About a year ago I got a desire to pray through the Bible.
I had so much fun reading through the Bible and finding prayers. I had to be a little creative to find prayers in some of the books, but other books were super easy to find prayers in.
There are so many ways to pray, but praying through Scripture brings about a unique kind of prayer.
This is just a guide, but I hope you have fun and learn more about the Bible, like I did while putting this together. Please remember that these are my words, and not the Word of Yahweh.
When reading through the Book of Acts a month or so ago, I came across this prayer. It was an encouragement to me because of the way that the early believers were so bold in their faith. It is a blessing to know that we can still be emboldened by the Holy Spirit to share the Gospel and speak the name of Christ.
Being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.When they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:Who by the mouth of your servant David had said, ‘Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.’ For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.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 4:23-30 KJV)
Let’s pray for boldness to proclaim the Word of God.
A Prayer for Boldness (based on Acts chapter 4)
You are Yahweh, and You made heaven and earth. You made the sea and everything in it. Grant Your servant boldness that I may speak Your word, that these things will be done by the name of Yeshua!
Whatever you are facing this week, we pray that this prayer guide shared by our friend Katie will be an encouragement to you to seek refuge in the One who is faithful. While most of us are not facing literal “lions and cobras” as Psalm 91 mentioned, we each face spiritual battles in our lives that only God can help us overcome.
Katie is a young woman who loves God and seeks to love Him more. God has been very real to Katie through challenges and victories, hard times and easy times, sickness, and health. She feels a vivid desire to help others who have struggled or who are going through struggles, to share the knowledge God has provided her. She wishes to share the message of a God Who redeems the hard times in our lives, Who turns the pain into beauty, Who takes the weak and upholds them in His grace. You can email her at thezebras91@gmail.com or check out her family’s ministry website www.SearchingForZebras.com
In the book of 1 Timothy, we are told to pray for our leaders:
“I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.” (1 Timothy 2:1-2)
Prayer is a way that we can make a difference in our country.
It might seem like our prayers don’t matter when it comes to praying for well-known leaders, but we know that the “effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (James 5:16b). Instead of complaining or becoming discouraged, we can choose to pray to the One who is most high over all the earth, and cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 1:5).
Photo courtesy of Jay Williams
President Trump needs us Christians to pray for him.
Having to make decisions for an entire country is not an easy job. We need to pray that President Trump will have wisdom (Proverbs 3:13) and will surround himself with counselors (Proverbs 15:22).
Here are ten prayers from the book of Proverbs to pray for our president:
It takes choices. It takes faith. It takes abiding in Yeshua (Jesus).
Our busy schedules try to stifle it. Distractions hinder it. Sometimes even when we’ve set aside time to sit in God’s presence, our minds start drifting in other directions, and minutes later we realize that we’ve hardly even said a word to Him or listened to what He’s trying to show us.
I’ve been there. There are times when I feel my prayer life struggling, and times when it feels so alive. The good news is that every day we have a choice, and every year is a new start.
Here are some ideas to encourage your prayer life this year:
Listen to Music
Most worship songs are prayer put to music. When we praise God, it welcomes His presence into our everyday lives. Scrubbing baseboards, cooking dinner, or driving to town can become times of worship, so turn that music up.
Keep a Prayer Journal
Keeping a prayer journal can help you stay focused while praying. When I write a prayer to my heavenly Father, it’s often more reverent, thoughtful, and focused than when I say it. Plus, if you’re crazy about starting journals (like I am), this is yet another excuse to get a cute notebook (T.J. Maxx, y’all).
So often the minutes of free time in our days are twiddled away, but they can be wonderful opportunities to take a break and rest in God’s presence. Do you have a few minutes to spare because you’re ready to leave the house early? (Confession: that doesn’t happen with me.) Do you have ten minutes of free time while the cookies are baking, or a minute before your toddler calls for you again? Each of these minutes are gifts from the Father.
Find a Prayer Partner
Prayer doesn’t have to be a lonely thing. Perhaps there’s a prayer group you could join, or maybe you have a friend who would like to commit to a regular time of prayer together (whether in person or on the phone). Can’t think of a prayer partner? Pray for one. If it’s God’s desire, He’ll bring along someone who will join you in prayer. Not only will this bring accountability and focus to your prayer life, it can strengthen a friendship in a special way as you seek His face together. Which leads us to…
Pray with Friends
After a chat on the phone or an afternoon spent with friends, prayer is a great way to close your time spent together. Also, if something comes up in your conversation that needs prayer, volunteer to pray right on the spot. It’s amazing the comfort and strength we can receive from God in those times. It might seem awkward at first, but I’ve found that it means a lot to friends.
Set Reminders
Set a reminder on your phone to pray at a certain time of the day, or place sticky notes around your home. Also, when you think of someone, pray for them. This is a great way to “pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Use Prayer Guides
Not only will prayer guides give you inspiration, they can also help you stay committed to daily prayer. What are you wanting to pray more about? There are quite a few prayer guides online that might be just what you were looking for. (You can also check out our “Resources & Reviews” page for a collection of prayer guides and inspiration.)
Photo courtesy of Jay Williams
What are some more ways to focus on prayer this year?
When praying to the Creator of the Universe, it is important to be honest with Him. Yahweh knows our thoughts before we speak them. He knows everything about us.
I am reminded of a childhood memory.
