Prayer without borders

 

Oppressed during the time of Jesus, the people of Jerusalem held Roman soldiers in fear and/or contempt. Yet Jesus marveled over the faith of a Roman officer who came to Him on behalf of a servant who was ill.

 

Not only did the centurion ask a Jewish man for healing, this leader understood that God’s power extended far beyond the tassels bordering the hem of Jesus’ garment.

 

Matthew 8:8 – a prayer of a Roman officer
paraphrased into contemporary English

Lord, I am not worthy
to have You come under my roof, 

but speak only a word,
and healing will happen!

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

 

Matthew 8:8 – a prayer of a Roman officer
from the King James Version of the Bible

The centurion answered and said, 

Lord, I am not worthy
that thou shouldest come
under my roof:
but speak the word only,
and my servant shall be healed.

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

 

Lord Jesus, help us to know Your healing power extends to us even now from heaven to earth. In Your Name we pray.

 

©2021, Mary Sayler

 

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Prayer of choosing, not losing, joy in God

 

Things are tough! People are still getting ill or angry. Many live in fear or poverty. Weather has gone ballistic. Stores are closing. Food is pricey, and restaurants ready to serve can’t find servers willing to work. No one can. Even God has trouble finding enough people ready to serve – ready to ease the increasing needs of those around us.

 

The prophet Habakkuk knew the feeling. But despite the hard times and disappointments around him, he trusted in God’s goodness. As the following Bible prayer shows, this servant of God chose to rejoice in the Sovereign Lord.

 

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 – a prayer of Habakkuk
paraphrased into contemporary English

 

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 Harwell Sayler

 

 

Habakkuk 3:17-19 – a prayer of Habakkuk
from the King James Version of the Bible

 

Although the fig tree shall not blossom,

neither shall fruit be in the vines;

the labour of the olive shall fail,

and the fields shall yield no meat;

the flock shall be cut off from the fold,

and there shall be no herd in the stalls:

 

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

 

The Lord God is my strength, and

he will make my feet like hinds' feet,

and he will make me to walk

upon mine high places. 

 

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

 

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Praying from inside a whale

  

On rare occasions (this very month in fact!), we hear of someone who survived being swallowed by a whale. According to statistics, the likelihood of this is one in a trillion, but for some people, those odds take the Bible story of Jonah out of the mists of myth into praise of the power our Almighty God has over odds.

 

Since our Creator God is not into performing magic tricks, each miracle fulfills some plan or purpose. With Jonah, for example, God planned to send the prophet into enemy territory on what might have been the first missionary trip ever.

 

And the people believed.

 

 

Jonah 2:2-9 – a prayer of Jonah
paraphrased from many translations
as found on Bible Gateway

 

I called to You, Lord, in my distress,

and You answered me!

From the belly of death, I cried for help,

and You heard me!

 

When You tossed me into the depths

of the sea, the waters overcame me.

Billows and breakers swept over me,

and I said, “I’ve been banished

from Your sight!” I wondered if I

would ever see Your holy sanctuary again.

 

Water engulfed me, and I sank into the sea.

Seaweed wrapped around my head.

I sank to the sea-roots of mountains.

Around me, the earth

closed like prison bars,

but You raised me

from this sinkhole,

O Lord, my God!

 

As my life faded away,

I remembered You.

My prayer floated up to You,

reaching Your holy presence.

Worshippers of worthless things

forsake Your faithful love, but I

will give You my voice

in a sacrifice of thanksgiving.

I’ll do as I promised, Lord,

for You alone hold my salvation.

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.

 

 

Jonah 2:2-9 – a prayer of Jonah
from the King James Version of the Bible

 

And said, I cried by reason of mine affliction

the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell

cried I, and thou heardest my voice.

 

For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst

of the seas; and the floods compassed me about:

all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.

 

Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight; yet I will look

again toward thy holy temple.

 

The waters compassed me about,

even to the soul: the depth

closed me round about,

the weeds were wrapped about my head.

 

 I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;

the earth with her bars was about me for ever:

yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption,

O Lord my God.

 

When my soul fainted within me I remembered the Lord:

and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.

 

They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.

But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;

I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord.

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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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.

 

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

 

 

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.

 

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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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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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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.”

 

 

©2021, Mary Harwell Sayler

 

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