Tag Archives: Prayer

6 Psalms to Read When You’re Desperate for Prayer | Christianity.com

Whatever the situation or emotion, we can find a prayer that applies to our lives.

In these beautifully composed songs, we find exaltations of praise alongside pleas for rescue and expressions of emotions, including sorrow and anger. Whatever the situation or emotion, we can find a prayer that applies to our lives.

6 Psalms to Read When You’re Desperate for Prayer

There are times when we feel hopeless and in need of help from God. We long to pour out our hearts to Him, to tell of everything we are struggling with and how the situation seems impossible. The prayer should come easily since we feel like a dam about to break, yet the words fail to come.

Or we desire to commune with God — to talk to Him as we would a friend. Try as we might, though, we struggle to form our thoughts or concentrate.

We don’t know what to pray.

At times like these, prewritten prayers can motivate us to pray and put words to our feelings, putting flesh on bones. Although liturgies and the writings of other Christians can prove instructive and helpful during these times, nothing can compete with the biblical prayer book: the Psalms.

Christians should read Scripture on their own. When doing so, they will likely find a psalm that speaks to their situation and that the Holy Spirit can use to help them pray.

However, the following list of Psalms can be used as a starting point to use when praying. Whether we are facing a time of need or an intense longing for communion with God, there is a prayer in the Bible that can help us convey our words to the Lord.

1. Psalm 10 – A Prayer for Justice

Sometimes we desperately fumble for words to pray to no avail because we are overcome with a sense of injustice. We hear of a wrong done to someone or a great evil committed against a people and do not know how to express ourselves before the Lord. Yet our hearts burn, calling for justice to be done.

Psalm 10 provides us with words to read and pray when we see oppression and wrongdoing. We feel as if God is standing far off and is not aware of the injustice (Psalm 10:1). The wicked seem to be prospering and getting away with the wrongs they afflict on the helpless (Psalm 10:2-10). They think God will not see and will not hold them accountable for their sins (Psalm 10:11).

As we study this psalm and make its words our own, we discover a biblical example of how to tell God about what we feel and implore Him to act. We ask Him to lift His hand and bring justice (Psalm 10:12). To hold the wicked accountable for the evil they have done, bringing judgment on them (Psalm 10:13-15).

We are also directed to proclaim the Lord’s sovereignty and care. As the psalmist wrote, “You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, so that mere earthly mortals will never again strike terror” (Psalm 10:17-18, NIV). In our prayer, we express our longing for the end of wrongdoing in the world while also acknowledging that God will bring justice. Evil will not prevail forever.

2. Psalm 13 – A Prayer When You Feel Like God is Not Listening

Our prayers can also be affected if we think that God is far away or is not listening. We might feel as if God is not present and turns a deaf ear to our words. When this happens, we can read Psalm 13 and offer these words to the Lord.

David felt as if God had forgotten him and turned away from him (Psalm 13:1-2). He pleaded with the Lord to answer him (Psalm 13:3). If God did not give him guidance and help, he knew his enemies would triumph and gloat over him (Psalm 13:2-4). David’s anguish is apparent through his questioning of the Lord about how long he would have to wrestle with his thoughts and have sorrow in his heart (Psalm 13:2).

Even amid feelings that he had been forgotten, David turns the prayer back to praise. He expresses his joy in salvation and that he will praise the Lord for being good to him (Psalm 13:5-6). When we pray this psalm, desperate for words to pray, we are reminded of the enduring truth that God is good and loving. We might feel as if the Lord is not listening, but we can rest in the truth that He is lovingly attentive. He will hear our prayer.

3. Psalm 57 – A Prayer for Rescue

We can become desperate for prayer if troubles surround and threaten us. The situations and people involved can be too overwhelming, making us feel as if we are drowning in a flood. At these times, we can relate to David’s prayer in Psalm 57 and practice making his words our own.

David was no stranger to trouble and danger. In the context of this prayer, he had fled from the murderous King Saul and hid in a cave. While there, he poured out his complaint to the Lord. He asked God to be his refuge and to rescue him from enemies (Psalm 57:1-4).

Like in many other psalms, David ends on a high note by turning his focus to God. He offers praise in the cave, exalting the Lord. As he wrote, “I will praise you, Lord, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples. For great is your love, reaching to the heavens; your faithfulness reaches to the skies” (Psalm 57:9-10, NIV).

When trials and problems swirl around us, we can pray this psalm, finding expression for our desire for rescue and mercy from the Lord while also offering words of praise to our Savior.

4. Psalm 63 – A Prayer of Longing for God

Encountering an authentic thirst and hunger for God can spur us on to a more devoted prayer life. Many psalms express this longing for God, including Psalm 63. While reading this psalm, we are left with an increased desire to grow in our relationship with the Lord and to be able to say honestly to Him that “your love is better than life” (Psalm 63:3, NIV).&

David had seen the power and glory of God (Psalm 63:2). As a result, only the Lord could satisfy him, for no one and nothing else can compare (see Psalm 63:5). He could find comfort amid trouble, trusting that his great Lord would bring justice against his enemies (Psalm 63:9-10). All of this stemmed from a close relationship with the Lord.

As we study this psalm, we are wise to let the words sink in deeply through meditation. Read over the verses carefully and pause to ponder the wonder of knowing the living Lord. Prayers will certainly come.

5. Psalm 88 – A Prayer When You Feel Like God Has Left You

Difficult emotions like despair can be challenging to pray. Many of us are uncomfortable with these feelings and avoid sharing them with others and, sometimes, even with God. Thankfully, the Psalms can teach us how to express ourselves before the Lord in a way that is honest and pleasing to Him.

In Psalm 88, Heman the Ezrahite expresses intense sorrow as he recounts his suffering. He felt as if he were close to death, troubles overwhelmed him, and his friends had left him (Psalm 88:3-8). In his despair, Heman felt abandoned by the Lord (Psalm 88:14).

Not only that, but he believed that God was the one who placed him in this situation. As he wrote, “You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths” (Psalm 88:6, NIV). Despite Heman’s daily prayers, his situation did not seem to change (Psalm 88:9). He thought God had left him.

Psalms like these change our perspective of what is “acceptable” to pray. We do not have to keep our feelings to ourselves. Heman’s prayer shows that we can and should express emotions to God, even hard ones like sorrow and despair. The Lord is not surprised or scared by such prayers – He chose to preserve Heman’s psalm within Scripture.

During the times when we feel overwhelmed by sadness, anger, or fear, we can read Psalm 88 and practice giving our feelings to the Lord.

6. Psalm 116 – A Prayer of Thanksgiving

Remembering what God has done for us can also inspire prayer. He has been kind and faithful to us, and we cannot help but praise Him. Countless prayers could be offered praising the Lord for our salvation.

In Psalm 116, we find this at work since the psalmist was remembering a time when God saved him from death and lengthened his life. He offered a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to the Lord, promising that he would pray for the rest of his life (Psalm 116:2). How else could he respond to the Lord he loves?

This psalm gives us a lot to think about. We are reminded of the Lord’s graciousness and compassion (Psalm 116:5). He rescued the psalmist from death at that time, and He does the same for us in a greater way today. In Christ, we receive the promise of eternal life, that when we die, we will live forever with the Lord (John 11:25). We can take hold of these words in the psalm and praise our Savior for the promise that He will deliver us from spiritual and eternal death, setting us free from the chains of sin (Psalm 116:8-9).

If such remembrance motivated the psalmist to offer prayers for the rest of his life, how much more should meditation on our salvation urge us to pray? May his words become ours, “I love the Lord, for he heard my voice; he heard my cry for mercy. Because he turned his ear to me, I will call on him as long as I live” (Psalm 116:1-2, v. 17).

So, the next time we find ourselves desperate for prayer, but struggling to know what to say to the Lord, let us pick up our Bibles or pull up our Bible apps and read from the Psalms. In them, we will find honest and heartfelt prayers that will inspire and motivate us to pray.

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Friday Prayer Guide

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Adoration

How great You are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that I have heard with my ears. (2 Samuel 7:22; 1 Chronicles 17:20)

O Lord, the God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven? Are You not the ruler over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one is able to withstand You. (2 Chronicles 20:6)

For with You is the fountain of life;
In Your light we see light. (Psalm 36:9)

O come, let us sing to the Lord;
Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation.
Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving;
Let us shout for joy to Him with psalms.
The Lord is the great God,
The great King above all gods.
O come, let us worship and bow down,
Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.
He is our God and we are the people of His pasture
And the sheep under His care. (Psalm 95:1–3, 6–7)

I will sing to the Lord as long as I live;
I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
May my meditation be pleasing to Him;
I will be glad in the Lord. (Psalm 104:33–34)

Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession

Out of the depths I have called to You, O Lord.
O Lord, hear my voice,
And let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared. (Psalm 130:1–4)

You have been just in all that has happened to me; You have acted faithfully, while I did wrong. (Nehemiah 9:33)

I return to the Lord my God,
For I have stumbled because of my iniquity.
I take words with me and return to the Lord,
Saying, “Take away all iniquity and receive me graciously,
That I may offer the fruit of my lips.” (Hosea 14:1–2)

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness.
God will not always strive with us,
Nor will He harbor His anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
Or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His love for those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on His children,
So the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him.
You know how I am formed;
You remember that I am dust. (Psalm 103:8–14)

Renewal

Lord, renew me by Your Spirit as I offer these prayers to You:

Who is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of his household to give them their food at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master finds so doing when he comes. (Matthew 24:45–46)

May I watch and pray so that I will not fall into temptation; the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. (Matthew 26:41)

May I abide in Christ, so that when He appears, I will have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2:28)

May I be ready, for the Son of Man will come at an hour when I do not expect Him. (Matthew 24:44; Luke 12:40)

Pause to add your own prayers for personal renewal.

Petition

Father, using Your word as a guide, I offer You my prayers concerning my need for wisdom.

May God grant me, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in my inner being, so that Christ may dwell in my heart through faith. And may I, being rooted and grounded in love, be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and height and depth of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that I may be filled to all the fullness of God. (Ephesians 3:16–19)

If I have found grace in Your sight, teach me Your ways, so I may know You and continue to find favor with You. (Exodus 33:13)

Whatever I do, may I do all to the glory of God. (1 Corinthians 10:31)

May I not let Your word depart from my mouth, but meditate on it day and night, so that I may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then I will make my way prosperous, and I will act wisely. (Joshua 1:8)

May I meditate on Your precepts
And consider Your ways.
May I delight in Your statutes,
And not forget Your word.
Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes that I may see
Wonderful things from Your law. (Psalm 119:15–18)

Let me be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. (James 1:19–20)

May I guard my heart with all diligence,
For out of it flow the issues of life.
May I put away perversity from my mouth
And keep corrupt talk far from my lips.
May I let my eyes look straight ahead,
And fix my gaze straight before me.
May I ponder the path of my feet
So that all my ways will be established.
May I not turn to the right or to the left
But keep my foot from evil. (Proverbs 4:23–27)

Let my light shine before men, that they may see my good deeds and praise my Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:13–16)

May I do all things without complaining or arguing, so that I may become blameless and pure, a child of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom I shine as a light in the world, holding fast the word of life. (Philippians 2:14–16)

May I clothe myself with humility toward others, for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. May I humble myself under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt me in due time, casting all my anxiety upon Him, because He cares for me. (1 Peter 5:5–7)

Pause here to express any additional personal requests, especially concerning family and ministry:Family Ministry Sharing Christ with others Helping others grow in Him Career

My activities for this day
Special concerns

Intercession

Lord, I now prepare my heart for intercessory prayer for missions.

Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men, for not all have faith. (2 Thessalonians 3:1–2)

The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore, I will pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers into His harvest. (Matthew 9:37–38; Luke 10:2)

In the spirit of these passages, I pray for:Local missions National missions World missions The fulfillment of the Great Commission Special concerns

Affirmation

Feed my mind and heart, O Lord, as I affirm these truths from Your word concerning my hope as a follower of Christ:

I do not lose heart; even though my outward man is perishing, yet my inner man is being renewed day by day. For this light affliction which is momentary is working for me a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while I do not look at the things which are seen but at the things which are unseen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are unseen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:16–18)

Peace You leave with me; Your peace You give to me. Not as the world gives, do You give to me. I will not let my heart be troubled nor let it be fearful. (John 14:27)

Those who wait for the Lord
Will renew their strength;
They will mount up with wings like eagles;
They will run and not grow weary;
They will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

I am always of good courage and know that as long as I am at home in the body, I am away from the Lord. For I live by faith, not by sight. I am of good courage and would prefer to be absent from the body and to be at home with the Lord. (2 Corinthians 5:6–8)

Since I am a child of God, I am an heir of God and a joint heir with Christ, if indeed I share in His sufferings in order that I may also share in His glory. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to me. (Romans 8:17–18)

Pause to reflect upon these biblical affirmations.

Thanksgiving

For who You are and for what You have done, accept my thanks, O Lord:

I will praise You, O Lord, with all my heart;
I will tell of all Your wonders.
I will be glad and rejoice in You;
I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High. (Psalm 9:1–2)

We give thanks to You, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because You have taken Your great power and have begun to reign. (Revelation 11:17)

I will sing of Your strength,
Yes, I will sing of Your mercy in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold,
My refuge in times of trouble.
To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises,
For God is my fortress, my loving God. (Psalm 59:16–17)

Pause to offer your own expressions of thanksgiving.

