Bible Prayers: praying

Showing posts with label praying. Show all posts

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.

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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.

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January 29, 2021

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.

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

November 20, 2020

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!

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October 26, 2020

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.

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.

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September 12, 2020

Praying for God to protect

King David, a strong man of God, found strength in praying for God’s protection. Many of his Bible prayers in the book of Psalms provide a pattern of praying for God to protect us in frightening times that threaten our safety.

Psalm 140:1, 7 – a prayer of David
from the King James Version

Deliver me, O Lord,
from the evil man:
preserve me
from the violent man;

O God the Lord,
the strength of my salvation,
thou hast covered my head
in the day of battle.

Psalm 140:1, 7 – a prayer of David
in everyday English

Deliver me from evil, Lord!
Protect me from violence.

O Lord, my God,
my mighty Savior,
You have covered
my head for the battle.

...

July 29, 2020

Prayer for God’s intervention

Troubled times now, troubled times in Bible days….

This prayer from God’s Word can be prayed appropriately now and any time we place our praise, trust, and concerns before the Lord.

Psalm 71:1-12

paraphrased into everyday English

I put my trust in You, O Lord.

Help me never to be confused about that.

Rescue me. Free me for You do what’s right.

Stay inclined to listen to me and deliver me.

Be to me a Rock where I can safely hide.

Give Your command to rescue me,

for You are my high ridge and fortress.

Rescue me, my God, from the power of evil,

from the clutches of cruel oppressors.

O Lord, my only hope is in You.

From childhood I have trusted You, Lord.

Yes, from the moment of my birth

and even in my mother’s womb, You

have tended me.

No wonder I’m always praising You.

No wonder my life provides an example to many,

because You have been my strength and protection.

No wonder I daily declare Your praise and glory!

Now that I’m older, please don’t set me aside.

Please don’t leave me when my strength fails,

for people whisper against me and plot

to do me in. They say, “God has gone from him!

Let’s go get him, for who will help him now?”

O God, please don’t stay away.

Please hurry to help me, my God.

Psalm 71:1-12

from the King James Version

In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust:

let me never be put to confusion.

Deliver me in thy righteousness,

and cause me to escape: incline

thine ear unto me, and save me.

Be thou my strong habitation,

whereunto I may continually resort:

thou hast given commandment

to save me; for thou art my rock

and my fortress.

Deliver me, O my God, out of

the hand of the wicked, out of

the hand of the unrighteous

and cruel man.

For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth.By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee. I am as a wonder unto many; but thou art my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. For mine enemies speak against me; and they that lay wait for my soul take counsel together, Saying, God hath forsaken him: persecute and take him; for there is none to deliver him.

O God, be not far from me:

O my God, make haste for my help.

For additional translations and adaptations of this psalm, visit Bible Gateway website – my online go-to site for biblical research.

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