Category Archives: Prayer

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 5-

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 Shiloh Photography

 

Psalm 5

1 Give ear to my words, O LORD;
consider my groaning.
2 Give attention to the sound of my cry,
my King and my God,
for to you do I pray.
3 O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice;
in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.

 

My King and my God,
when my heart cries and groans,
when it is not easy to see You in the valley;
when the devil comes to tempt me,
let me rest safely,
knowing that You are King.
You reign over all.
You are Sovereign;
You alone rule over every circumstance in my life.
My God and King,
I pray to you this morning,
I come to you and seek your face,
early in the morning,
hear my prayer, O King.

4 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness;
evil may not dwell with you.
5 The boastful shall not stand before your eyes;
you hate all evildoers.
6 You destroy those who speak lies;
the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

 

My King and my God,
You resist the sinner, the prideful;
evil can not dwell with you,
you hate sin, and those who speak lies.
My Lord, hear my prayer,
hear me asking You for forgiveness.
Grant me a repentant heart,
and do not take your Holy Spirit away from me.
My King, I confess my sins before your face,
and ask you to forgive me according to your many mercies.
Help me overcome my flesh,
and live openly before your face.

7 But I, through the abundance of your steadfast love,
will enter your house.
I will bow down toward your holy temple
in the fear of you.
8  Lead me, O LORD, in your righteousness
because of my enemies;
make your way straight before me.

 

O God, your mercy reaches me,
and the abundance of your steadfast love
opens a way for me to come before you this morning.
Knowing that you forgive me,
makes me love you even more,
and fear You more.
Lord, my King, make Your way straight before me;
and lead me in your righteousness.
My King, that I may love your precepts,
your ways, your Word.

9 For there is no truth in their mouth;
their inmost self is destruction;
their throat is an open grave;
they flatter with their tongue.
10 Make them bear their guilt, O God;
let them fall by their own counsels;
because of the abundance of their transgressions cast them out,
for they have rebelled against you.

 

My God, in these days
in which many deceivers walk among the sheep,
I pray, keep me, keep my family, my children,
keep your people from their lies.
Help us to abide in Your Word.
Help us not to fix our eyes on men,
but on Jesus.
Let your light shine on us,
that we may see clearly.

11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice;
let them ever sing for joy,
and spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may exult in you.
12 For you bless the righteous, O LORD;
you cover him with favor as with a shield.

 

O God, my King,
I take refuge in  You,
I find in You perfect joy,
even in the darkest hour,
I know that your right arm protects me,
that you are for me.
I pray for my sisters and brothers in Christ,
for those who are suffering,
who are crying,
and mourning;
I pray Lord that they will find strength in your joy.
Spread Your protection over them.
Father, that we may raise our voice today
to worship you.
O King, bless your people today,
remember us,
hear our cry,
cover us with your favor as with a shield.
In Jesus’ name, the author of our faith,
Becky

To see more posts in this series go to the Praying the Psalms page.

A Borrowed Prayer -A Prayer for the God-exalting Blessing of Unity by Scotty Smith

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After yesterday’s post, I thought this prayer is what should come next.

Would you join me in prayer?

 

Katie Lloyd Photography © Used with permission

 

A Prayer for the God-exalting Blessing of Unity

Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. Psalm133

Dear Lord Jesus, “good and pleasant” feels like an understatement—a woefully inadequate description of what happens when you show up and begin to thaw the tensions, deconstruct the divisions, and enable your people to move forward together in unity. I’d add words like, miraculous and beautiful; profound and magnetic; all-too-rare and so-very-needed.

It’s clearly obvious that where believers dwell in unity you bestow your presence and blessing. For unity is a revelation of life within the Godhead—the eternal life into we have been called, birthed and secured. It’s equally obvious that where there’s disunity, Satan bestows his darkness and evil; suspicion and distrust; cynicism and gossip; disintegration and separation. God have mercy on all of us…

Boldly and shamelessly, we ask you for a fresh outpouring of your Spirit on our churches—a downpour of humility, repentance and healing; a deluge of the sane-making power of your presence. Jesus, drench us with the humbling and unifying dew of the gospel. We want to be sopping wet, not merely damp. Saturate and satiate us with the fullness of the Holy Spirit.

We don’t look to Aaron and his beard, but to you and your enthronement at the right hand of the Father. Jesus, you are our great High Priest who has received the Spirit without measure, so you can pour forth the Spirit without reservation. Do so without delay, we ask, for the glory of God and the fame of your Name.

As we think of our church families, we also pray for new church plants in their infancy and older church families needing renewal; for missionary teams under fire and in duress; for para-church ministries—even whole denominations. Jesus, bring the grace and truth of the gospel to bear in observable, unmistakable and transforming ways.