Closing Prayer

Teach me to number my days,
That I may gain a heart of wisdom. (Psalm 90:12)

Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
Than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
The Lord will give grace and glory;
No good thing does He withhold
From those who walk in integrity.
O Lord of hosts,
Blessed is the man who trusts in You! (Psalm 84:10–12)

To the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. (1 Timothy 1:17)

Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.

Wednesday Prayer Guide

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Adoration

I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
O fear the Lord, you His saints,
For those who fear Him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:8–9)

I thank You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
And my soul knows it full well. (Psalm 139:14)

All Your works will praise you, O Lord,
And Your saints will bless You.
They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom
And talk of Your power,
So that all men may know of Your mighty acts
And the glorious majesty of Your kingdom.
Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
And Your dominion endures through all generations. (Psalm 145:10–13)

Blessed are You, O Lord, God of Israel, our father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for everything in heaven and earth is Yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom, and You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, and You are the ruler of all things. In Your hand is power and might to exalt and to give strength to all. Therefore, my God, I give You thanks and praise Your glorious name. (1 Chronicles 29:10–13)

Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has resisted Him without harm? (Job 9:4)

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 is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
I acknowledged my sin to You
And did not hide my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. (Psalm 32:1–5)

Come, let us return to the Lord.
For He has torn us, but He will heal us;
He has injured us but He will bind up our wounds.
After two days He will revive us;
On the third day He will raise us up,
That we may live before Him. (Hosea 6:1–2)

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation;
In quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

Renewal

Lord, renew me by Your Spirit as I offer these prayers to You:

May I not profane Your holy name, but acknowledge You as holy before others. You are the Lord, who sanctifies me. (Leviticus 22:32)

May I be a person of faith, who does not doubt the promises of God, and not a double-minded man, who is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6, 8)

May I abound in love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and to all the saints. (Philemon 5)

May I be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)

Pause to add your own prayers for personal renewal.

Petition

Father, using Your word as a guide, I offer You my prayers concerning my love for others.

Concerning love, You have said:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments. (Matthew 22:37–40)

Whatever I want others to do to me, may I also do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

Love is patient, love is kind, it does not envy; love does not boast, it is not arrogant, it does not behave rudely; it does not seek its own, it is not provoked, it keeps no record of wrongs; it does not rejoice in unrighteousness but rejoices with the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8)

May I love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. (Matthew 5:44)

May I be an imitator of God as a beloved child, and walk in love, just as Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2)

May I sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that is in me, but with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

I should walk in wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of every opportunity. My speech should always be with grace, seasoned with salt, so that I may know how to answer each person. (Colossians 4:5–6)

Is this not the fast You have chosen:
To loose the bonds of wickedness,
To undo the cords of the yoke,
And to let the oppressed go free
And break every yoke?
Is it not to share our food with the hungry
And to provide the poor wanderer with shelter;
When we see the naked, to clothe him,
And not to turn away from our own flesh?
Then our light will break forth like the dawn,
And our healing will quickly appear,
And our righteousness will go before us;
The glory of the Lord will be our rear guard.
Then we will call, and the Lord will answer;
We will cry, and He will say, “Here I am.” (Isaiah 58:6–9)

May I not let any corrupt word come out of my mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may impart grace to those who hear. May I not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by whom I was sealed for the day of redemption. May I put away all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander, along with all malice. And may I be kind and compassionate to others, forgiving them just as God in Christ also forgave me. (Ephesians 4:29–32)

May I do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility may I esteem others as more important than myself. Let me look not only to my own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Philippians 2:3–4)

May I be of one mind with others and be sympathetic: loving them as brothers and sisters, being compassionate and humble. May I not return evil for evil or insult for insult, but blessing instead, because to this I was called, that I may inherit a blessing. (1 Peter 3:8–9)

Pause here to express any additional personal requests, especially concerning relationships with others:Greater love and compassion for others Loved ones Those who do not know Christ Those in need

My activities for this day
Special concerns

Intercession

Lord, I now prepare my heart for intercessory prayer for evangelism.

May I devote myself to prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving. I pray that God may open to me a door for the word, so that I may speak the mystery of Christ and proclaim it clearly, as I ought to speak. (Colossians 4:2–4)

I pray that words may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19)

In the spirit of these passages, I pray for those who do not know Christ:Friends Relatives Neighbors Coworkers Special opportunities

Affirmation

Feed my mind and heart, O Lord, as I affirm these truths from Your word concerning my life in Christ:

You have shown me what is good;
And what does the Lord require of me
But to act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with my God? (Micah 6:8)

Though I walk in the flesh, I do not war according to the flesh. The weapons of my warfare are not fleshly, but divinely powerful to overthrow strongholds, casting down arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:3–5)

May I not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but of the world. And the world and its lusts are passing away, but the one who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15–17)

I will not lay up for myself treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal. But I will lay up for myself treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where my treasure is, there my heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19–21; Luke 12:34)

I make it my ambition to please the Lord, whether I am at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:9–10)

Pause to reflect upon these biblical affirmations.

Thanksgiving

For who You are and for what You have done, accept my thanks, O Lord:

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for us who through faith are guarded by the power of God for salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:3–5)

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25–26)

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

I call this to mind,
And therefore I have hope:
The Lord’s mercies never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21–23)

Pause to offer your own expressions of thanksgiving.

Closing Prayer

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

God is able to do immeasurably more than all that we ask or think, according to His power that is at work within us. To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever. (Ephesians 3:20–21)

Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.

Tuesday Morning Prayers for Faith, Peace and Joy | Christianity.com

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Go to God on Tuesday morning in prayer to seek His mercy and grace! May these prayers for Tuesday morning help you to give thanks for the many blessings of God in your life.

Christianity.com

Updated Oct 29, 2025

Tuesday Morning Prayers for Faith, Peace and Joy

Simple Tuesday Morning Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for this beautiful Tuesday morning that I am alive to see the wonder of Your marvelous creation. I worship You and praise Your Holy name. Blessed be the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Now and ever unto the ages. Amen!

“O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” (Psalm 5:3)

Pray these Tuesday morning prayers as if you wrote them yourself and have faith that God is quick to hear our sincere supplications:

A Tuesday Morning Prayer for Faith

Dear Lord, As I begin this Tuesday morning, I come before You with a humble heart, seeking to grow in faith and trust in You. Thank You for the gift of a new day and the opportunity to strengthen my relationship with You.

Lord, I acknowledge that faith is the foundation of our relationship. I ask for the grace to trust You more fully, even when I cannot see the path ahead. Increase my faith, and help me to rely on Your promises, knowing that Your plans for me are good.

In times of doubt and uncertainty, be my Rock, Refuge, and Guide. Help me to surrender my worries and fears, placing them in Your capable hands. Grant me the strength to face the challenges of this day with unwavering faith in Your presence and Your ability to work all things for good.

I pray for discernment to recognize opportunities to share my faith and be a source of encouragement to others. Let my life be a testimony to the faith I profess, and may I reflect Your love in all that I say and do.

Lord, I entrust this day to You and ask for the courage to step out in faith, knowing that You are with me. May my faith in You shine brightly, drawing others closer to Your grace. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Discover more Prayers for Faith to ask God for His grace and mercy.

A Prayer for Peace this Tuesday

Heavenly Father, On this Tuesday morning, I come before You seeking the peace that only You can provide. In a world filled with turmoil and uncertainty, I long for the tranquility of Your presence.

Prince of Peace, grant me the serenity to face the challenges of this day with a calm heart and a peaceful spirit. Help me to release any anxieties and worries that weigh me down, knowing that You are in control.

Fill me with Your peace that surpasses all understanding, guarding my heart and mind in Christ Jesus. Let Your peace be the compass that guides my decisions and actions today.

Lord, I pray for the gift of peace not only in my own life but also in the lives of those around me. May I be an instrument of Your peace, bringing comfort and hope to those in need.

Help me to forgive as I have been forgiven and to love as I have been loved. In all my interactions, let me be a reflection of Your peace and grace.

I entrust this day to You, Lord, and I ask for Your peace to rule in my heart and in the hearts of all Your children. May Your peace reign amid chaos and be a testimony to Your presence. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”

Read more Prayers for Peace in times of turmoil and anxiety.

A Tuesday Prayer to Have Joy

Heavenly Father, As I begin this Tuesday, I come before You with a heart filled with gratitude for the joy of knowing and serving You. Thank You for the gift of another day and the opportunity to experience Your joy in my life.

Lord, I ask for the joy that only You can provide. Help me to find joy in Your presence, in the beauty of your creation, and in the love and grace that You bestow upon me. Fill my heart with joy that is not dependent on circumstances but is rooted in my relationship with You.

During challenges and difficulties, may I find joy in knowing that You are with me and that Your plans for me are good. Help me to rejoice in all circumstances, knowing that Your joy is my strength.

I pray for the wisdom to share this joy with others and to be a source of encouragement and hope to those I meet. May the joy I experience in You shine brightly and draw others closer to Your love.

Lord, I entrust this day to You and ask for the grace to embrace it with a joyful heart. Let my life be a testament to the joy of walking in Your presence. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Read more Prayers for Joy.

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This article is part of our prayer resources meant to inspire and encourage your prayer life when you face uncertain times. Remember, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us, and God knows your heart even if you can’t find the words to pray.

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Wednesday Prayer Guide

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Adoration

I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
O fear the Lord, you His saints,
For those who fear Him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:8–9)

I thank You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
And my soul knows it full well. (Psalm 139:14)

Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has resisted Him without harm? (Job 9:4)

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation;
In quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

Renewal

Lord, renew me by Your Spirit as I offer these prayers to You:

May I not profane Your holy name, but acknowledge You as holy before others. You are the Lord, who sanctifies me. (Leviticus 22:32)

May I be a person of faith, who does not doubt the promises of God, and not a double-minded man, who is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6, 8)

May I abound in love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and to all the saints. (Philemon 5)

May I be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)

Pause to add your own prayers for personal renewal.

Petition

Father, using Your word as a guide, I offer You my prayers concerning my love for others.

Whatever I want others to do to me, may I also do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

May I love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. (Matthew 5:44)

May I be an imitator of God as a beloved child, and walk in love, just as Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2)

May I sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that is in me, but with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

Pause here to express any additional personal requests, especially concerning relationships with others:Greater love and compassion for others Loved ones Those who do not know Christ Those in need

My activities for this day
Special concerns

Intercession

Lord, I now prepare my heart for intercessory prayer for evangelism.

I pray that words may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19)

In the spirit of these passages, I pray for those who do not know Christ:Friends Relatives Neighbors Coworkers Special opportunities

Affirmation

Feed my mind and heart, O Lord, as I affirm these truths from Your word concerning my life in Christ:

You have shown me what is good;
And what does the Lord require of me
But to act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with my God? (Micah 6:8)

Pause to reflect upon these biblical affirmations.

Thanksgiving

For who You are and for what You have done, accept my thanks, O Lord:

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25–26)

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

I call this to mind,
And therefore I have hope:
The Lord’s mercies never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21–23)

Pause to offer your own expressions of thanksgiving.

Closing Prayer

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.

Wednesday Prayer Guide

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Adoration

I have tasted and seen that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
O fear the Lord, you His saints,
For those who fear Him lack nothing. (Psalm 34:8–9)

I thank You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
And my soul knows it full well. (Psalm 139:14)

Pause to express your thoughts of praise and worship.

Confession

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.
Who has resisted Him without harm? (Job 9:4)

Ask the Spirit to search your heart and reveal any areas of unconfessed sin. Acknowledge these to the Lord and thank Him for His forgiveness.

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake,
And I will not remember your sins. (Isaiah 43:25)

This is what the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel, says:
“In repentance and rest is your salvation;
In quietness and trust is your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

Renewal

Lord, renew me by Your Spirit as I offer these prayers to You:

May I not profane Your holy name, but acknowledge You as holy before others. You are the Lord, who sanctifies me. (Leviticus 22:32)

May I be a person of faith, who does not doubt the promises of God, and not a double-minded man, who is unstable in all his ways. (James 1:6, 8)

May I abound in love and faith toward the Lord Jesus and to all the saints. (Philemon 5)

May I be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 2:1)

Pause to add your own prayers for personal renewal.

Petition

Father, using Your word as a guide, I offer You my prayers concerning my love for others.

Whatever I want others to do to me, may I also do to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12)

May I love my enemies and pray for those who persecute me. (Matthew 5:44)

May I be an imitator of God as a beloved child, and walk in love, just as Christ loved me and gave Himself up for me as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1–2)

May I sanctify Christ as Lord in my heart, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks me to give the reason for the hope that is in me, but with gentleness and respect. (1 Peter 3:15)

Pause here to express any additional personal requests, especially concerning relationships with others:Greater love and compassion for others Loved ones Those who do not know Christ Those in need

My activities for this day
Special concerns

Intercession

Lord, I now prepare my heart for intercessory prayer for evangelism.

