Christian Prayer

God as My Fortress and Refuge

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Lord, I come to You in Jesus’ Name to thank You for the image Psalm 59:16 portrays of You being all around me: “But I will sing of Your power; yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; for You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble.“ I praise You for being my strong anchor against all foes.

Thank you for the promise in 1 John 4:4. “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” What a wonderful comfort it is to know that as Your child, I can always find refuge in You, my fortress. Teach me how to better grasp the concept of Your faithfulness and experience it through Your Word.

You have told me many times in Scripture that You want to be my first line of defense. Therefore, I bring to You the following concerns: [insert your own concerns here, such as rejection, illness, children, marriage, friends, travel, etc.].

I release these concerns to You so that I, by faith, may receive Your mercy, grace, and help in my times of need. Hebrews 4:16 “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”  I ask that believers in many parts of the world who are suffering from poverty, war, persecution, and natural disasters would turn to You as their shelter and refuge as well.

Thank you that I can rest in Your powerful might, which is stronger than any method of self-defense I could ever devise. I ask and pray these things to You in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

Living With the Joy of the Lord

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Photo taken in Kansas.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ Name to thank you that the Word of God has within it the power to produce joy. When my life is closely in touch with You, You walk with me through difficult times so that I do not have to endure them alone. And in times of great prosperity, I thank You for keeping me from becoming prideful or complacent.

I praise You that when I walk with Jesus daily, You give me the joy of being level-headed no matter what the circumstances are. Nehemiah 8:10b “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Father, since the joy You give far exceeds any human joy, I ask for an abundance of it. Please guide me in the choices I make and the actions I take so that I can experience all the joy You desire for me. John 15:11 “‘These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.‘”

Direct me to understand that Your deep joy comes only to those who value You more than anything else.  I ask for the blessing Paul expressed in Romans 15:13. “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

Prayer About the Goodness of God

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, I come to You in Jesus’ Name to praise You for Your wonderful attributes such as being the Creator, all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere present, unchanging, loving, and merciful; for giving me the ability to recognize the good things that come from You, such as beauty, mercy, kindness, grace, and love. James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.”

Thank you that You always plan whatever happens in my life for my good, even when I can’t begin to comprehend the situation. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

Give me an understanding and appreciation for Your creation. You demonstrate Your goodness in how You have designed everything to work together to provide not only for human beings, but for all the animals and plants of the earth.

I ask you to raise up powerful voices in our culture to speak about Your goodness and share the truth of Your Word. Direct me to live out Your goodness as an example to others on a daily basis. Thank you for the wonderful promise in Psalm 31:19. “How great is the goodness you have stored up for those who fear you. You lavish it on those who come to you for protection, blessing them before the watching world.” (NLT)

Thank you, Lord, for your goodness. In Jesus’ wonderful Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

Thanking God for the Opportunity for a Strong and Personal Relationship with Him (Based on Isaiah 54:5)

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving Heavenly Father, I come in the Name of Jesus to give You praise and thanks for the strong, loving relationship You have offered me. In Your Word (the Bible), You describe Your relationship with me in marital terms. But as intimate as the marriage relationship is, it does not compare to my relationship with You, my Heavenly Father. What a privilege it is to be truly and deeply loved by You and called, through the Church, the bride of Christ. Isaiah 54:5 “For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He is called the God of the whole earth.”

What an amazing gift it is to be able to have a complete sense of belonging to You. Thank you for expressing in Your Word that You consider me a friend. Through this relationship, You reveal the plans, desires, and commitments You have for me. What a blessing it is that You enjoy spending time with me after salvation.

Revelation 3:20 “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me.” It is encouraging that You want to go much deeper than just sharing a meal. Your plan is for me to allow You to transform my life. Since I am a child of Yours (a born-again believer) I ask You to shape me into the perfect bride for You. I know that the only way this can be done is to be washed in the perfect blood of Jesus Christ. I ask for the forgiveness and righteousness that can be mine through Jesus Christ so that I can be made spotless in Your sight, ready to be received into Heaven as Your perfect bride.

In Jesus, Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

Accepting God’s Glorious Reign and Sovereignty (Based on Psalm 24)

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Photo taken in Hawaii.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

All-wise Heavenly Father, I come to You in the Holy Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the perfect redeemer of my soul, to give You praise and thanks for the message in Psalm 24. What a beautiful and comforting message verse 1 is.  Everything, including me, belongs to You and is managed by You, who is all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present, immutable (You do not change), merciful, and gracious. Verse 1: “The earth is the LORD’s and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein.” Forgive me for the times when my attitude and actions selfishly align with the lie that I am in control of and have ownership over what You have given me.

Encourage me to always acknowledge Your rule over everything and humbly submit before You, thankful simply to be in Your presence. It is a blessing to know that I serve the one true God who reigns above all else. As verse 10 describes, “who is the King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory.”

Thank you that I can trust in Your promises because You reign supreme over all that You created. There is nothing on Earth nor in the heavens above that is not under Your perfect control. As a born-again believer, I can rest assured that nothing can happen to me without Your permission, and that You always work all things for good. Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Direct me to constantly focus on the perfect provision and protection You provide, rather than my momentary troubles.

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

God’s Invitation to All People on Earth (Based on John 3:16 and Jeremiah 33:3-8)

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Photo taken in Colorado.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Loving Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for the two most important and life-changing invitations You give to mankind. I have access to many emergency numbers in the physical realm, but none as powerful as the ones in the spiritual universe. Thank you for inviting and directing me to accept the most critical of all invitations, accepting Your Son Jesus Christ as my Savior, which allows me to have a home in Heaven. John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (If you need help with this most critical decision, see the salvation tab on our site).