No one has done more to secure our unity than you, Lord Jesus (Eph. 2:14-22). No one is praying more for our unity than you (John 17:20-21). No one is more glorified by our unity than you (John 17:22-26). Continue to heal us, reconcile us, and deploy us into your ripened harvest and broken creation together. So very Amen we pray, in your glorious and gracious name.

A Prayer by Scotty Smith

Becky

Find Scotty Smith book, Everyday Prayers: 365 Days to a Gospel-Centered Faith, here.

 

 

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 4-

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Psalm 4

1 Answer me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have given me relief when I was in distress.
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

 

God of my righteousness, God of all grace and mercy,
you have heard my prayers,
and it has pleased you to answer them.
Father, I can say as David said,
“You have given me relief when I was in distress”,
You Father, you alone, are the God of all comfort,
only in You is my soul relieved.
Father, once more I come to you in prayer,
through Jesus Christ, who is my righteousness;
and once more, I plead before the throne of Grace,
Hear my prayer, O LORD!
Be gracious to me and hear my prayer!

 

2 O men, how long shall my honor be turned into shame?
How long will you love vain words and seek after lies?
Selah

3 But know that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself;
the LORD hears when I call to him.

 

Father, today I intercede for those who love vain words,
for those who seek after lies,
for those who who dishonor the title that we must bear
with all dignity: “Christian”,
who live professing one faith,
but denying it with their deeds.
O Lord, God of my righteousness,
You alone are the Judge on the throne and not me,
You alone know the hearts of men, and not me.
You alone know whom you have set apart for you,
and LORD, you alone can answer the prayers of your own.
Father, I pray that I will be wise and quick to discern
good from evil,
lie from Truth,
vain words from those that bring life.
But at the same time,
I pray, asking you to deliver me from the temptation of spiritual pride;
remind me every day of the days,
when I too…
loved vain words and sought after lies,
when I was reading the wrong books,
and following false doctrine.
Remind me on how there is always hope in you,
do not let me forget that your Grace,
can reach and transform the hearts of men.

4 Be angry, and do not sin;
ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent.
Selah

5 Offer right sacrifices,
and put your trust in the LORD.

 

Father, forgive me,
forgive me because many times,
seeing those who are walking against you,
I have sinned against them by judging them.
Help me to be bold,
but never sin.
O God of my righteous,
tonight, as I go to bed,
in the quiet  and stilness,
bring all this to my heart,
that I may ponder,
be silent,
and trust in You for their salvation.

 

6 There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?
Lift up the light of your face upon us, O LORD!”
7 You have put more joy in my heart
than they have when their grain and wine abound.

8 In peace I will both lie down and sleep;
for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

 

Lord of lords, show us today,
as we go and worship you in the company of all the saints,
the light of your face.
That as we hear the Scriptures preached,
we’ll see your light shining upon us.
Fill us with your joy,
fill us with that joy that comes as we see
how mighty is your arm to save the lost!
And when the night comes, LORD,
I pray I will lie down to sleep in peace,
for you alone make dwell in safety.
In Jesus name’
Amen

 

Becky

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 1-

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Psalm 1

1 Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

 

O God, how great you are;
Your love for your own people surpasses all my understanding,
You have called us, Father, out of the darkness and into your light,
You have set our feet on the Way of Life,
and now you bless us for walking on it.
Lord, thank you because your children
do not walk anymore in the counsel of the wicked,
thank you that now they are standing on the Way of Life,
and not in the way of sinners.
Thank you, Father, because we sit no more in the seat of scoffers.
O Father, thank you, because you have transformed our hearts by your grace,
and now we find delight not in the world, but in your Law.
Thank you, because this is not something that we have done,
but you have worked it in us through the work of the Holy Spirit.
Now help us Lord, we pray,
help us not be distracted,
not to fall prey of the snares of the world,
the fears of our heart,
the sorrows of this life,
the prosperity,
and the blessings that come our way,

Help us to mediate with all diligence in your Word day and night.

3 He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.
4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

Father, these are wonderful promises for your children,
nothing we desire besides you and yet it has pleased You to give us great promises,
you have promised us that we, those who have been saved by your infinite grace,
will be planted…
planted and not pulled out;
planted by streams of water,
planted in Jesus which is the Living Water.
Than you, because you have promised that we will not have a bare life,
but that we will produce fruit to glorify your name.
Thank you, because even though our physical strength and our health may fall,
in our spirit we will be renewed day after day, and our leaf will not wither.
Thank you that it has pleased you to prosper our way,
to prosper our daily walk with you.
Father, do not let us forget about the wicked who are like chaff,
give us a compassionate heart, so that we may go to them,
and speak to them the Word that can bring them to repentance.

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.