I pray that words may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel. (Ephesians 6:19)

In the spirit of these passages, I pray for those who do not know Christ:Friends Relatives Neighbors Coworkers Special opportunities

Affirmation

Feed my mind and heart, O Lord, as I affirm these truths from Your word concerning my life in Christ:

You have shown me what is good;
And what does the Lord require of me
But to act justly and to love mercy
And to walk humbly with my God? (Micah 6:8)

Pause to reflect upon these biblical affirmations.

Thanksgiving

For who You are and for what You have done, accept my thanks, O Lord:

Whom have I in heaven but You?
And there is nothing on earth I desire besides You.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (Psalm 73:25–26)

Why are you downcast, O my soul?
Why are you disturbed within me?
Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God. (Psalm 42:11)

I call this to mind,
And therefore I have hope:
The Lord’s mercies never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21–23)

Pause to offer your own expressions of thanksgiving.

Closing Prayer

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be pleasing in Your sight,
O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Boa, K. (1993). Handbook to prayer: praying scripture back to God. Atlanta: Trinity House.

10.18.24 EChurch@Wartburg Dallas Willard – Healing the Heart: How Our Hearts and Lives Are Broken & the Promise of Healing | The Wartburg Watch

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A prayer to start your day from the Methodist Book Concern

Almighty God, in you there is no darkness at all.
Give us your eternal light. When we cannot see the way before us,
may we continue to put our trust in you,
that under your guidance and protection we may be kept from falling this day,
and finally, by your mercy, enter into our rest;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen

(Freely modified from Service and Prayers for Church and Home,
Ed. Wilbur Patterson Thirkield, Methodist Book Concern, 1918) link

Arise and Shine in My Heart

(Chosen in part due to the fact it was posted by the Wartburg Press.)

O Lord Jesus, Creator of all things, the light of the glory of the Father in heaven.
I thank you for letting me see the light of a new day!
Bright Sun of Righteousness, arise and shine in my heart,
so that I may walk as a child of light as in the day,
and finally see you in the eternal light of joy everlasting.
Amen.

(Source: Wilhelm Löhe. Freely adapted from Seed Grains of Prayer, A Manual for Evangelical Christians, Wartburg Press, Chicago, 1914 (#12))

Prayer of St Clement: 1st century

St. Clement was a leader in the church of Rome in the 1st century. This prayer is taken from his letter to the church at Corinth,
which is considered to be one of the oldest surviving Christian documents outside the New Testament.
This is an excerpt from the much longer complete prayer.

We ask you, Master, to be our helper and protector.
Save those among us who are in distress;
have mercy on the humble;
raise up the fallen;
show yourself to those in need;
heal the sick;
turn back those of your people who wander;
feed the hungry;
ransom our prisoners;
raise up the weak;
comfort the discouraged.
Let all the nations know that you are the only God,
that Jesus Christ is your servant,
and that we are your people and the sheep of your pasture.
Amen

Benediction

The love of the Lord Jesus
draw you to himself;
the power of the Lord Jesus
strengthen you in his service;
the joy of the Lord Jesus fill your hearts;
and the blessing of God almighty,
the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit,
be among you and remain with you always.
Amen.

https://thewartburgwatch.com/tww2/2025/10/18/10-18-24-echurchwartburg-dallas-willard-healing-the-heart-how-our-hearts-and-lives-are-broken-the-promise-of-healing/

Three Things the Left Lied About—October 11, 2025 | IFA

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Are you weary of all the lies told by the Left each week? Certainly, they can become overwhelming, but as intercessors, we must never give up in the battle for truth. Thus, we must all put on the full armor of God and stand firm against deception.

Who is praying on the wall?

The first lie told by the Left this week has to do with an Islamic prayer service that took place at the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. A Christian pastor was denied access to a “prayer service” that was being held in the airport’s chapel.

Prayer for Muslims, but not for Christians

Pastor Tom Ascol was awaiting his flight home after attending a memorial service for pastor and theologian Voddie Baucham. After hearing an airport announcement stating that “all are welcome” to a prayer service in the chapel, Ascol decided to attend. When he arrived, however, he saw several men kneeling on prayer mats as an Imam led a Muslim prayer service. After the prayer, Ascol tried to enter the room to observe, but quickly realized he was not welcome. The Muslim cleric blocked his entry, instead directing him to a chair in the back of the room. He also demanded that Ascol remove his shoes. When the Christian pastor refused, he was denied access.

Ascol later stated that it was clear to him that the prayer service wasn’t “for everyone” like the airport announcement had described. It was intended for Muslims only.

After Ascol shared what happened to him at the airport, Leftists insisted that the incident was nothing more than a case of “Islamaphobia.” They claim that his story is typical of the rhetoric against Muslims in the Lone Star State.

Lawmaker Sounds Alarm

Texas Congressman Chip Roy heard about the incident and sent a letter to the Chief Executive Officer of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, demanding answers as to why Ascol was denied access. In his letter, he wrote, “This incident raises serious questions about the management of DFW’s chapels, which are designed as interfaith spaces open 24/7 to all travelers. To deny Christians entry into a public chapel in one of America’s largest airports undermines the stated mission of the chaplaincy.”

This incident has caused great alarm among Christians who have seen the rise of Islam across the United States and have observed how the Left has promoted its normalization, particularly in states like Texas and Michigan.

What happened to Pastor Ascol and Congressman Roy’s response to it isn’t a case of “bullying Muslims,” which is being claimed by some Leftists. Instead, it’s about Christianity being sidelined in a nation that was founded on its principles.

Leftist United Nations Targets Homeschoolers

The second lie told by the Left this week involves homeschooling and the United Nations. Investigative journalist Alex Newman warns that “under the guise of human rights, the UN’s controversial education bureaucracy is officially demanding that all governments regulate and control home education–if they allow it at all.”

If that wasn’t enough, the UN is also demanding mandatory registration, evaluations, compulsory home visits, and more. The goal is to force “UN-approved values and attitudes” onto children around the world. In fact, this is the UN’s latest attempt to control the education of children everywhere.

UN Agenda is Leftist to the Core

The UN’s educational agenda for children is filled with liberal concepts such as the support of LGBT instruction, critical race theory, sexuality, and abortion, to name a few. The UN’s plan is outlined in their Homeschooling through a human rights lens report.

Even more concerning is that the report itself is being pushed by a UN official who hails from North Korea, a nation where the entire population is brainwashed and human rights are egregiously violated.

The UN is making an attempt to interfere with parents’ rights to school their children in a way that is biblically sound, or in a manner that does not violate their conscience. Yet the UN insists that its rules are obligatory under “international human rights law.”

A One World Curriculum

Many American lawmakers are blasting the UN for what they call a “takeover” of the homeschooling system. Former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas states, “Our rights to raise and educate our children come from God, not from UNESCO or any other government seeking to intrude upon our ability to do so.” In essence, many critics of the UN’s latest push cite it as an attempt to implement a “one world curriculum.”

Thankfully, the Trump administration has already stated that the United States is cutting its ties with UNESCO, the education arm of the UN. But some officials at the UN still insist they will “keep working with American partners anyway.” In their minds, where there’s a will, there’s a way.

This issue requires continual prayer as the UN is determined to force its ideals and regulations on countries around the world. The UN seeks to find loopholes in the laws and constitutions of nations that don’t agree with its policies. We must continue to pray that the UN is completely dismantled.

Mayoral Candidate Spews Lies on October 7 Anniversary

The third lie told by the Left this week revolves around a statement made by the Leftist, socialist mayoral candidate of New York, Zohran Mamdani, on the 2nd anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks in Israel. He stated, “In the aftermath of the day, Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Israeli government launched a genocidal war: a death toll that now far exceeds 67,000, with the Israeli military bombing homes, hospitals, and schools into rubble. Every day, Gaza has become a place where grief itself has run out of language.”

Propaganda and Mamdani Go Hand in Hand

Of course, Mamdani cited unverified casualty numbers from the Hamas-controlled health ministry, which inflate deaths and injuries in order to make the case that Israel is committing genocide.

Mamdani continued with his rant by demanding an end to “the occupation and apartheid” in Gaza. All the while, it should be noted that Mamdani is a Twelver Shi’ite Muslim, which is the “official religion of the Islamic Republic of Iran, which forces its people to chant ‘Death to Israel’ in mosques every Friday.”

The truth is that Mamdani never brings up the fact that Hamas uses schools, hospitals, and civilian homes as their command centers and forces their own citizens to become human shields. They steal food from their own people and force Sharia law onto the entire population.

Matthew Schweber, a member of Columbia University’s Jewish Alumni Association, reacted to Mamdani’s statement by saying that he is “unfit to be the mayor of New York City.” He compares Mamdani’s comments to classic blood libels that demonize Israel and thus incite violence against Jews.

It’s a sad reality that a candidate such as Mamdani could become the next mayor of New York. As intercessors, we must pray that his lies will be exposed and he will not be elected.

Lord Jesus, the lies of the Left are a never-ending battle. Help us stay focused and vigilant as we uncover deception and share the truth with others.

These are just a few of the lies the Left told this week. How are you praying?

Angela Rodriguez is an author, blogger, and former teacher who studies the signs of the times, as well as the historical and biblical connections between Israel and the United States. You can visit her blogs at 67owls.com and 100trumpets.com. She is also the author of Psalm 91: Under the Wings of Jesus and Hallelujah’s Great Ride. Photo Credit: Butlin-Policarpo on Unsplash.

Source: Three Things the Left Lied About—October 11, 2025

09.27.25 EChurch@Wartburg Dr John Lennox: Can We Survive AI? Deepfakes, Death, and the Divine Upgrade | The Wartburg Watch

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Questions about AI, humanity, faith

Autumn Leaves

A prayer of Basil of Caesarea (329-379) link

Steer the ship of my life, good Lord, to your quiet harbour,
where I can be safe from the storms of sin and conflict.
Show me the course I should take.
Renew in me the gift of discernment
so that I can always see the right direction in which I should go.
And give me the strength and the courage to choose the right course,
even when the sea is rough and the waves are high,
knowing that through enduring hardship and danger in your name,
we shall find comfort and peace.
Amen

Prayer of St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339-397) link

O Lord, who hast mercy upon all, take away from me my sins
and mercifully kindle in me the fire of thy Holy Spirit.
Take away from me the heart of stone, and give me a heart of flesh
a heart to love and adore thee, a heart to delight in thee, to follow and to enjoy thee,
for Christ’s sake.
Amen

Prayer of Clement of Rome, bishop, died in A.D. 99 or 101 link

May God, who sees all things, and who is the Ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh –
who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through Him to be a peculiar people –
grant to every soul that calls upon His glorious and holy Name, faith, peace, patience,
long-suffering, self-control, purity, and sobriety, to the well-pleasing of His Name,
through our High Priest and Protector, Jesus Christ, by whom be to Him glory, and majesty, and power, and honor, both now and forevermore.
Amen

Benediction link

Let us go forth into the world in peace and dedicated to your service, O Lord.
Let us hold fast that which is good, render to no man evil for evil, strengthen the faint‐hearted,
support the weak, help the needy and the afflicted, and honor all men.
Let us love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of his spirit.
And may God’s blessing be upon us and remain with us always.
Amen.

https://thewartburgwatch.com/tww2/2025/09/27/09-27-25-echurchwartburg-dr-john-lennox-can-we-survive-ai-deepfakes-death-and-the-divine-upgrade/

September 24 Morning Verse of the Day

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“Lord.” It is well that the vent of his soul was Godward and not towards man. Oh! if my swelling heart must speak, Lord let it speak with thee; even if there be too much of natural heat in what I say, thou wilt be more patient with me than man, and upon thy purity it can cast no stain; whereas if I speak to my fellows, they may harshly rebuke me or else learn evil from my petulance. “Make me to know my end.” Did he mean the same as Elias in his agony, “Let me die, I am no better than my fathers?” Perhaps so. At any rate, he rashly and petulantly desired to know the end of his wretched life, that he might begin to reckon the days till death should put a finis to his woe. Impatience would pry between the folded leaves. As if there were no other comfort to be had, unbelief would fain hide itself in the grave and sleep itself into oblivion. David was neither the first nor the last who had spoken unadvisedly in prayer. Yet, there is a better meaning: the Psalmist would know more of the shortness of life, that he might better bear its transient ills, and herein we may safely kneel with him, uttering the same petition. That there is no end to its misery is the hell of hell; that there is an end to life’s sorrow is the hope of all who have a hope beyond the grave. God is the best teacher of the divine philosophy which looks for an expected end. They who see death through the Lord’s glass, see a fair sight, which makes them forget the evil of life in foreseeing the end of life. “And the measure of my days.” David would fain be assured that his days would be soon over and his trials with them; he would be taught anew that life is measured out to us by wisdom, and is not a matter of chance. As the trader measures his cloth by inches, and ells, and yards, so with scrupulous accuracy is life measured out to man. “That I may know how frail I am,” or when I shall cease to be. Alas! poor human nature, dear as life is, man quarrels with God at such a rate that he would sooner cease to be than bear the Lord’s appointment. Such pettishness in a saint! Let us wait till we are in a like position, and we shall do no better. The ship on the stocks wonders that the barque springs a leak, but when it has tried the high seas, it marvels that its timbers hold together in such storms. David’s case is not recorded for our imitation, but for our learning.

Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 27-57 (Vol. 2, pp. 215–216). Marshall Brothers.

Ver. 4. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned: then spake I with my tongue, Lord, make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is, that I may know how frail I am.—A sense of our frailty a subject for prayer:—
Bishop Horsley says that David, moved by a godly contrition, pours forth this prayer, that he might know his end and the measure of his days.
I. WHY SHOULD CONTRITION LEAD TO SUCH A PRAYER? David speaks not of forgiveness, though that is what the contrite heart first asks for. But he does not here pray even for this. Apparently he does not, but really he does. For the prayer to be taught how frail we are, is virtually a prayer that we may be made holier, more averse from sin, and more devoted to the great end of our being. That it is this is shown—

By the fact that the interval between the evil work and the execution of the sentence against it causes the hearts of men to be steadfastly set in them to do evil. If penalty followed immediately on crime, men would not dare to sin as now they fearlessly do. They trust themselves to the hope that delay in punishment ever inspires. There is a sort of unacknowledged idea that what is protracted and indefinite will never take effect. A thousand things may intervene to prevent execution.
Or there is at work another, and not wholly different feeling. It is confessed that sin must be repented and forsaken, seeing that otherwise there will come a fearful retribution hereafter; but it is imagined that life will yet afford many opportunities, so that it is safe, or at least not imminently dangerous, to persist a while longer in criminal indulgence, which keeps up the sinner in this his procrastination. If you could practically overthrow this his theory, and substitute for it the persuasion, that “in the midst of life he is in death,” he would be almost compelled, by his felt exposure to danger, to make provision for the coming eternity, on the threshold of which he may be at any moment standing, and which may be upon him, in its awfulness and unchangeableness, ere he draw another breath. How many still believe the ancient lie with which the tempter deceived Eve, “Ye shall not surely die.” How few live “as strangers and pilgrims” here on earth. Instead of that there is a great settling themselves down, as if earth were their home; a slackness in religious duties, as if there were no great cause for diligence; a deferring of many sacrifices and performances, as though the case were not urgent; and this, too, where the parties not only avouch themselves careful for the soul, but are clearly to be distinguished from the great mass around them, by a general endeavour to do the will of their God. And what should we say is needed, in order to the correcting these errors and inconsistencies? What, at least, would be a mighty engine in producing greater steadfastness in the righteous, greater abstraction from earth, greater devotedness to religion? We reply without hesitation—a deep conviction of the uncertainty of life. Had men such conviction they could not live, as now they do, so entangled in the world, so eager in its service. It would warn him back from the inordinate pursuit of earthly things.
II. But note THE PETITION ITSELF. What a curious fact it is that such a petition should be offered unto God. Its terms are explicit enough, at least there can be little doubt as to its drift. He does not mean that God should show him the exact measure of his days and the precise number of them he had yet to live. Such a petition would be unlawful, for it would be an intrusion into those “secret things” which “belong only unto God.” But that which the psalmist seeks to know is, the frailty of his life. This is the drift and scope of the petition, that he may have an abiding sense of the shortness and uncertainty of life. Now, is it not strange that such a prayer should be offered? I do not ask God to make me know that such and such substances are poisonous when all example testifies that they are; or that the weather is variable, when I have such continual proof of it. I do not pray to know anything, which I know indubitably from books, or testimony, or observation. Why, then, pray to be made to know how frail I am? It seems like praying to be made to know that the sun rises and sets; that storms may suddenly overcast the sky, or that any other thing may happen which we already know is wont to happen. And yet David, who was as little likely as we are to shut his eyes to well-known truths—he offers up this prayer, “Lord, make me to know mine end,” etc. I cannot but draw a lesson from this for one’s own ministerial guidance in the discharge of the ministerial office. If there is one thing more than another I would desire to have impressed on all classes of my hearers, it is the simple, self-evident, universally confessed truth, that they are frail beings liable at any moment to death, and certain at no very distant time to be removed to another, even to an invisible world. I have already shown you that there is little needed, beyond the abiding consciousness of this truth, to produce in those who have hitherto neglected religion, an earnest heedfulness to the things of eternity; and in others, who have devoted themselves to God, an increased and increasing diligence in the culture of personal holiness. So that it will naturally be one great aim of the minister to gain power for the truth of the uncertainty of life; to withdraw it from the mass of facts, which are acknowledged rather than felt, and to place it amongst those which influence the conduct. How is he to proceed in the accomplishment of this aim? You know very well what is ordinarily tried; and if reason sit in judgment on the matter, it might possibly pronounce it best fitted to succeed. There are arrayed all the affecting evidences that can be gathered together of human frailty. But, however fair and admirable in theory, is this course practically effective when the fact of which we desire to produce conviction is the uncertainty of life? Alas! no. The universal testimony from ministerial experience, is that a well wrought sermon on the frailty of life is commonly ineffectual to the making men on the watch for the approaches of death. Here it is that our text comes in with a great lesson. It does but echo this result of ministerial experience. The psalmist prays to be made to know his frailty; as though quite aware that meditation and observation would never bring it home to him, notwithstanding that it seemed impossible for him to shut his eyes to the fact. And if it be a thing for prayer, it is evident enough that all meditations amongst the tombs, and all musings over the dead, will be practically of no avail, except as they bring men to their knees. Here, then, is the great lesson which, as a minister, I gather from the text. I wish to impress on you your frailty, and entreat you to let this be part of your daily prayer to the Almighty—“Make me to know mine end, and the measure of my days, what it is; that I may know how frail I am.” (Henry Melvill, B.D.)
Reflections for the New Year:—
I. THAT HUMAN LIFE MUST TERMINATE. The knowledge and belief that our times are in God’s hand have a powerful influence in making us humble, self-denied, watchful and holy. The return of day and night, the revolution of the heavenly bodies, the beating of our hearts, the circulation of the blood, every clock in our chamber, and every watch we carry, all proclaim the affecting truth, that our days are hastening to an end.
II. THAT THE MEASURE OF OUR DAYS IS DETERMINED BY GOD. The sovereignty of the Most High is eminently discovered in the various admeasurements of human life.
III. THAT THE KNOWLEDGE OF OUR END, AND OF THE MEASURE, OF OUR DAYS IS OF GREAT PRACTICAL UTILITY IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE. “That I may know how frail I am.”
IV. THAT GOD ALONE CAN TEACH US THE END, THE MEASURE, AND THE VALUE OF THE PRESENT LIFE. “Lord, make me to know mine end,” etc. This is a lesson which the wisdom of men cannot teach. We hear, we confess the general truth that all must die; but we act as if it were not true, as if it never were to be interpreted of ourselves! But when God teaches us our end, He inspires us with other views. No person can be indifferent to death and mortality when God is his teacher. (Christian Magazine.)
“Make me to know mine end”:—
From this prayer it would appear that men are prone to forget their end. Why do men forget their last end?
I. NEGATIVELY.
Not because there can be any doubt as to its importance. What a momentous event is death! The termination of our earthly connection, and our introduction into a state, mysterious, retributive, probably unalterable.
Not because men have no reminders of it. If you see a painting, the artist is in his grave—a book, the author is no more—a portrait, the subject is gone to dust.
Not because there is the slightest hope of avoiding it. “It is appointed unto all men once to die.”
II. POSITIVELY.
An instinctive repugnance to it. All men dread it.
The difficulty of realizing it. We cannot possibly know what it is to die. It is a knowledge that can only be got by experience.
The commonness of the occurrence. If only a few in a whole country died in the course of a year, and one or two in our neighbourhood, the strangeness might affect us.
The general hope of longevity.
The soul engrossing power of worldly things. “What shall we eat, what shall we drink, wherewithal shall we be clothed?” This is the all absorbing question. But why should men consider their latter end?
(1) To moderate their attachment to earthly things.
(2) To stimulate preparation for a higher state.
(3) To enable us to welcome it when it comes. (Homilist.)
Brief life is here our portion:—
Some see a kind of pettishness in this verse, the fruit of impatience under the chastening hand of God. But it is not for us to upbraid the psalmist, for what is his impatience compared to ours? David prays, “Make me to know mine end.” But was his frailty a secret that he could not discover? We may be sure that he knew it in part, but he wanted to know it after a more perfect way; with that spiritual enlightenment which God alone could communicate. Thus he would know—
I. HIS END. Do we know this?
Its certainty. I must die. There is no discharge in that war. Is that fact realized by us?
It will be our end. Not a halt, but a finale. Mine end for all things beneath the sun—sin, sorrow, service, opportunity for doing and getting good. Think of the accompaniments of our end, the last scenes here in which we shall take part. Picture it all to your minds so far as you can. Rehearse it so far as you may. And think of its results. Then it is that though we end here, we enter on the most solemn part of our existence. Whither wilt thou go? To be with Christ, or amongst the lost—which? We need to be made to know our end, made to believe in it firmly, realize it vividly, so as to be prepared for it whenever it comes.
II. THE MEASURE OF HIS DAYS. It is only the days of God that cannot be counted. Ours can, “as poor men count their sheep,” because they are so few. But the fact that man is sinful makes it blessed that his days should be few. Would we have a Voltaire for ever stalking about this world, or such as he? Let us measure our days so as not to waste them.
III. HIS FRAILTY. We are like travellers on a road across which there is a deep gulf. Some know it, but most forget it. Those in the front ranks fall into it, and the others will, but as yet they think not of it. So we all go on until we come to that fatal step which will plunge us into eternity. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Exell, J. S. (1909). The Biblical Illustrator: The Psalms (Vol. 2, pp. 288–290). Fleming H. Revell Company; Francis Griffiths.

Steve’s Devotional – Why We Don’t Pray | Key Life

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“Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). That is a pretty fantastic statement. If it is true then the most awesome power in the world is prayer power. How do we tap into that power? How do we pray properly?

It’s important at the outset to recognize that we have audience with the Ruler of the Universe. He has, by the covering of Christ, said that we can at any time be in touch with the Creator and Ruler of everything that is. We have been given an open door policy to God.

You can be free of guilt by just asking forgiveness. You can find a harbor of peace by just going there. You can get encouraged and loved by just praying. If that is true (and it is) why don’t we pray more? There are a number of reasons.

We’re Afraid God Won’t Notice

We don’t pray because we’re afraid God won’t notice. Matthew 6:5 warns, “But when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men.” Then the next verse tells us how to pray the right way, “When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who sees what is done in secret, and He will reward you.”

Have you ever noticed how we allow other people to define reality for us? I think it was Kierkegaard who told the story of the robbers who went into a store at night and changed the price tags on all the merchandise. We have allowed the world to do that for us…and that is an abomination. If people say that we’re spiritual because we pray well in public, that’s reality, right? Wrong. In fact, just the opposite is true.

We do this in a lot of areas. For instance, we allow the world to define whether or not we’re acceptable. Am I pretty? Am I good? Am I friendly enough? We ask that of the world…and accept their answers as gospel. For instance, we allow the world to define truth: “Kids have to have everything other kids have;” “God is a nice motivational force for making money;” “As long as it feels good, do it.”

What Jesus says here is this: Let God define your reality, not others. His reality is reality. The reason we don’t pray privately is because only God notices when we pray privately…and everybody knows that that really doesn’t count.

Let God define your reality, not others.

We’re Afraid God Won’t Be There

We don’t pray because we’re honestly afraid God won’t be there. We’re told to “pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then the Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.” God is unseen—that’s the problem. But what does Jesus say here? He says, “Go ahead and pray. He is really there.”

Billy Graham tells about an incident that happened during the Korean War across the DMZ. (I remember the 38th parallel and my dad explaining what was happening. We watched the 38th parallel like some people watch the stock market. Sometimes we were below it and sometimes we were above it.) At any rate, a Christian, American soldier was standing guard at the edge of “no man’s land” and as he stood watch, the soldier started whistling “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” And then across the DMZ, he heard a Korean soldier whistling back “What a Friend We Have in Jesus.” In the silence and blackness of that night, there was an answer from what he thought was enemy territory. Two Christians who were enemies had found that they were brothers.

We’re sometimes afraid to pray because, deep down, we believe we’re only whistling in the dark. Jesus said, “He is really there.” Jesus’ promise was all I had to go on for so long. Trust him. If you can’t, trust me. He is there.

We’re Afraid God Won’t Care

We don’t pray because we’re afraid God doesn’t care. Look at Matthew 6:8, “Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him…” I don’t know about you, but that is of great comfort to me. God cares about me and about the legitimate needs I have.

We don’t want to pray because we’re afraid God doesn’t care.

The Bible says, “He knows our frame…He remembers that we are dust.” We have a Father who cares.

We’re Afraid God Won’t Bend

We don’t pray because we’re afraid God won’t bend. He might be there. And if God is there, he might really be God…and if he is God, then we’re not!

I love to enable people to understand about God so they can make a decision to turn their lives over to him. Even when they understand, they may say, “Oh yes, well, I’ll give you a call sometime. I would like to talk about this thing further.” Translated, that means, “I don’t think I want to buy what you’re selling.”

We’re Afraid God Won’t Forgive

We don’t pray because we’re guilty and afraid God won’t forgive us. Jesus says in Matthew 6:14, “For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

One of the problems with prayer is that it’s difficult to stand before absolute holiness when you’re absolutely not holy. If you’ve never felt uncomfortable when you’ve prayed, you probably haven’t prayed. Purity makes us uncomfortable.

