7 Prayers That Work

  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.  With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.  ( Ephesians 6:17-18 ) Oh, Lord God, I feel alone this fight of living, trudging in a wavering line day in and day out, toward a distant goal. I feel isolated and defeated in a war  against me (against YOU) and a world system that races hell-bent toward destruction. I wasn't made for this, and so my soul aches for what I've lost , what I can't achieve, and what I think I need. My spirit groans , even as I remind myself of your truth. But you are my weapon of defense. You are my strong tower. You are my commander and my rear guard. You are conqueror, king, and savior. You are victory. You walk with me through the valley of death. You seat me in the presence of my enemies . You offer freedom to me ...

  Lord Jesus, Today is the International Day of Peace.  What does that even mean? The world is not peaceful. It doesn't feel like it will ever be peaceful . How can I find peace in my everyday life, for the normal anxieties and the terrifying uncertainties ? I know you are Peace. But honestly, sometimes peace feels impossible. Forgive me for not daily giving my fears back to you and praising you for the future I can't see. You will never leave me. You will always protect me. You and only you can provide me the peace I crave. I will seek your face and read your words. There I will find "the peace that passes understanding." ( Philippians 4:7 ) There I'll find you. That's where the peace is. In Jesus' name, Amen. "And let the  peace  of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." (Colossians 3:15)

  Oh, Lord, our Comfort and our Hope-- I'm grieving a loss. I don't have anywhere to turn but you. I don't know what to say or how to feel. I can't navigate the breadth of my emotions and fears. Only your words and your truth can help me rest in the peace that you alone are my Rock and my Fortress. You are my Stronghold ( Psalm 18:2 ).  I don't need to be afraid. But I am. So help me steer through the fear and the pain to the hope that waits on the other side of grief. When I'm ready-- and every time I'm not ready-- you are present to comfort and re-orient me. Your words are truth, and I will eat them ( Jeremiah 15:16 ). Thank you. In Jesus' name, Amen. "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.  For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of ...

  Lord, save me-- I'm drowning. Lord, show me-- I'm doubting . Lord, catch me-- I'm afraid . You are God.  Your ways are unknowable, but they are always good . Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief. In Jesus' name, Amen. "Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake.   When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. 'It’s a ghost,' they said, and cried out in fear.  But Jesus immediately said to them: ' Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.'  'Lord, if it’s you,' Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.'  'Come,'  he said.  Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus.   But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!  Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. ' You of little faith,'  he said, ' why did you doubt?'  And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. ...

Oh, Lord, I don't now what's going to happen next, but there are some scary options sitting in front of me, taunting my thoughts and terrifying my heart. I feel like I'm wilting on the inside: My spirit grows faint within me and my heart feels dismayed ( Psalm 143:4 ). I know that you are good and that you only do good to your people. I remember your faithfulness-- you do not bring judgment down on us like you should;  no one stands before you righteous ( Psalm 143:2 ). I trust you because you have always protected me. I remember all the times you have rescued me and comforted me. I reach out for you like a thirsty soul in the desert ( Psalm 143:5-6 ). Lord, come to me and satisfy my longing. Quench my fear. Renew my spirit. Do not hide your face from me. Every morning, remind me of your unfailing love ( Psalm 143:7-8 ). Show me the way I should go. I only trust you. Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Holy Spirit, level the ground before me and lead me into ...

I'd like to share a prayer of praise formed from Psalm 66.   It seems pertinent in helping assuage our fear over the global implications during this COVID-19 pandemic. Praise our God, people of the world! Let the sound of our praise be heard by everyone. He has preserved our lives and kept us from going under forever. Yes, He is testing us-- God is refining us like silver in the fire, drawing our insecurities, fears, and faithlessness to the surface, not to kill us or harm us, but to perfect us-- to make us completely pure. He has brought us into the prisons of this world, giving us burdens to bear and offenses to carry. Why? Why would God do this, if He loves us? Here's why: He leads us through fire and water, through the deserts and wilderness of our spiritual journeys to lead us into a place of abundance. He brings us into the open spaces of freedom. Without the fire, we would never recognize the gift of choice, love, and abundance. Lord, I w...

A paraphrase of Psalm 34 I won't stop bragging about God and what He's doing all the time. Praising him will be my normal conversation. I will boast about God's goodness, even to people who are suffering because it will encourage them. Join me in singing about God's goodness-- He always designs the right futures for us! When I am afraid, I pray to God-- specifically asking Him what His will is and what He wants to do in my life right now. When I am afraid, and there are no answers. My fear always vanishes. I can move forward with courage and purpose, even though I don't know what will happen next. Anyone who depends on God can face hardship and crises without feeling ashamed or depressed. Their faces will be joyful and radiant. I am safe in God's hands. I have called on God many times. He always hears me. He always saves me. He always changes my troubles into blessings. Like an army, God camps out all around me, guarding me from ...