Lord, we intercede today for the wicked among us,
for those who hate your ways but love their sin,
Father, have mercy on them just as you had mercy on us.
My Heavenly Father, I worship you today,
I worship you because you have love me
and clothed me with righteous.
My God,  I can rest assure in this life,
until I see your face in Heaven,
because I have confidence that You, O LORD,
know my ways.
In Jesus’ precious and perfect name, I pray.
Amen.

Becky

How to use Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer

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When our schedule is full, and big changes are happening, the only thing we should never stop doing is praying; other things can wait, prayer can’t. We cannot live a Christian life if we don’t live it in prayer; if we don’t come to Him every day in prayer and in the Word.

Prayer goes hand in hand with the Word of God, and when we pray God’s Word we know we are praying according to His will and that our prayers are God-centered. One way to do this is to pray as we read the Scriptures; pray as we memorize it, pray as we meditate on a certain passage. Another way that has been a blessing to me is use Matthew Henry’s Method for Prayer (which is full of prayers based solely on the Scriptures). I have used this book; consistently for more than a year and I have shared many prayers, and quotes with you in this place. Today, however, I want to take the time to explain you how I use it; so if you get the book (or happen to win it here!), you’ll find it easier to start including it some days in your prayer time.

A Method of Prayer has 9 chapters that can be used as companions, aids in our daily prayer :

1. Adoration (with suitable Acknowledgments, Professions, and Preparatory Requests.
2. Confession of Sin
3. Petition and Supplication
4. Thanksgiving
5. Intercession
6. Addresses to God upon Particular Occasions (We use this chapter differently)
7. Of the Conclusion of our Prayers.

Notice how these follow the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer, and are God-centered.

So first, I recommend you to get some post-it© banners (like these or these); one for each section. Each section is subdivided, this means that you will be praying a subdivision from each chapter every time you use this guide in your prayer time.

This is an example:

1. (From Ch 1.1) We must solemnly address ourselves to that infinitely great and glorious Being with whom we have to do, as those who are possessed with a full belief of his presence and a holy awe and reverence of his Majesty, which we may do in such expressions as these

2. (From Ch. 2.1) We must acknowledge the great reason we have to lie very low before God and to be ashamed of ourselves when we come into his presence and to be afraid of his wrath, having made ourselves both odious to his holiness and obnoxious to his justice.

3. (From Ch. 3:1) We must earnestly pray for the pardon and forgiveness of all our sins.

4. (From Ch. 4.1) We must stir up ourselves to praise God with the consideration both of the reason and of the encouragement we have to praise him.

5. (From Ch. 5.1) We must pray for the whole world of mankind, the lost world; and thus, we must honor everyone, and, according to our capacity, do good to everyone.

6. (From Ch. 7.1) We may then sum up our requests in some comprehensive petitions, as the conclusion of the whole matter.

As I read each prayer (I did not post the complete prayers here for the sake of space), I add my own personal prayer to it; I only use these prayers as a guide; as I don’t want to repeat just for the sake of repeating them. (If you click on the links above, you will go to the online version of the book; which I  would not recommend you to use in private prayer. It could be very distracting. I am sure you’d agree.)

When I come to the Intercession section, is the time I pray for the special requests of my family and friends. (It is very useful to keep those prayer needs written down because we want to be faithful in praying for those who ask us to pray for them).

In chapter 6 we find different prayers for particular occasions such as :

– In our morning and evening prayers.
– Prayers for those days when we are going on a journey.
– Prayers in the evening before the Lord’s Day; on the morning of the Lord’s Day.
– Prayer in our preparation for the Lord’s Supper; in the celebration of the Lord’s Supper and after celebrating the Lords Supper.
– Prayers upon the occasion of the cares, and burdens, and afflictions of particular persons.
– And many more.

We can include one of these as part of our prayer time, when we intercede for others.

As I finish reading one section; I move my post-it banner to the next subdivision in each particular chapter; so the next day I won’t lose my place.

Chapter 8 presents a Paraphrase on the Lord’s Prayer, in Scripture Expressions. It is very long, so I read sometimes one section from it instead of the rest.

Chapter 9 includes some short forms of prayer; for example a prayer to be used by children, a morning prayer for the family, an evening prayer for the family, family prayers for the Lord’s Day, a prayer proper to be put by parents for their children, and different addresses before and after a meal.

The book also includes three discourses by Matthew Henry, that I have found very profitable and encouraging.  I have read them several times. In the first one he shows how to begin every day with God; the second is on how to spend the day with God; and the third is on how to close the day with God.

Few “warnings” (if I should call them so) about this book:

1. It should NEVER substitute the Word of God.
2. You should NEVER hear yourself saying: “Without it I just can’t pray”

Now, maybe you are asking, Why a prayer method? From experience I can mention some benefits:

1. It has helped me to pray in so many different ways that I never used to; it has widen and enriched my prayer life; and it has helped me learn to pray God-centered prayers, instead of me-centered.