I would not suggest as did a friend of mine that he and God had a great deal—“I like to sin and God likes to forgive.” That is blasphemy. But let me tell you something that isn’t blasphemy. Because of the death of Christ, you can go into the throne room of God forgiven and clean.

If your problem is fear, Jesus says, “You can go to God and he will forgive you.” In fact, it is hard to know his love until he has. My daughters will never know I love them until they do something bad. As long as they do good things, they will think that I love them only because they’re good. God will forgive because he loves. Go to him. You really have no reason not to.

Time to Draw Away

Read Psalm 42:1-2 & Matthew 7:7-11

Why don’t you pray more? How does fear stand in the way of your going to God? Remember that God is your loving Father. When you go to him, you go forgiven, clean, accepted and cherished. And there is nothing you can do to earn any of that. So take advantage of God’s “open door policy.”

For more on prayer, check out Steve’s book, Approaching God.

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Personal Spiritual Disciplines | Southern Equip

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The start of a new year is often a time for making resolutions to improve certain aspects of our life: exercise more, spend less, eat better, and so forth. Often, Christians make similar resolutions regarding their spiritual lives and practices too: Read Scripture, pray often, give faithfully, etc. One of the challenges that everyone making such resolutions faces is the experience of past failures and broken promises. Breaking resolutions is so common that some ad agencies make it the theme of their commercials for fitness trackers and gym memberships. Exploring all of the reasons why we fail to keep our resolutions would take a while. In this short article, I want to narrow my focus to the spiritual life and suggest several things you and I need to grow in as more faithful practitioners of spiritual disciplines this year.

A Right Perspective on Spiritual Disciplines

Sometimes, we can confuse means for ends, focusing on the practice rather than its purpose. I really enjoy time outdoors: camping, hunting, fishing, and sitting by a fire pit. Thousands of other people enjoy these activities, and hundreds of them have YouTube channels. I can easily spend hours “researching” the best way to start a campfire or the optimal way to keep your plastic water bottle from freezing when hiking at night in the winter (carry it upside down, apparently), and while such knowledge is interesting, if I spend most of my time learning about camping, but rarely sleep in the woods, then I have probably confused the means for the end. We can experience similar confusion in our practice of the spiritual disciplines as well.

Although there is a legitimate place for academic study of the spiritual disciplines, it is more urgent that we practice them and practice them for the right reasons. While I am fascinated and encouraged to know that Cotton Mather (1663–1728), the New England Congregationalist pastor-theologian, typically read sixteen chapters of the Bible in Hebrew or Greek nearly every day, or that pastors in the ancient church, like Ambrose of Milan (340–397), tended to read out loud rather than silently, such knowledge is of secondary importance to reading the Bible for myself, and reading it to grow in communion with God. Knowing that and how other Christians have practiced the disciplines has a place in our own discipleship, but it is not the end of truly Christian scholarship or devotion. Such knowledge gives our discipleship (and disciple-making) depth and continuity. Seeing that other believers have been transformed by their practice of the disciplines is a means to encourage me to pursue similar transformation through the same disciplines; knowing how they approached such practices can give me guidance on how I might go about the same activities. It is also important to maintain a right perspective on why we undertake them.

Spiritual disciplines like fasting, meditating on Scripture, praying, almsgiving, and other practices are transformative activities through which the Holy Spirit changes believers. They are gospel-responsive exercises in counter-formation, undoing the sinful desires that characterized us as unbelievers and the self-focused bend of our hearts and conforming us to the image of Jesus. Practicing spiritual disciplines reminds us that “you are not your own, for you were brought with a price. So glorify God in your body” (1 Cor 6:19–20). It is a way that believers “present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” (Rom 12:1). Disciplines provide one way to “present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments of righteousness” (Rom 6:13). They continually remind us that our goal is being “conformed to the image of [God’s] Son” (Rom 8:29). Spiritual disciplines are responses to the love of God in Christ, not the conditions by which he loves or accepts us.

A Growing Dependence upon the Holy Spirit

If the disciplines are transformative activities through which the Holy Spirit changes believers, we undertake the practices, but the Spirit brings change. Paul communicates this perspective using a farming metaphor in 1 Corinthians 3:5–7: “What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth.” Here, Paul recounts the activities of evangelizing and discipling that he and Apollos undertook but recognizes that their visible labor, while necessary, is insufficient to produce inward spiritual change. “God gave the growth.” How might this idea relate to spiritual disciplines? Second Corinthians 3:17–18 helps answer this question, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.”

Here, as believers “behold” the glory of the Lord, inward transformation is occurring (notice the use of the passive voice “are being transformed”). How did the Corinthians “behold” the Lord’s glory? While it is possible some from Corinth may have been among the 500 to whom Jesus appeared between his resurrection and ascension (cf. 1 Cor 15:6), it seems more likely that they, like us, saw Jesus’s glory through the apostolic preaching of the cross, the same message we now read in the pages of Scripture. Note again Paul’s emphasis that believers experience genuine internal transformation (and again the passive construction “are being transformed”) via the work of the Holy Spirit. Believers are “beholding” and being transformed, but the real change we experience comes from the Holy Spirit.

Unlike bodily discipline (cf. 1 Tim 4:8), such as diet and exercise, where our activity is directly involved in physical change, spiritual disciplines are under our control, but their effect is not. As we become aware that it is the Spirit who brings change, we should increasingly long for, pray for, and depend on his presence, a dependence that brings humility and motivates our practice.

Meaningful Membership in a Local Church

The disciplines are not only personal but also corporate (I prefer “congregational”). As we grow as faithful practitioners, one dimension of our practice is recognizing how the disciplines prepare us for life together with other believers. Have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I fasting right now?” or “Why am I meditating on Scripture this evening?” and answered, “For the benefit of my fellow church members”? A man once indicated to me that he awoke early every Sunday morning and read his Bible so that his heart would be ready to serve others in a particular church ministry later that morning. What a beautiful thought! My practice of the disciplines is not only for me and my personal communion with God but also for the benefit of other Christians, especially church members.

Many believers have occasion to be around other Christians who are not church members. One of my sons is part of a ministry that takes us on outdoor adventures. This is a distinctly Christian ministry, and being around other Christian fathers and students is indeed a helpful experience of being taught and discipled, but in a different and more distant way from the regular gathering of our local church. Yet, it is possible to be part of a church and remain distant. To attend but have no meaningful sense of connection. To observe but not to participate.

I often tell students that congregationalism is more than a political mechanism. What I mean is, being part of a congregation does not simply mean that we vote on decisions, but rather that each member of a church has a growing sense of being connected to others, a sense of responsibility for the spiritual well-being of others, and a developing perspective of practicing various ways of living through which the Spirit transforms others who in turn use their spiritual gifts to serve us even as we yield ourselves to certain ways of living that move us to serve and bless them. This is a situation where a right perspective on the spiritual disciplines can be a catalyst for transforming us from a passive consumer of church to an active servant. As we come to reflect deeply on a passage like Romans 12:1, we come to see that “present[ing] your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship” encompasses the way we approach involvement in church as well as our daily lives. Why do I serve in a particular ministry? Because I am presenting my body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God. Why do I take time to talk to other church members and ask them about their lives? Because I am presenting my body as a living sacrifice. Why might a person take time to counsel or disciple others, pray with them and for them, make and deliver meals, drive them to medical appointments, babysit their children, and more? Because in doing so, they are presenting their bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.

Personal and Interpersonal Accountability

Alongside meaningful church membership, developing accountability to ourselves and to others is a way of becoming a more faithful practitioner of the spiritual disciplines. While many evangelicals are familiar with the concept of an “Accountability Partner” or an “Accountability Group,” being familiar and being connected are clearly different.

Personal accountability often begins with a plan for how you will be intentional in your practices. A simple plan might answer the question of when, where, and what you will do to practice various disciplines. Accountability also includes writing (or typing) this plan somewhere rather than leaving it only in your mind. Deciding “when” you can best pursue spiritual practices means considering your current life responsibilities and choosing times when you can be focused on spiritual activities. Considering “where” you might pursue spiritual disciplines ensures that you have considered a location where you can be least distracted and most focused. Asking “what” means making a plan for how you will spend your time: What part of the Bible will you read? Is there a particular portion of Scripture you intend to memorize? Are there certain people and situations about which you want to pray? Sometimes personal accountability means setting longer-term goals and tracking your progress: Do you want to memorize 1 John? How is that coming along? How many gospel-focused conversations do you want to have this week? How many have you initiated?

Interpersonal accountability might take many different forms. I remember a particularly strong cohort of doctoral students who each wanted to help their churches deepen discipleship and disciplines. One student proposed a one-on-one mentoring approach, another focused on groups of 3–4 believers, while a third strategized about training a dozen disciple-makers and having them lead small groups. Each described their plan as “biblical” and was convinced that their model was the exclusive way to accomplish their purpose. It was not until they sat together and talked that they realized they had each been missing other approaches that could be supported by Scripture.

I am convinced that accountability between members of the same church is part of God’s design for caring for “one another.” Finding a fellow church member, or group of members, who will walk with you for a season to encourage and, as necessary, offer correction, as it relates to your practice of various disciplines, is a blessing. Being willing to walk with another Christian and making yourself available is part of meaningful congregationalism. Sometimes, though, in God’s providence, we find ourselves away from our local church for a period of time. In those seasons, finding another mature Christian to walk with us and help us pursue intentional spiritual practices is fitting and should not be looked down upon. In my para-church role as a seminary professor, I have many occasions to shepherd students whom I see only occasionally and to seek spiritual encouragement from colleagues who are members of other churches.

A Disposition to “Redeem the Time”

One of the best-selling devotional books of the 17th Century was Lewis Bayley’s The Practice of Piety. In some editions, there is a frontispiece with a picture of a winged hourglass atop a human skull and the phrase “Redeem the Time” below it. The artwork is not beautiful, but its point is profound: Time is fleeting, and our end is approaching. How will we use our time? The picture and its message come from the King James Version of Ephesians 5:15–16: “See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” Wise Christians make the best use of time, which includes those habits that affect our Christian walk. Having a disposition to “redeem the time,” as it relates to spiritual disciplines, means considering how we order our days and weeks to include various disciplines and also seeking ways to redeem “wasted” time for spiritual purposes.

Many Christians have been taught to begin their days with a “quiet time” of Bible reading, meditation, and prayer. This practice has much to commend. Beginning one’s day with an intentional focus on God’s Word often helps remind us of what God says and how God works in the world in which we will spend the rest of our day immersed. Other Christians find ways to redeem the time by keeping a physical or digital Bible near them and choosing to read, meditate, and pray over parts of it during downtimes in their daily schedule. Still others set reminders to stop and pray throughout their day, use their commute to and from work to practice Bible memory, self-examination through journaling, or something similar. They teach themselves the discipline of redeeming the time rather than passively scrolling through social media posts or news stories. Redeeming the time is a mindset, a new disposition, to pay attention to spare moments during our day and reclaim them for intentionally spiritual purposes.

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Praying with Jesus | Tabletalk

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Praying with Jesus

I am convinced that a great many of us in the church today feel inadequate about prayer. We know that we ought to be spending more time in prayer than we actually are, we know that we ought to be praying with greater fervency and eloquence, and we know that we ought to be praying more frequently in public gatherings. While I am sure that there are a variety of reasons that would explain why we struggle in these ways, I am also sure that at least one of the most fundamental reasons is that we do not know how to pray. As I think back on my own experience, that was certainly true for me. For many years as a Christian, I felt overwhelmed and intimidated when it came to prayer, especially prayer in front of others, because I did not know how to pray.

The same can apparently be said for at least many of Jesus’ disciples in the first century as well. Maybe Jesus noticed how infrequently His disciples were praying. Maybe He heard their feeble attempts. We know from Luke’s gospel that they asked Jesus to teach them (Luke 11:2). Whatever the case, it is obvious that Jesus knew His disciples needed to be taught how to pray, because that is precisely what He does in Matthew 6:5–15.

The fact that Jesus saw the need to teach His disciples how to pray should encourage those of us who struggle to pray. Our struggles are not unique or unusual but are common in the church at large. That is not to condone them but simply to acknowledge that we are not alone in struggling in this way. Jesus anticipated that His disciples would struggle and sought to remedy the situation by teaching them (and us) how to pray.

In Matthew 6:5–15, Jesus gives five characteristics that should distinguish our prayers. When we pray, He says, we ought to pray (1) from our hearts, (2) with our minds, (3) according to the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer, (4) continually, and (5) in light of our salvation. We will look briefly at each in turn.

From Our Hearts

One of the things that keeps us from praying, especially in public, is that we become overly concerned about using the right words. But the first thing I want us to see is that God is less concerned about the words we use and far more concerned that our prayers come from our hearts. We see that clearly in Matthew 6:5–8 in two main ways.

We see it first in in Jesus’ condemnation of the “hypocrites” who “stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners” (vv. 5–6). Rather than condemning all forms of public prayer here, as some have erroneously concluded, Jesus is actually expressing His concern about our motives in prayer. The hypocrites love to pray in public places so that they can be seen by others. In other words, their hearts are not right. Their motives in praying are altogether selfish, for they want to be seen (and praised) by others. Interestingly, many of us do not pray in public today for the same reason that the hypocrites did in the first century: we care too much about what people think. Our hearts are not right.

