Photo taken in Colorado.
“Sometimes it is helpful to ask ourselves as we pray, ‘do I really expect anything to happen?'” -Catherine Marshall
“There is one way in which the power of prayer differs from all the powers of the world; it is the only power that cannot be used for evil.” -Harold Lindsell
“Whenever God determines to do a great work, He first sets His people to pray.” -Charles H. Spurgeon
Photo taken in Colorado.
“In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18
Giving Father, I thank You for the items You have listed in Psalm 103:3-5 that remind me of all you do for me: “[He] who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
Thank you for the access I have to Your Word which gives me encouragement, joy, peace and the power to defeat the work of the flesh and of Satan.
What a blessing it is to know that “…He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4
Thank you for the promise of personal guidance that You have laid out for me in Isaiah 48:17 and Isaiah 30:21. You say to me: “…”I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you by the way you should go,”‘ and “your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”
Father, give me the wisdom to know that thankfulness is not just an act, but a life-style and that the peace You put in my heart and mind is much more valuable than all the physical blessings You provide on a daily basis.
I praise You, O Lord, by saying: thank you, thank you, thank you!
I bring this prayer in Jesus’ Name, Amen.
The concept for this prayer variation comes from Elton Gillam’s Church Prayer Ministry International.
This prayer variation will be most effective if two people use it together, however, it will also be beneficial for praying on your own. You can pray in this way with your spouse, your family, your friends or any other special believers in your life.
Praying in this way helps you to have something to pray about and assists you in avoiding repetition in your prayers.
This is the procedure to follow:
Take a portion of Scripture and have the first person read one verse aloud and then pray about what the verse prompts him/her to pray about. Then the second person reads the next verse aloud and prays about what that verse prompts him/her to pray about.
You can go back and forth reading verses for as long as you want to pray, but these prayers are usually fairly short. Try to stay with the theme of each verse during this kind of prayer. When you are finished, you can bring your other requests that don’t relate to the verses you have read.
Also, be aware that you may each have to read more than one verse at a time to complete the sentence or point being made.
A good way to look at this kind of prayer is to consider the reading of the verse as God speaking to you; view Him as a third party in the group. “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.” Matthew 18:20
Psalms and Proverbs are good Scriptures to use if you choose to pray this way. There are other portions of the Bible that are also effective.
These passages in Psalms and Proverbs work particularly well for this prayer variation:
Psalms 4, 5, 6, 16, 18, 23, 25, 27, 100, 103 and 119.
Proverbs 2, 3:1-12, 6:16-24, 11:1-20, 15:1-33 and 16:1-20.
There are many passages in the New Testament that you can use such as:
Romans 6:11-23 and 8:5-13
Galatians 5:16-26
Ephesians 4:17-31
Philippians 4:4-19
Hebrews 4:9-16
Person 1 reads Proverbs 1:7 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Person 1 prays: ‘Thank you, Lord, for the advice You give about how to use knowledge. Keep me alert so that I don’t fall into the trap of a fool.
Person 2 reads Proverbs 1:8 “My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the law of you mother;“ Person 2 prays: ‘Thank you, Father, for the disciplines of life that You have taught (and are teaching) me through my parents. Please lead me as I strive to be a Godly example for my children and grandchildren.
Person 1 reads Proverbs 1:10 “My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent.” Person 1 prays: ‘God, keep me alert to the sometimes strong pull of my old nature’s desire to sin. Direct me to avoid the many temptations in my culture. I ask that you would direct my loved ones to avoid temptation as well. We bring all these thoughts in Jesus’ Name, Amen.’
(Notice how God directs the theme of the prayer through His Word)
Photo taken in Florida.
“For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” Philippians 1:29
Heavenly Father, thank you for the promise that You will ultimately restore, conform, strengthen and establish me despite any suffering I experience here on earth (1 Peter 5:10). Thank you that through the difficulties in my life I can come to a better understanding of the ultimate suffering that Jesus went through on the cross when He died for me.
Father, give me an understanding that I live in a fallen world and that therefore some stress and suffering is to be expected. Let me see the difference between suffering for Christ and suffering because of bad choices that I make. In either kind of suffering, show me how to experience the answer found in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
I ask that You will encourage and bless the many Christians throughout the world who are living with the daily threat of martyrdom for their faith in You.
Thank you that as I go through this life as a believer, I can look forward to having the reality found in Revelation 21:4 at the end of my life: “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.“
In Jesus’ Name I come, Amen.
Time With Our Creator 