My siblings and I would build with LEGO bricks. We had characters we created. I could have told you all about my minifigure–her personality, what she liked and didn’t like, and how she interacted with others. I determined each thing about her and knew everything.
Yahweh is like that. He knows all about us, because He created us.
When you come to Him in prayer, be honest, tell him your heart–be you. Bring your burdens to Him and rest in the peace of knowing that He sees you with eyes of grace.
-Psalm 139 Prayer-
Father, You know me. Everything that I do is known by You. You know my thoughts and are acquainted with all my ways. Every word on my tongue, You know before I say it. Your hand is on me. Everywhere I go, You are there. I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Search me, O God, and know my heart. Try me, and know my thoughts. See if there is any wicked way in me,
and lead me in the everlasting way.
Amen.
As another year comes to an end, we can look back on these past months and see the victories and trials, the laughter and tears.
I don’t know what you’ve been through this year. Maybe it’s been your best year, or maybe your hardest. But as you look back, I pray that you can see His hand guiding, feel His presence leading, and hear His voice speaking. Even in the darkest nights the stars were still shining, and after the storm, the sun warmed your face. I hope you can see each blessing as a gift from above.
Let’s start off the year with thankfulness and prayer.
-A Prayer to Start off Your Year-
Father, I surrender my year to You, all its joys and tears, all its victories and trials. I want to walk in the power of your resurrection–rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, staying devoted to prayer. I want to draw closer to You this year and seek Your face like never before. Please give me the strength to be Your hands and feet and share Your love with this world. Remind me who You are and how you hold the whole world in Your hands. Thank You for providing all my needs, and saving me. May You receive all the glory this year. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name, amen!
-Prayer Points-
Father, I surrender my year to You, all its joys and tears, all its victories and trials. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
I want to walk in the power of your resurrection–rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, staying devoted to prayer. (Philippians 3:10, Romans 12:12)
I want to draw closer to You this year and seek Your face like never before. (Jeremiah 29:13)
Please give me the strength to be Your hands and feet and share Your love with this world. (1 Peter 4:10-11)
Remind me who You are and how you hold the whole world in Your hands. (Psalm 95:4)
Father, help me to remain unspotted from the world. Don’t let me become entangled again with the yoke of bondage. Guard my heart with all diligence, and keep me from the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. I want to please You, Father, not men. Take away my fleshly desires to be friends with this world, and place in me desires to follow after You. Father, I no longer want to be conformed to this world. I want to be transformed to do Your will. I want to be a city that is set on a hill and cannot be hid. No longer do I want to serve man. I want to serve you, Father. Help me to enter the narrow gate that leads to life. Remind me daily to take up my cross and to follow you, no matter what that cross may be. Grow me closer to you each day and take away the foolishness that is considered wisdom by the world. Thank You for answering prayer and leading me closer to You. You are truly my strength when I am weak. May I bring glory and honor to Your name by being unspotted by the world. In Jesus’ name, amen!
It might sound odd, but you’re truly not alone in your feelings. So many young ladies struggle just like you.
Throughout Scripture we read about how the righteous were often called into loneliness–Noah’s family (1 Peter 3:20), Abraham (Isaiah 51:2), Paul in Arabia (Galatians 1:16-19), and John on the Isle of Patmos (the book of Revelation). Yet they all had the greatest gift–Yahweh.
I was blessed to grow up in an amazing family, but I still struggled with loneliness.
I had a few friends, but never a friend that I could relate to. I was always the odd one who didn’t do things like other people. I remember as a child sitting on the end of our playground slide crying because I didn’t have a friend. It hurts to be lonely, but Yahweh used my loneliness to bring me closer to him. As soon as I let Yahweh gain control of my life, it was amazing how He worked. He placed people in my life that made a positive impact.
I still struggle with loneliness.
Just recently I walked into a room with about forty young people around my age and felt ever so lonely. No one understood what path I had chosen in life. I went to the back of the room and sat in the corner feeling alone. Finally I resolved within myself to talk to the girl next to me. She wasn’t kind, and she ignored me. I felt even more alone. It was there in that moment that I had to make a decision–to consider this the worse day of my life or a day to remember. I chose the latter. Although the loneliness remained, I made the best of the situation and smiled.
In our loneliness we can come closer to our Creator than ever, and prayer is one of those places where we can talk to Him like a friend.
It’s important to remember that Jesus is the best friend we could ever have. We can come to Him in prayer and pour out our hearts, knowing that He not only listens, but has the exact answer that we seek. Recently a friend of mine reminded me of this verse in Jeremiah: “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (29:13). Yahweh loves each of His children and has a plan for them. Remember to call upon Him and He will answer and show you great and mighty things that you do not understand now (Jeremiah 33:3).
Here are some prayer prompts for drawing closer to our Best Friend during these lonely seasons.
With a police officer in my family, praying for these public servants is something dear to my heart.
With all the conflict between police officers and citizens that has been raging through our nation, the point of this post and these prayer prompts is not to take sides, but to fall on our knees in prayer for this nation and our police officers.
Yahweh cares about every soul in this country, no matter their race, gender, age, or religion (Acts 10:34-35). His desire is that all people (police officers and citizens), come to know Him and walk in His ways (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
May we see a spiritual revival sweeping this nation, calling it back to the Word of God, and placing our hope in Him again.
Please join me in prayer for the physical and spiritual protection of our police officers.