We see Jesus’ concern that we pray from our hearts a second time when our Lord condemns the “Gentiles” for “heap[ing] up empty phrases” and thinking that they will be heard for their “many words” (vv. 7–8). The point here is not that long prayers are wrong. Jesus Himself on several occasions spent extended periods of time in prayer during the course of His public ministry (e.g., Matt. 14:23–24; 26:40–44; Luke 6:12). The point is instead that empty or heartless prayers are wrong. The gentiles were heaping up “empty phrases.” They thought that they would be heard just because they prayed long and verbose prayers. But they were only uttering empty words. Their hearts were not engaged in what they were doing.

We tend to think of prayer as a way to draw down blessings from God. But Jesus thinks of it as a way to draw us up to God.

This means that prayer requires us to do some amount of preparation so that we can ensure our hearts are engaged in the process. We need to spend time beforehand thinking about what we are doing and why and about what Jesus has done to grant us access to God in the first place. And then we need to let that fuel our praying.

With Our Minds

But Jesus does not want our prayers to be filled only with sentimentality or mindless drivel. That is why in Matthew 6:9–13 He gives His followers words and concepts to use. He says that we should ask for certain things and use a certain order or structure in our praying. To be sure, our prayers should flow from the heart, but they should also engage the mind. Abraham’s prayer in Genesis 18 makes an argument to the Lord based on the fact that God is just. Moses’ prayer, after the occasion of the golden calf in Exodus 32:11–14, shows a similar emphasis on logic and on providing rationale to God. And Jehoshaphat’s prayer in 2 Chronicles 20 makes a threefold argument based on the character of God and His past actions with His people in order to beseech Him to hear and to answer in the present. Even though a lot more could be said, this should be enough for us to see that prayer is meant to be a thinking enterprise, not just a heartfelt one.

According to the Pattern of the Lord’s Prayer

Much could be said here as well, but the main point we need to see is that Jesus starts His prayer with God. We see that in Matthew 6:9–10. Before He ever turns His attention to supplication for personal needs, Jesus concentrates His prayer on the Lord and the things pertaining to Him. In other words, Jesus’ prayer has a Godward focus to it. Our prayers, however, tend to begin and end with ourselves and our own needs.

This tells us that Jesus looks at prayer differently than we do. We tend to think of prayer as a way to draw down blessings from God. But Jesus thinks of it as a way to draw us up to God. We think of prayer as supplication for the things we need. But Jesus thinks of it first as adoration and communion. We struggle to spend even a few minutes in prayer because we run out of things to say (since most of us don’t have that many needs). But Jesus could spend all night in prayer—as He did on at least two occasions (Matt. 14:23–25; Luke 6:12)—because He was doing more than simply asking for things. He was communing with His heavenly Father. We miss that because we see the most important element of prayer as supplication rather than adoration. But the pattern of the Lord’s Prayer teaches us something different.

Continually

Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:11 that we should pray for “our daily bread,” not for a two-week or even a two-day supply. This clearly implies that we should be praying every day. Jesus is thus advocating a view of prayer that sees it not as peripheral to the Christian life but as central to it. Prayer is just as fundamental for the Christian as eating or drinking or any other activity that must be done every day of our lives. We must pray continually—or, as Paul said, “without ceasing” (1 Thess. 5:17)—just as we must also eat, drink, and breathe continually.

Part of the reason why Jesus advocates continual prayer is because prayer, by its very nature, is an acknowledgement of our dependence on God. When we pray, we are declaring both to ourselves and to God that we cannot provide for ourselves and that we need God to step in and provide for us. Jesus recognized that this kind of continual declaration is vital for our persevering in the Christian life. Without it, we are likely to grow self-reliant and cold toward God. We need the constant reminder as Christians that we are to live each day by faith and not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7). Continual prayer does that for us.

In Light of Our Salvation

I find it interesting that Jesus never uses the first-person singular pronouns “I,” “me,” or “my” in His prayer but that He uses the first-person plural “we,” “us,” or “our” ten times (in the Greek; nine times in the ESV). He instructs Christians not to call God “my” Father when they pray but rather “our” Father. He charges them not to pray that God would give “me” the daily bread that “I” need and forgive “me” all of “my” sins, but that God would give “us” that daily bread and forgive “us” all “our” sins. In doing this, Jesus is reminding us that when we pray we are to pray in light of our salvation, which is a corporate salvation. Jesus did not bear the guilt of only my own sins in His body on the cross—He bore the guilt of all the sins of all who would ever believe in Him, which, the Bible says, is such a “great multitude” that no one will be able to count them all (Rev. 7:9).

When we realize the incredible scope of what Jesus accomplished on the cross—not just for each individual Christian but for all that great multitude—it ought to make the cross take on even greater significance in our lives. And this in turn should affect our prayer life, because, generally speaking, the more significant the cross becomes in our experience, the more significant will be our prayer life. We will pray more often and for longer periods of time. We will pray more earnestly and with greater power. We will enjoy prayer more, and we will begin to understand how saints of old such as Charles Simeon could be so caught up in communion with Christ and so overcome with the degree of mercy they received in Christ that they could be rendered speechless as they reveled in the glory of their great God and King.

When these characteristics distinguish our prayer, we will not only pray more frequently and more earnestly, but we will also begin to pray more often in public. Then, and only then, will we have any chance of hearing people say of us what they said of John Knox, namely, that they feared his prayers more than any invading army. Oh, that it would be so today!

Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on January 9, 2019.

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Ten Times President Trump and His Cabinet Quoted Scripture | IFA

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President Donald Trump has often mentioned his desire to protect religious liberty, and he picked a cabinet with a number of professing Christians. Here are ten occasions on which President Trump and his cabinet members referenced passages of Scripture:

1.

While speaking at Liberty University on January 18, 2016, then presidential candidate Donald Trump quoted the school’s key verse:

…where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty (2 Corinthians 3:17b).

Who is praying on the wall?

He cited the passage the way it’s done in the U.K., saying, “Two Corinthians.” This brought a great deal of criticism from legacy and social media on both sides of the political aisle, but they sent people to the video, where the presidential hopeful used the passage to point out that he stood for religious freedom.

2.

On December 19, 2021, shortly after Joe Biden was inaugurated president, Donald Trump spoke at First Baptist Church of Dallas. He said Jesus is the “ultimate source of our strength and our hope,” referring to at least two passages:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead… (1 Peter 1:3).

President Trump said, “An angel of the Lord appeared to humble shepherds and proclaimed the reason for our Christmas joy,” and then he quoted Luke 2:11:

For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

3.

At his inauguration on January 20, President Trump said, “As of today, it will henceforth be the official policy of the United States government that there are only two genders, male and female,” referring to Genesis 5:2a:

He created them male and female…

4.

Three days after his inauguration, President Trump spoke via video to the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C. He reminded them he’s the only president to have spoken at the march in person, which I witnessed personally on January 24, 2020. On January 23, 2025, he closed by saying, “…your mission is just very, very pure: To forge a society that welcomes and protects every child as a beautiful gift from the hand of our Creator,” referring to Psalm 127:3:

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him (NLT).

5.

On February 6, President Trump turned down recommendations to speak to the National Prayer Breakfast via video conference, opting to attend in person. He quoted Matthew 5:9a:

Blessed are the peacemakers…

Then he said, “in that end I hope my greatest legacy — when it’s all finished — will be known as a peacemaker and a unifier.” That was five months before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu added to President Trump’s nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize, following his action to bring a swift end to the Twelve-Day War and Iran’s nuclear program.

6.

On February 26, hours before President Trump’s first cabinet meeting of his second term, Capitol Ministries resumed a Bible study they’d held during the President’s first term. This study is titled “God’s Institutions and Their Roles on Earth.” It was sponsored by U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought. They invited the whole cabinet, and 14 attended. They were joined via video conference by members of the Governors’ Bible Study, which Ralph Drollinger has been leading for the past four years.

The Bible study touched on a number of passages illuminating the Lord’s vision for the state, commerce, marriage, family, and church. One of the verses the cabinet members and governors studied was 1 Peter 2:13 and 14 declaring that every human institution is sent by God…

… for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right (NASB).

Let’s pray this leads to less calling good evil and evil good.

7.

Later that day, to open the first cabinet meeting of his second term, President Trump called on Scott Turner — who Dr. Ben Carson recommended to take his place as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development — to open in prayer. His prayer was packed full of Scriptural truths, but there were two passages he quoted directly:

…the Lord’s mercies… are new every morning… (Lamentations 22-23)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord… (Psalm 33:12a).

8.

On May 1, President Trump said, “We bow our heads this beautiful day in the Rose Garden on the National Day of Prayer. We once again trust our lives, our liberties, and our happiness to the hands of the Creator who gave them to us and who loves us. Who loves us: Think of it.” It brings to mind 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.

Earlier in the ceremony, President Trump quoted Abigail Adams in a letter to her husband, President John Adams, speaking of his first National Day of Prayer: “Millions will be upon their knees at once before their great Creator imploring his forgiveness…” This is the essence of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which I pray every night at 7:14:

…if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

9.

At a cabinet meeting on July 8, Secretary Turner prayed again, this time for those in Texas who were hit by the devastating floods on the Fourth of July. Among several other Scriptural truths, he quoted these passages:

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you (John 14:27a).

And you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach,

The Restorer of Streets to Dwell In (Isaiah 58:12b).

Here’s the footage captured by White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt:

10.

So far, I’ve put these passages in chronological order, but I want to end with this one for a reason…

On March 4, during President Trump’s address to the joint session of Congress, he said, “I believe that my life was saved that day in Butler. For a very good reason. I was saved by God…” This reminds us of Psalm 91:5:

You shall not be afraid of the terror by night,

Nor of the arrow that flies by day…

I pray Psalm 91 protection over President Trump morning and night. I encourage you to do the same.

Post your prayers for President Trump, his cabinet, and their families.

Rich Swingle has presented in 42 nations on six continents, mostly with his own one-man plays. He and his bride Joyce Swingle have 41 screen children. They have developed a “singing play” about the Welsh and Asbury Revivals. The Swingles live in New York City. www.RichDrama.com. Photo Credit: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images.

Source: Ten Times President Trump and His Cabinet Quoted Scripture

Wading Through a World of Overwhelm with God’s Word a Steady Anchor | Christianity.com

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Overwhelmed by the constant flood of troubling news? Learn how to root your heart in God’s truth and find quiet strength for uncertain days.

Author, Speaker, Bible Teacher, and Counselor

Updated Jul 14, 2025

Wading Through a World of Overwhelm with God’s Word a Steady Anchor

One look at the evening news or a few minutes doomscrolling through your newsfeed, and you’re likely to end up with a heart and mind racing a mile a minute. It seems at every turn, there are increasing reports of global conflict, natural disasters, political unrest, and the list goes on.

While not an official clinical diagnosis, many psychologists have started using the term “headline stress disorder”, originally coined by psychologist Dr. Steven Stonsy, to describe people who are overwhelmed and experience increased stress by viewing or reading the news^[1]. Headline stress can impact everyone differently, but it often leads to feelings of being overwhelmed and helplessness, which can result in increased levels of stress, anxiety, and a lack of peace.

While it might be tempting to simply ignore or remove ourselves from the realities of the world, we know that, well, we can’t. There is wisdom in staying informed about current events, but it is equally, if not more important, that we take measures to guard our hearts and minds with God’s peace when the world feels out of control.

Guard Your Heart and Your Habits.

“Guard your heart with all diligence, for from it flow springs of life.” – Proverbs 4:23

The heart refers to the center of one’s life and orientation toward God. It’s the place from which we do all of our thinking, choosing, and feeling. Because of its centrality in our lives, Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “guard our hearts.” To watch, to keep, to preserve, and guard from dangers with diligence.

If you find yourself feeling increasingly angry, overwhelmed, overly anxious, or experiencing a sense of dread and doom after consuming the news, it may be a sign that it is time to reevaluate your habits so that you can experience more of God’s peace. Start by taking practical steps to limit your consumption of news media. Set aside a specific time of day when you check your newsfeed or allocate a certain amount of time to watch the news.

If this is difficult, consider removing news apps or turning off notifications on your phone. When you can, try not to bring smart devices to the dinner table. Keep a book or journal nearby to have something else in place when the urge to scroll or turn on the TV creeps in. Take a walk. Get creative.

Studies have found that there is a connection between the amount of news we consume and emotional stress. The more you consume, the more you will receive. While technology is a great tool, we also need to remember that it is designed to keep you engaged and coming back for more. Clicking on one article or watching that clip on YouTube can easily lead us down a rabbit hole, consuming more time and attention than we intended.

Just as we practice dietary restrictions to take care of physical health, we should do the same in restricting the amount of news we consume to take care of our spiritual and emotional health.

The importance of guarding our hearts is an essential practice for believers and a key contributor to experiencing the peace of God in our lives. We have to make an intentional choice to focus more not on the things of the world but on the One who is the Creator of all things.