It is a blessing that after I accepted Your initial invitation of salvation, You have invited me, in many places in the Bible, to call on “emergency numbers” (Scriptures) for help while living here on earth. Jeremiah 33:3 “Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” Just like You assured Jeremiah, direct me to rest in the fact that You are ready to answer my prayers when I ask for assistance. 

Thank you for the many Scripture promises I can call on for comfort and direction in life situations. The following are a few examples: 

  • When I am anxious and lacking peace: Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
  • When I detect harassment from Satan: 1 John 4:4b “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”     
  • When it looks like there is no way through a situation: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’“

I ask, in Jesus’ Name, that day by day You lead me to a new awareness of who You are and who I am in Jesus Christ. Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

The Faithfulness of God to Born-Again Believers (Based on 1 Corinthians 10:13)

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Photo taken in Florida.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

All knowing and unchanging Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for the great comfort it is that I can trust in Your faithfulness. It is a blessing that what You told the people in Deuteronomy 7:9 is still true for me today.  “Therefore, know that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”

Forgive me for the times when I am facing a temptation or a crisis in my life and I have the tendency to be self-reliant instead of fully trusting in Your faithfulness.  In those times, remind me of the saying, “God has been with you all these years, why would He forsake you now?” Thank you for the promise in Your Word, the Bible, that if I ask, You will always be there to help in all life situations. Lamentations 3:22-23 “Through the LORD’S mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” 

It is a blessing as I think about my children, grandchildren, and younger friends’ futures that Your faithfulness can be traced from generation to generation throughout the Bible from the beginning of time. You have not changed and neither has Your word.  You have been faithful to the earth that You created. One generation of people pass after another, but Your creation has stayed the same. Psalm 119:90 “Your faithfulness endures to all generations; You established the earth, and it abides.”  Direct me to have complete confidence in You and Your Word so I can experience Your peace and joy.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

Prayer About Receiving Joy Through God’s Forgiveness (Based on Psalm 32)

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Photo taken in Hawaii.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Forgiving Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank You for responding to confession and repentance with complete forgiveness. You have shown that forgiveness has always been a part of Your loving nature. You expressed it to Moses in Exodus 34:6-7a. “And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.‘”

You have now dramatically revealed how much You want to forgive sinners by sending Your only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die to cover our sins and remove guilt from our records and our spirit. Thank you for expressing through David in Psalm 32:1-2 that we can have this joyous experience of forgiveness by putting our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit.”   

I appreciate You offering me Your love and wisdom to guide me along the best way for my life and directing me away from the sinful desires of my human nature. Verse 8: “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” You make it clear in many verses in the Bible that You hate sin, and You want me to have the joy of the Lord through a forgiven heart and mind. Direct me to follow David’s example in verse 5 to take care of any sin. “I acknowledge my sin to You, and my iniquity I have not hidden. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the iniquity of my sin.“

It is a blessing that You have provided a way for me to alleviate the pain and suffering from sin and replace it with Your joy and peace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/ 

Prayer About Sharing God’s Comfort with Others (Based on 1 Corinthians 1:3-4)

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Photo taken in Colordo.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Comforting Heavenly Father, in Jesus’ Name, thank you for encouraging me to comfort others with Your Word when they are in need. Your Word will never fail anyone because You are everywhere present, all knowing, all powerful, and unchanging. By helping others in their difficult situations, You give me a better perspective on my needs and how You want to and do give me comfort with my life problems.

Thank you for the times when You give me comfort through Your mercies and grace. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” It is a blessing that You share in Your Word, the Bible, what You want me to do so that You can comfort me. You encourage me to read Your Word, pray, listen to biblical music, and fellowship with other believers. I can only share with others Your comfort after I learn how to be comforted myself.

Remind me often how important it is to build a strong foundation in Your Word before the storm comes. It is very difficult to build a strong foundation in the midst of a storm. Teach me to practice what is expressed in 1 Peter 5:6-7 so that when the time comes that I need Your comfort, I will be ready. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.”

Enable me to be alert to the needs of others and comfort those around me that need the same comfort You have given me. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/

Prayer About the Importance of Seeking God (Based on Mathew 7:7)

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Photo taken in Yellowstone National Park.

Author: Elton Streyle, Contributor: Noah, Photography and Editing: Ali

Heavenly Father, I come in Jesus’ Name to thank You for making it clear in Your Word (the Bible) how serious You are about wanting me to be active in seeking You. In Psalm 9:10, David expresses the positive benefits that come when my life is focused on seeking You. You promise to never abandon me, and to always be there for me in every circumstance. “And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You.” In fact, You see this subject as being so important that You classify those who do not seek You as wicked. Psalm 10:4 “The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts.”

Forgive me for the times when I put very little effort into seeking and communicating with You, then conclude that You are not that interested in my situation. You express in Your Word that it takes faith, focus, and persistence to follow through and know You and Your plans for me, what You are trying to accomplish in and through me. Direct me not to give up on my efforts to seek You, but to ask for more knowledge, wisdom, love, and understanding in every situation.

Just like a good father gives to his children, You enjoy giving good things to Your children who sincerely seek and ask. Encourage me to frequently practice Mathew 7:7. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” Thank you that no matter what happens in my Christian walk, I can rest assured of the same comfort You gave to the Israelites in Jeremiah 29:11. You told them that in the midst of all their problems, You were still in control. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.“

In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

P.S. These prayers will only work if you have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. If you need help understanding God’s plan of salvation for you (the way to Heaven), go to this page on our site: https://timewithourcreator.com/2016/06/02/salvation/