58 – a prayer of God’s people
from the King James Version of the Bible (KJV)

I called upon thy name, O Lord,

out of the low dungeon.

Thou hast heard my voice:

hide not thine ear at my breathing,

at my cry.

Thou drewest near in the day

that I called upon thee:

thou saidst, Fear not.

O Lord, thou hast pleaded

the causes of my soul;

thou hast redeemed my life.

Lamentations 3:55-58 – a prayer of God’s people
compiled from many translations on Bible Gateway

Out of the lowest pit, I call on Your Name, O Lord,

and You have heard my voice.

Don’t conceal Your ears from my prayer, my cry for help!

When I called on You, You told me, “Do not be afraid.”

You stood up for me, O Lord, and pleaded my cause.

You’ve redeemed my life.

…

May 15, 2021

Call to Prayer

The book of Psalms provides beautiful, blessed Bible prayers to pray, but some psalms, such as Psalm 122, pray for us to pray!

No matter how you translate it, these verses from the Bible Gateway website send an urgent call to God’s people now.

Psalm 122:6-9

Christian Standard Bible (CSB)

“Pray for the well-being of Jerusalem:
‘May those who love you be secure;
may there be peace within your walls,
security within your fortresses.’
Because of my brothers and friends,
I will say, ‘May peace be in you.’
Because of the house of the Lord our God,
I will pursue your prosperity.”

Psalm 122:6-9

Common English Bible (CEB)

^“Pray that Jerusalem has peace:
    ‘Let those who love you have rest.
    let there be rest on your fortifications.’
For the sake of my family and friends,
    I say, 'Peace be with you, Jerusalem.’
For the sake of the Lord our God’s house
    I will pray for your good.”

Psalm 122:6-9

New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)

“For the peace of Jerusalem pray:
    ‘May those who love you prosper!
May peace be within your ramparts,
    prosperity within your towers.’
For the sake of my brothers and friends I say,
    ‘Peace be with you,’
For the sake of the house of the Lord, our God,
    I pray for your good.”

…

May 3, 2021

Agreeing to Agree in Prayer

People come from every background and culture, but in the Name of Jesus, we find common ground - common unity, community.

If we actually listen to one another, we’re apt to discover we usually share basic beliefs in God the Father our creator, the Son of God Jesus Christ our Savior, and the indwelling Holy Spirit our empowerment and guide.

And, if we really listen to people with opposing views, we’re apt to realize we usually want and need the same things: Family, friends, safety, shelter, water, food, housing, work, adequate income, respect, forgiveness, love, joy, peace, healing, faith in something or someone bigger than ourselves.

Disunity arises, however, as our priorities change. What we need most today might not be what we most needed last year. Meanwhile, “They” have varying needs and priorities too, so with almost eight billion people on earth, how can “they” and “we” ever match up – need for need, priority for priority?

We can’t! Nor do we need to think or be exactly alike. We’re each unique, thank God! However, we all need the Mind of Christ, which means loving other people as we do ourselves, regardless of our differences. It means forgiving one another, treating each other with respect, and not being quick to assume or judge. It means reading the Bible to see what God wants and praying to receive the Mind of Christ. It means genuinely praying this Bible prayer from the Apostle Paul and believing God can do what we cannot accomplish alone.

Romans 15:5–6, 13 – a prayer of Paul
from the King James Version of the Bible

Now the God of patience
and consolation grant you
to be likeminded one
toward another
according to Christ Jesus:

That ye may with one mind
and one mouth glorify God,
even the Father of our Lord
Jesus Christ.

Now the God of hope fill you
with all joy and peace in believing,
that ye may abound in hope,
through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Romans 15:5–6, 13 – a prayer of Paul
paraphrased into contemporary English

God Who gives us
endurance
and encouragement,
please give us
a spirit of unity
among ourselves.

As we follow Christ Jesus,
may we glorify You –
God and Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ –
with one heart, one mouth.

God of hope, fill us
with all joy and peace
as we trust You –
as our hope overflows
by the power
of Your Holy Spirit.

…

April 22, 2021

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.

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.

…

April 2, 2021

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.

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

Father,
forgive them!

They don’t know
what they’re doing.

…

March 19, 2021

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.

…

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.

…

February 26, 2021

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

…