If we take measures to protect our homes, our vehicles, our money, our families, and anything else we deem valuable, wouldn’t it be in our best interests to do the same for our hearts- the very place from which everything we do begins?

When the news is overwhelming, filter your social media feed ...your media intake.

Cast Your Cares on the Lord.

Instead of letting the newsfeeds rob us of our peace, believers have a unique opportunity to take what we see on the news and turn it into prayer. We were not meant to carry the burdens ourselves, but to trust in God, “…who daily bears our burdens” (Psalm 68:19). This is not a flippant dismissal of the painful realities we see in the world, but rather an opportunity to let the headlines become a catalyst for prayer. By faith, we believe what Jesus taught us in Matthew 6:10, “Your kingdom come. Your will be done.” As children of God, we can be confident that the prayers of the righteous avail much.

Philippians also exhorts us, “Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God. And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours]. [John 14:2 AMP]

“Worry, in the final analysis, is nothing more than a lack of trust.” And worry is the antithesis to peace.

Allow the peace of God to rule your heart, as it says in “Colossians 3:15,” and turn your worry into prayer and worship. It is in that place that we find peace in the presence of God.

Remind Yourself Of God’s Sovereignty.

While God is not the author of evil or confusion, He does allow things to happen according to His greater plan. When we remember that He is sovereign over the universe, it should bring us peace that nothing catches Him by surprise. God is not surprised by the latest headline news. He is not scrambling to fix what we deem as out of control.

We see a great example of this in Psalm 46, which reminds us of God’s provision, protection, and promises.

1 God is our refuge and strength,
a very presenthelp in trouble.
²Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
³though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling. Selah

⁴There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
⁵God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
⁶The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
He utters his voice, the earth melts.
⁷The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress. Selah

⁸Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
⁹He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
He burns the chariots with fire.
¹⁰ “Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
¹¹The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Be still, and know He is God. This reminder in Verse 10 is often the most quoted and has a direct correlation to encountering the peace of God.

However, to appreciate the beauty of the verse, we must look at the full context. The people of Jerusalem were under attack from the Assyrian army, facing fear and uncertainty. However, the psalmist reminds them and us that even when the nations rage and the mountains tremble, our God remains steadfast and in control. God is a fortress from our greatest fears^[2]. He is a present help in times of trouble. Reminding ourselves of His sovereignty anchors our hearts in His unshakeable peace.

Focus on Today.

^“Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” – Matthew 6:34

Much of what causes our anxiety when we watch the news is the fear of the unknown. There are issues that are out of our control. And though we don’t know the outcome, we can trust in the One who does. What we focus on ultimately takes up the most space in our hearts and minds. We can shift our focus from what we see and instead choose to be present in the moment, thanking God for His faithfulness. To think on things that are “…true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, and admirable.” (Philippians 4:8 NLT). As Jesus said, “Which of you by worrying can add a single cubit to his life?” (Matthew 6:27) Not one. So let’s choose to place our trust in Him, so we can fully experience His everlasting peace.

^[1] Managing Headlines Stress & News Anxiety | Charlie Health. https://www.charliehealth.com/post/managing-headline-stress
^[2] J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, ed. David Platt, Daniel L. Akin, and Tony Merida, Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary (Nashville, TN: Holman Reference, 2022), 321.
Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/jacoblund

Lakeisha Maldon Lekeisha Maldon is a speaker, Bible teacher, and counselor who is deeply passionate about inspiring and empowering women to lead transformed lives through the power of Christ. She has authored “Pages From My Heart: A Devotional For Women” and curated a 5-day plan titled “From Worry To Worship” on the YourVersion Bible App. Her writing has been featured in publications such as Vinewords Devotions & More, Iridescent Women, and Revell Books. Lekeisha has organized several women’s ministry events, been a guest speaker for various organizations such as InterVarsity Christian Fellowship campus ministries, and led domestic and international mission trips. Outside of her ministry endeavors, she is a seasoned IT Business consultant with nearly 20 years of experience. She holds degrees in Business Management and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling. She is married to her best friend, Charles, and is the proud mother to her beautiful baby girl. To learn more visit her website walkthenarrowway.com or connect with her on Instagram and Facebook.

https://www.christianity.com/wiki/current-events/wading-through-a-world-of-overwhelm-with-gods-word-a-steady-anchor.html

Trump Signs the Big, Beautiful Bill | IFA

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Yesterday, America celebrated its independence. While many set off fireworks and fired up grills, the President addressed the nation and signed the Big, Beautiful Bill, securing the first major legislative win of his second term in office.

Join the community of Monthly Ministry Partners and help IFA provide prayer resources to other intercessors.

IFA has covered the drama that surrounded the Big, Beautiful Bill. We’ve posted several articles, and we even dedicated an entire First Friday webcast last month to discussing this one massive piece of legislation. Now, after months of chaos, the bill has finally become law.

It’s important to note that this bill was not passed and signed without controversy. Many watched over the past few months as Republicans, Christians, and Conservatives tore into one another, hurling insults and lobbing accusations. In the end, nearly everyone was forced to compromise.

The Big, Beautiful Bill is not a perfect piece of legislation. There are, however, some key things in the bill that make it a monumental step forward for America. Although many compromises were made, the bill is still an answer to many of our prayers.

This legislation is long, and even now many are still unsure as to what exactly it contains. Therefore, we’ve highlighted ten things you can rejoice about in the Big, Beautiful Bill, as well as prayer points and scriptures.

NO MEDICAID FUNDING FOR PLANNED PARENTHOOD – The bill includes restrictions on Medicaid that no funding for Planned Parenthood may be used. This drastically reduces the amount of federal funding to Planned Parenthood, and there are estimates that upwards of 200 clinics around the country will be closed. This rule only applies for a limited amount of time, and Congress will have to re-legislate this issue. God, we thank you for this momentous progress, but we ask you for even more! We know that You love Your children and we pray protection over all the unborn that they have the chance to experience your goodness (Psalm 139:13-16).
Medicaid Changes – The bill puts into place stricter checks and balances to the Medicaid system, ensuring a lower rate of fraud and abuse. Lord, we pray for those that will be affected negatively by these cuts and pray for not just healing, but guidance and wisdom (Matthew 10:8).
Homeland Security Spending Increase – The bill adds $46.5 million just for the border wall to be constructed, and even more for increased security for our borders. We pray that all law enforcement officers will be safe and secure, and that our border will be protected. We pray for God’s hand to watch over our nation and protect it from evil pouring in (Acts 17:26).
Reduction of Green Initiatives – The bill ends the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, which gives government money to non-profits who are supposedly fighting pollution, etc. Lord, we thank You for your wisdom here and that our government money will no longer be going to organizations lying about what they’re doing (Ephesians 5:15-17).
Reinforces SNAP Requirements for Benefits – Much like Medicaid, the bill puts into place stringent requirements to receive benefits. This will cut abuse, fraud and waste in the program and get these benefits to those who really need it. Lord we pray that those who need this program receive all they need, and those that don’t are taken out of the program. Be with those that use this program and bless them with your provision and guidance (Isaiah 58:7).
Larger Child Tax Credit – This bill increases the child tax credit for American families, allowing families to handle inflationary costs in the future by receiving a financial break for having larger families. God, we thank You for making a way for a benefit for American families to have larger families! We know that children are a gift and we pray that this turns a corner for family values in America! (Psalm 127:3)
No Tax on Tips! – The bill does not fully eliminate taxes on tips, but it does provide a way for gig and service workers to get their tips at a lesser taxed rate than their base salary. This will put more money into the hands of everyday Americans! Father, we thank You for providing a way for hardworking Americans to receive more of their earned money in their pocket and ask that you bless them to spend it wisely (Deuteronomy 8:18).
New Defense Spending – This bill gives $150 billion to President Trump’s vision of a Golden Dome for America as well as increased missiles. Lord, we pray for protection over this nation, that no evil will come against us and that we can stand strong in Your strength! (Isaiah 1:17)
Increasing School Voucher Funds – Under the Biden Administration, benefits for families who contribute to private schools was at an all-time low, but under this bill, Americans can contribute to private schools, especially religious ones, without fear of being taxed unnecessarily. Instead, this bill encourages Americans to invest in schools that align with their values, instead of trusting the woke public school system. Father, we pray that Christian schools all around the nation see a benefit form this and that they hold strong in teaching strong biblical values to America’s children (Proverbs 22:6).
$30 billion for ICE – This bill prioritizes ICE by increasing the budget and allowing more agents along the complete border. God protect our nation and law enforcement officers, keep them safe and secure and watch over our nation as evil tries to enter (Romans 13:4).

These points were taken from our new prayer guide “10 Things To Rejoice About in the Passed Big Beautiful Bill.” You can download a printable version of these points by clicking here, or on the ad above.

As of now, we’ve only just begun to see the fallout from the signing of this bill. Let’s pray for peace in our nation, and let’s pray that the Big, Beautiful Bill blesses America!

How are you praying about the Big, Beautiful Bill? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

(Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Gabriel B Kotico)

Source: https://ifapray.org/blog/trump-signs-the-big-beautiful-bill/

Confessing Sins to One Another (James 5:16) | The Reformed Reader Blog

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Confessing Sins to One Another (James 5:16)

James tells Christians to “confess your sins to each other, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed…” (James 5:16). Does this mean that when a Christian sins, he or she should go tell another Christian about it and get counsel for dealing with it? Although there is wisdom in confiding in other Christians about our spiritual struggles, that is not what James 5:16 is about. I appreciate how Alec Motyer explained it:

He says ‘Confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another.’ It is surely often the case that a Christian who is burdened by some sin will seek out a close friend and confide the problem, so that in prayer together they may bear one another’s burdens, and pray through to the place of deliverance, cleansing and healing. But this is not what James is speaking of here, and the wording he uses will not allow this interpretation. When the verb translated ‘confess’ is used other than of the confession of sin, it never means ‘admit sorrowfully’, as it would have to do in order to justify the thought of confiding sin to a friend. It can mean ‘to affirm’, but only in the sense of ‘acclaim’—as of affirming loyalty to God or acclaiming him¹⁶—but the sense ‘affirm to each other that you are sinners’ is impossible in the light of the way the word is used in the New Testament. The passage therefore is not speaking of the gathering of groups, or the holding of a meeting in which believers tell one another about their sins, nor can such practices be justified on the ground of James 5:16. For it does not say (even) ‘Confess your sins to God in each other’s presence’, but Confess your sins to one another.

The biblical position regarding confessing sin can be summed up in this way. ‘Confession must be made to the person against whom we have sinned, and from whom we need and desire to receive forgiveness.… There is “secret confession” to God because there are “secret sins” (Ps. 90:8) committed against God alone. Next, there is “private confession”, because some of our sins are committed against man as well as God, a private individual, or two or three such, and must be confessed to the offended party. Thirdly, there is “public confession”, because some sins are committed against a group … a community or the whole local congregation, and must therefore be confessed publicly.’ It is in this area of confession that James is moving. We have offended against a brother or sister and we must go to such a one privately and confess in what way we have done wrong, ask to be forgiven, and join in prayer for healing, ‘because the biblical principle is consistently that “confession” is due to the party who has been offended’.¹⁸ The believers whom James brings before us have not met to engage in mutual confession of secret sins—for the ‘confession’ of such is owed to God alone. Rather it is because the one has sinned against the other and is seeking opportunity, in private fellowship, to put things right, or because each has offended the other and they are ready to confess and be reconciled.

As we have seen throughout his letter, James is deeply concerned about fellowship….

J. A. Motyer, The Message of James: The Tests of Faith, The Bible Speaks Today (Leicester, England; Downers Grove, IL: Inter-Varsity Press, 1985), 201–202.

