Where Are My Words?
I’m not bashful when it comes to praying, but sometimes I struggle with conveying my thoughts to God. For example, the other day I was praying for a friend who continues to suffer from health issues and I found myself using the same words I had prayed just a few days earlier. Surely I had more eloquent words than the ones I was using. But you know what? God doesn’t care about perfect words, He cares about genuine hearts. And like me, when your words fall short, the Holy Spirit intervenes on your behalf. Relying on God’s Word gives you powerful prayers to strengthen your prayer life when you need it most.
The Perfect Guidebook
The best part of using this life-changing guidebook is it helps you build your personal relationship with Christ exponentially. He longs to talk with you and prayer is the perfect conversation starter. It doesn’t matter to God what time of day you pray, as long you do it. He wants you to take the time to dive deep into the Scriptures so you’re better equipped to pray in all situations and seasons.
It’s easy to get frustrated when you can’t say to God what you want or the way you want, but it’s during these times that you can open up His Word and start reading. The Bible provides the exact prayer or verse needed to get the conversation juices flowing. Even when things are going well, you know the Bible is your go-to reference to help you soak up His teachings and promises.
Favorite Verses
You’re not alone when it comes to dealing with life issues. Thankfully God’s provision supplies everything you need to navigate the situation. Scripture supplies countless examples and stories of individuals who laid their prayers and petitions before God, and yet they saw His faithfulness displayed over and over.
While there are hundreds of prayers to choose from, here are seven prayers that serve as an anchor to strengthen your daily prayer life.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever and ever. Amen. (Matthew 6:9-13 KJV)
A Prayer of Strength, Faith and Love
For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, [asking] that according to the riches of His glory He may grant you to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith–that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:14-19, ESV)
David’s Prayer of Repentance
Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean wash me, and I will be whiter than snow…Create in me a clean heart, O God, Renew a loyal spirit within me. Do not banish me from Your presence, and don’t take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and make me willing to obey You. (Psalm 51:7, 10-12 NLT)
Jesus’ Prayer of Thanks
Father, I thank You that You have heard me. I knew that You always hear me, but I say this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that You sent me. (John 11:42 NIV)
David’s Prayer For Guidance
In You, Lord my God, I put my trust. I trust in You; do not let me be put to shame, not let my enemies triumph over me…Show me Your ways, Lord, teach me your paths. Guide me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long. (Psalm 25 1-2, 4-6 NIV)
The Prayer of Jabez
“Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, ‘Oh, that you would bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ And God granted his request.” (1 Chronicles 4:10 NIV)
Jonah’s Prayer for Salvation
“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. “When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. “Those who cling to worthless idols turn away from God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” (Jonah 2:2-9 NIV)
Reflection:
- What is your favorite prayer in the Bible?
- In his letter to the Colossians, the Apostle Paul conveyed his diligence to pray continually for others. Which verses speak to you and how do you use them to strengthen your prayer life?
- How have circumstances steered you to seek guidance through the Scriptures?
I’ll be praying for you!
This is a great resource! When my brain fog is flared up due to my health, I’m so thankful the Bible gives us words to pray.