2. It has helped me to spend more time in prayer. Now I can’t pray only few minutes and then just start running through the day. It has helped me to discipline myself to stay in God’s presence and meditate on His Word for longer periods.

3. I highly recommend this prayer companion, because it only uses Bible verses put together in sentences, and paragraphs. And it points you to each verse that the author is quoting. This helps me to search the Scriptures too. (I love the Valley of Vision, for example, but even though those are wonderful prayers, when I pray over them -and I do sometimes- I know I am not reciting the Word of God; but other saints’ words.)

4. I have  also learned to pray consistently over the Scriptures as I read them.

5. Don’t laugh about this…. but it has helped me not to fall asleep in prayer when I am super tired! Yes, I bring my companion, and my journal and I write short prayer or Scripture passages; this is a great help indeed for tired and sleepy mommies.

The most natural way to finish this post, is by hosting a giveaway of this book; don’t you think so? So, if you are interested please leave a comment saying that you want to enter it. The providential winner will be announced Tuesday, September 13. (You don’t have to be a follower of this blog to enter this giveaway,  but it would be nice if you could pass the voice around!) UPDATE: GIVEAWAY CLOSED.

Under His sun and by His Grace,

Becky

Praying the Psalms -Psalm 40-

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Psalm 40

My Help and My Deliverer

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

I waited patiently for the LORD;
he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
and put their trust in the LORD.

Lord, teach me to wait patiently on you, to  wait and not sin; to wait in You knowing that You will not leave your children in the pit of despair, or sadness. Thank you because you are our Saviour, You alone can bring us out from the miry bog. You know it is impossible for us to walk out on our own from situations like this one; Lord you remember our nature, our weaknesses and always have mercy on us. Help me wait for you with a humble and submissive heart.


Lord, thank you because you not only draw us out from the pit, but you set our feet upon a mighty Rock; upon Jesus Christ, the everlasting Rock, the foundation of our faith,  the Cornerstone of our lives; and you will, I have hope on this, You will certainly put a new song in our mouths. O God, don’t permit us to remain silent; help us to praise your name, even now.


Father, that your name may be exalted today, that your name may be glorified as I put my trust in you today; I pray that many will see and fear your name, and be saved. Use me a  vessel to bring glory to You.

Blessed is the man who makes
the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
yet they are more than can be told.

Lord, what a wonderful promise this is, that you bless me when I put my trust in you. O Lord, I long for your blessing. Your blessing that comforts, that strengthens, that fills our souls. Father, open  my eyes to see your wondrous deeds and thoughts toward us and help us say as David said, “none can compare with you!”  Open our mouth not only to sing your praises, but to tell of your wonderful deeds; to proclaim your goodness and rest on you.

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
you have not required.
Then I said, “Behold, I have come;
in the scroll of the book it is written of me:
I delight to do your will, O my God;
your law is within my heart.”

Only Jesus delights perfectly on your Law, only His obedience is perfect, we are so bound to this flesh that so many times find no delight in doing your will. Father, forgive us and work in us that we may be willing to obey with gladness. Father, help us see your glory in the cup You have set before us to drink. Let Jesus be our example and let us gladly walk on the Way He has set before us.

I have told the glad news of deliverance
in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
as you know, O LORD.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
from the great congregation.

 God of all mercies, You are faithful, You are my deliverer, my soul finds hope in your steadfast love and faithfulness. You alone, O God are worthy to be praised for ever and ever. I don’t want to restrain my lips from declaring how wonderful you are, how good you are, how merciful you are.

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me
beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
my heart fails me.

Thank you, Father, because you will not restrain your mercy from me, from your own. What a comfort it is to know that your steadfast love and faithfulness will indeed preserve us through this dark valley.  When my heart fails, yours doesn’t. You are the Great I Am; and your promises are yes, and amen; and those are my only hope.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
who say to me, “Aha, Aha!”

Yes, Lord, yes. Be pleased to deliver me; O LORD, make haste to help me! I need you, yes, every hour, every minute, every second, I need you! Come help us! Let all the snares of the devil be futile against me; let me stand firm until I see your face. Don’t let me be ashamed, don’t let Satan hurt me; make haste to help me, O LORD! 

But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
say continually, “Great is the LORD!”
As for me, I am poor and needy,
but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

Father, my Father, I seek you. I seek you in the morning, at noon, and in the night. I lift my eyes to you, for only you can rescue me and restore in my heart the joy and peace that surpasses all understanding.  O God, that we may lift our hands and cry continually, “Great is the LORD!” 

Thank you, my God and my King that even though I am poor and needy, you don’t forget my name, you incline your ear and hear my prayer; thank you that you lift me up in your hand and think of me.


You alone, are my help and my deliverer;
do not delay, O my God!

In Jesus’ precious name,


Amen

Becky