Shane Lems Covenant Presbyterian Church (OPC) Hammond, WI, 54015

July 1 Morning Verse of the Day

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“Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.” This is the Psalmist’s statement and plea: he had never ceased to pray even when brought into the lowest state. The depths usually silence all they engulf, but they could not close the mouth of this servant of the Lord; on the contrary, it was in the abyss Itself that he cried unto Jehovah. Beneath the floods prayer lived and struggled; yea, above the roar of the billows rose the cry of faith. It little matters where we are if we can pray; but prayer is never more real and acceptable than when it rises out of the worst places. Deep places beget deep devotion. Depths of earnestness are stirred by depths of tribulation. Diamonds sparkle most amid the darkness. Prayer de profundis gives to God gloria in excelsis. The more distressed we are, the more excellent is the faith which trusts bravely in the Lord, and therefore appeals to him, and to him alone. Good men may be in the depths of temporal and spiritual trouble: but good men in such cases look only to their God, and they stir themselves up to be more instant and earnest in prayer than at other times. The depth of their distress moves the depths of their being; and from the bottom of their hearts an exceeding great and bitter cry rises unto the one living and true God. David had often been in the deep, and as often had he pleaded with Jehovah, his God, in whose hand are all deep places. He prayed, and remembered that he had prayed, and pleaded that he had prayed; hoping ere long to receive an answer. It would be dreadful to look back on trouble and feel forced to own that we did not cry unto the Lord in it; but it is most comforting to know that whatever we did not do, or could not do, yet we did pray, even in our worst times. He that prays in the depth will not sink out of his depth. He that cries out of the depths shall soon sing in the heights.
“Lord, hear my voice.” It is all we ask; but nothing less will content us. If the Lord will but hear us we will leave it to his superior wisdom to decide whether he will answer us or no. It is better for our prayer to be heard than answered. If the Lord were to make an absolute promise to answer all our requests it might be rather a curse than a blessing, for it would be casting the responsibility of our lives upon ourselves, and we should be placed in a very anxious position: but now the Lord hears our desires, and that is enough; we only wish him to grant them if his infinite wisdom sees that it would be for our good and for his glory. Note that the Psalmist spoke audibly in prayer: this is not at all needful, but it is exceedingly helpful; for the use of the voice assists the thoughts. Still, there is a voice in silent supplication, a voice in our weeping, a voice in that sorrow which cannot find a tongue: that voice the Lord will hear if its cry is meant for his ear. “Let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication.” The Psalmist’s cry is a beggar’s petition; he begs the great King and Lord to lend an ear to it. He has supplicated many times, but always with one voice, or for one purpose; and he begs to be noticed in the one matter which he has pressed with so much importunity. He would have the King hearken, consider, remember, and weigh his request. He is confused, and his prayer may therefore be broken, and difficult to understand; he begs therefore that his Lord will give the more earnest and compassionate heed to the voice of his many and painful pleadings. When we have already prayed over our troubles it is well to pray over our prayers. If we can find no more words, let us entreat the Lord to hear those petitions which we have already presented. If we have faithfully obeyed the precept by praying without ceasing, we may be confident that the Lord will faithfully fulfil the promise by helping us without fail. Though the Psalmist was under a painful sense of sin, and so was in the depth, his faith pleaded in the teeth of conscious unworthiness; for well he knew that the Lord’s keeping his promise depends upon his own character and not upon that of his erring creatures.

Spurgeon, C. H. (n.d.). The treasury of David: Psalms 120-150 (Vol. 6, pp. 118–119). Marshall Brothers.

130:1–2 The most effective prayers are made out of the depths of despair and dependence. See 1Sm 1:16.

Warstler, K. R. (2017). Psalms. In E. A. Blum & T. Wax (Eds.), CSB Study Bible: Notes (p. 931). Holman Bible Publishers.

130:1–2 The psalmist begins by pleading with Yahweh for help. The psalmist may feel that his difficulties result from his sins, as indicated by his later mention of iniquities (vv. 3, 8).

130:1 the depths The Hebrew word used here, ma’amaqqim, usually refers to the depths of the sea (see Isa 51:10). While Israelites did engage in sea travel and trade (compare Ps 107:23), the sea was usually viewed as a symbol of chaos and danger. Thus, ma’amaqqim may be a figurative expression for guilty feelings or some sort of literal imprisonment.

130:2 hear my voice The psalmist asks God to listen and answer favorably.

Barry, J. D., Mangum, D., Brown, D. R., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Ritzema, E., Whitehead, M. M., Grigoni, M. R., & Bomar, D. (2012, 2016). Faithlife Study Bible (Ps 130:1–2). Lexham Press.

130:1–2 O Lord, Hear My Cry for Mercy! The psalm climbs from out of the depths of misery over sin, to confession of it (vv. 3–4), to hope (vv. 5–6) and assurance (vv. 7–8). The tone is urgent, and the topic is my pleas for mercy.

Crossway Bibles. (2008). The ESV Study Bible (p. 1108). Crossway Bibles.

130:1 the depths. We speak of “depression” or “being down,” spatial metaphors that express the feeling of emotional desolation. The Hbr here is even more graphic, referring to deep waters, to the sense of being overwhelmed and sinking into the depths of the sea.

130:2 hear my voice! Even from the depths of suffering, God hears our cries and is “attentive” to our “pleas for mercy.”

Engelbrecht, E. A. (2009). The Lutheran Study Bible (p. 976). Concordia Publishing House.

Is 2 Chronicles 7:14 God’s Promise to American Christians Today? | Michelle Lesley

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Is 2 Chronicles 7:14 God’s Promise to American Christians Today?

Originally published July 3, 2015

Is 2 Chronicles 7:14 God’s promise to American Christians today?

“if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
2 Chronicles 7:14

This verse is often quoted as a call to prayer and revival for American Christians, suggesting that if we pray, repent, and humble ourselves, God will turn America around and make it “one nation under God” again. Since the 4th of July is coming up, you’ll probably be seeing this verse all over social media, but is it really a promise to us today about America?

Not this particular verse, no. Here’s why:

1. This verse is only part of a sentence (you can tell by the way it starts with a lowercase letter). In order to rightly handle God’s word (2 Timothy 2:15), it’s imperative that we consider a verse’s immediate context as well as the way it fits in with the big picture of the entire Bible. Even adding just verses 13 and 15 shows us that this verse was written about Old Testament Israel, not America. Reading all of chapter 7 sheds even more light on this verse, and if we throw in chapter 6, especially 6:26-31, we can clearly see that 7:14 is part of God’s specific answer to Solomon’s prayer at the dedication of the temple.

2. There are no supporting Scriptures in the New Testament (remember, Believers are in the church era under the new covenant of grace) that imply that if Christians humble themselves and repent that God will give them a nation governed by biblical laws and leaders and that we will have a society that behaves itself, morally. In fact, in the New Testament, in the early church, we see the exact opposite. The more the church prayed, humbled itself, and spread the gospel, the more Rome persecuted Christians. And yet, we never hear of them claiming 2 Chronicles 7:14 as God’s promise to them that He would turn things around if they would only humble themselves and seek His face more. The New Testament, even Jesus Himself, says that we will be persecuted for godly living (John 15:20, Matthew 10:22, 2 Timothy 3:12-13).

3. We can’t claim the promise without claiming the punishment. Look again at verse 13. It specifies that pestilence and the agricultural hardships of drought and locust infestation are the ones that God promises to heal. It is a promise of literal healing of the land so that crops will grow unharmed, game will be plentiful, and people will be healthy and able to eat, not a promise of a metaphorical “healing” of a nation’s immorality.

If we claim that this “healing of the land” applies to us today, then we also have to claim that God will punish our disobedience with those very things He promises to heal (drought, locusts, and pestilence), because that’s what these verses are talking about.

4. The reason this passage sounds like it applies to us is because there are some principles in this verse that do apply to us. How do we know? Because they are supported by other clear and direct Scriptures:

Are we God’s people who are called by His name”? Yes (Acts 11:26)

Should we humble ourselves? Yes (1 Peter 5:6)

Should we pray and seek God’s face? Yes (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

Should we turn from any wicked ways we practice? Yes (Acts 3:19)

Will God hear from Heaven if we do these things? Yes (1 John 5:14-15)

Does God promise to heal our land of bad morals or the agricultural problems He has punished our disobedience with if we do these things? No.

Asking God to fulfill His promises and thanking Him for those already fulfilled is a wonderful and worshipful way to pray. But, if we truly want to pray “in the name of Jesus” and pray rightly for God’s will to be done, we must use wisdom, discernment, and the tools God has given us to discover exactly what He has promised us.

Additional Resources:

Properly Praying the Promises

What is the meaning of 2 Chronicles 7:14? at Got Questions?

The Case for Morning Devotions | Spiritual Theology

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Morning Worship in a Desolate Place

Psalm 119:147 I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words.

God’s grace doesn’t eliminate our spiritual practices. Grace energizes them. Our spirituality is actualized by the grace of God.

Do you see the same trend of downplaying morning devotions? I suspect a variety of reasons can be summed up in these four:

Undervaluing deliberate and undistracted time with God.
Laziness. Plain and simple.
Undisciplined. Morning devotions are a previous-night decision.
Misunderstanding the dynamics of grace and freedom.

When the question comes, “Should I meet with God to start my day?” my reply is, “Why not?” How we start our days is not inconsequential. Desires are declared. Needs are displayed. But do we realize how much we need him? And, do we want him?

Biblical Example

While we certainly aren’t required by law to wake up before dawn and hear from God’s Word and respond in prayer, it is a biblical pattern we are wise to imitate. There’s some wisdom in launching our days with communion with God.

Job got up early in the morning and worshiped God (Job 1:5).
Hannah and Elkanah rose early in the morning to worship God (1 Sam. 1:19).
Jesus would rise “very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed” (Mark 1:35).
Jesus even rose from the dead before the sun rose (Mark 16:2, 9; Luke 24:1; John 20:1).

Jesus went out to these “desolate” places—wilderness, desert, or uninhabited locales. Jesus would invite the disciples to join him in these places: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while” (Mark 6:31). The point of the desolate place isn’t its vibe. It’s about the lack of people. In the New Testament, “desolate” is meant to “focus primarily upon the lack of population rather than upon sparse vegetation, though the two features are closely related ecologically in the Middle East.”1 So, how can we do this in the suburbs, on a college campus, or in the urban sprawl?

Getting up before the sun—and kids, blenders churning, microwaves beeping, or TVs talking—is a way to make our own “desolate place.” Find the time and place in your space where the population is thinned out because they are asleep. Find your quiet “wilderness”—the couch, a desk, the porch. Or, pull a Susanna Wesley and put an apron over your head and pray.2 Make it a habit. Make it your thing. Prepare the night before. When I go to bed, I punch my ticket for the desolate place by:

Clearing my desk for my journal and Bible.
Preparing my crazy coffee machine to have the nectar ready when I stumble to the kitchen.
Knowing what I’m reading in the Bible the next day.

A Worshipful Time

Like a priest preparing the altar for worship, prepare to meet with God for morning worship. And that may be one of the more helpful ways to think of “quiet times” (not my favorite phrase) and “morning devotions” (not bad). View this time as morning worship, as communion with God. Hear his voice from Scripture and let him hear your voice in prayer (aloud or written). Read a hymn, sing a worship song on a walk, worship as you read a work of theology. Whatever you do, worship God.

Be like the Psalmists and resolve:

I will pray in the mornings: “But I, O LORD, cry to you; in the morning my prayer comes before you.” (Psalm 88:13)
God will hear my voice and my worship in the mornings: “O LORD, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for you and watch.” (Psalm 5:3)
In the morning, I will read the word and hear of God’s love: “Let me hear in the morning of your steadfast love, for in you I trust. Make me know the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.” (Psalm 143:8)
In the morning, I will pray for God to satisfy me with his love: “Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.” (Psalm 90:14)
In the morning, I will respond to his love: “But I will sing of your strength; I will sing aloud of your steadfast love in the morning. For you have been to me a fortress and a refuge in the day of my distress.” (Psalm 59:16)

Let’s be the people that start our day crying out for God’s help for all the day holds. We need his help to turn from sin, to grow in godliness, to love others, to work for his glory, and on and on and on. As Spurgeon said, “Let us give to God the mornings of our days and the morning of our lives.”

Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains(New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 16.

Susanna Wesley, John Wesley’s mother, had 11 children and made time to pray. “Among the noise and activity of her many children, Susanna’s trick was to pull her apron over her head—signaling to them and anyone else around that she was in prayer and not to be disturbed.”

https://www.spiritualtheology.net/p/the-case-for-morning-devotions

1. Psalm 10 – A Prayer for Justice

2. Psalm 13 – A Prayer When You Feel Like God is Not Listening

3. Psalm 57 – A Prayer for Rescue

4. Psalm 63 – A Prayer of Longing for God

5. Psalm 88 – A Prayer When You Feel Like God Has Left You

6. Psalm 116 – A Prayer of Thanksgiving

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A Tuesday Morning Prayer for Faith

A Prayer for Peace this Tuesday

A Tuesday Prayer to Have Joy

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A prayer to start your day from the Methodist Book Concern

Arise and Shine in My Heart

Prayer of St Clement: 1st century

Benediction

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Prayer for Muslims, but not for Christians

Lawmaker Sounds Alarm

Leftist United Nations Targets Homeschoolers

UN Agenda is Leftist to the Core

A One World Curriculum

Mayoral Candidate Spews Lies on October 7 Anniversary

Propaganda and Mamdani Go Hand in Hand

These are just a few of the lies the Left told this week. How are you praying?

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A prayer of Basil of Caesarea (329-379) link

Prayer of St. Ambrose of Milan (c. 339-397) link

Prayer of Clement of Rome, bishop, died in A.D. 99 or 101 link

Benediction link

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We’re Afraid God Won’t Notice

We’re Afraid God Won’t Be There

We’re Afraid God Won’t Care

We’re Afraid God Won’t Bend

We’re Afraid God Won’t Forgive

Time to Draw Away

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A Right Perspective on Spiritual Disciplines

A Growing Dependence upon the Holy Spirit

Meaningful Membership in a Local Church

Personal and Interpersonal Accountability

A Disposition to “Redeem the Time”

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From Our Hearts

We tend to think of prayer as a way to draw down blessings from God. But Jesus thinks of it as a way to draw us up to God.

With Our Minds

According to the Pattern of the Lord’s Prayer

Continually

In Light of Our Salvation

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Post your prayers for President Trump, his cabinet, and their families.

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Guard Your Heart and Your Habits.

Cast Your Cares on the Lord.

Remind Yourself Of God’s Sovereignty.

Focus on Today.

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How are you praying about the Big, Beautiful Bill? Share your prayers and scriptures below.

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Originally published July 3, 2015

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Morning Worship in a Desolate Place