Dear Lord, You are not worried. You are not uninterested. You still wrap your hands around your children and draw us close, even when events seem to say otherwise. Give us peace, comfort, and healing during this time of physical and emotional unrest. Heal those affected by the virus. Multiply the time, effort, and supplies of those in the healthcare industry. I pray that people will safeguard themselves, respect others, and be patient with all the turbulence and unrest caused by a pandemic. I pray for all who worry and suffer to search for you while you can be found. Lord, may we be found by you. You are good, you are merciful, you are gracious, you are forgiving, and you are healing. Heal our wounds -- the ones inside our hearts , where we stray from you and live for ourselves, by ourselves. Most of all, we need healing from fear. I pray for your love to consume us. Love drives fear away because there is no fear in love. Whatever you do with v...

This morning I had one of those mothering moments when you ask your child to trust your "no" because you are building character into him so he can become the man God wants him to be. Then I say that someday, he'll realize how much it mattered to have a mom who cared about these things. Then I think about my mom and how I never realized the extent of her wisdom and love until I became a mother. And how much I wish I could tell her that again right now. How I wish I could tell her anything at all, and how completely devastating it is to know I won't speak to her again in my lifetime. The realization returns , almost like the first time it hit me. And I have cried off and on all day ever since. Grief sucks like that. How can there still be so many unseen empty spaces that hold grief? God, Would you just fill them, please? Would you just pour yourself into the holes of longing and loss and smother the grief with joy and contentment. Will you hear this ...

Lord God, the Way-maker, Open new pathways for me. I feel like I'm at a dead end, like there's no way out of this problem. I'm trying not to look around me, not to see the forces of criticism, procrastination, confusion, fear, misapprehension, self-doubt, and down-right evil that assault me from all sides. I'm trying to look ahead, to follow your voice and see your face. To put one foot in front of the other in terrified obedience. Are you out there? Where are we going? I can't see you. I can't even see the path. Remind me of you promises: You go before me. You go behind me. You go with me. You live inside me. You feel my pain. You created me to handle this. You made me for this purpose. You use everything for your glory. You are growing me. Where you lead me, I will follow. You make a way, where there is no way. I believe you can do it again. And so I follow you. That's what you've told me to do. Amen. ...

Oh, Lord, My heart is heavy, and my anxiety is heightened, so my soul looks to you. Only you can help me to rest in your plans and your protection for my college student as he returns to school. I lift up my college student to you and place him into your care. Guard his mind from harmful influences, from secular reasoning and humanistic values, from fundamentalist and judgmental attitudes that create pride and harden hearts. Holy Spirit, speak daily into his heart and mind, reminding him of truth and life. When he is bombarded with secular philosophies and agendas, give him intuition and question truth to seek answers from your Word. Strengthen his courage to stand for justice and righteousness in a world gone crazy with hate and violence. Surround him with a Christian community and friend group (even one person, Lord!). Help him to make deep friendships quickly with students and teachers who will edify and encourage him, who will not degrade or deride him, but wi...

Dear Lord, I'm speaking Your words over my crazy, jumbled life: Peace, be still. I can't calm down on my own, so help me breathe in Your beauty and Your calm. Peace, be still. I can't control the things around me, so give me the courage to stop trying, stop striving, stop worrying. Peace, be still. You guard me, around and before me. You designed me perfectly to carry out Your will. You have marked out my way. So why am I afraid? Peace, be still. I wallow in discouragement and negative thinking, and I turn aside from You, searching so many other places to find motivation, assistance, encouragement, affirmation, and love. Help me hear Your words: Peace, be still. Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith? You, Prince of Peace, are the answer. Amen. "A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, 'Teacher...

Dear God of all comfort, Thank you. I'm grieving, but I thank You for everything. Thank you for creating the church, which functions like a family. I can't explain how people I've never met or hardly know can send me a prayer or encouragement, and I instantly feel loved and no longer alone. Thank you for making prayer a way to express grief, joy, fear, and frustration. I don't know why it works, but it does. Thank you for the opportunity to serve You by serving other people. I don't know why loving someone else when I need to be loved fills an emotional hole, but it does. Thank you for growing my faith through trials. I don't completely understand how suffering can produce joy in my life, but I see it happen all the time. Thank you for asking me to be generous. I can't explain how we can give away so much and still pay our bills, but remarkably, it's true. Thank you for a million other blessings--for every sunset, for every flower, for ...

Dear Yaweh Nissi, the Lord my Banner , Wave above me in the fray, This, your fight, is why You came; Holiness defends Your name. I await the victory day When all people will proclaim, The Lord reigns, He cannot flee. The Lord sustains, He won't forsake. The Lord forgives and peace He makes. The Lord gives hope, He won't despair. The Lord will triumph for my sake. Lord, go with me in the fray, You, Almighty, Elohim, Doom advances, hope grows dim; Faith alone will help me say, Victory comes through rest in Him. Holy Spirit, Father, Christ, who made the world, who paid the price, who give me strength, and calm my heart, who know my fears in hidden parts-- Lift my arms. Stretch my view! May I find all strength in You! Give me friends who hold me up I believe You fill my cup with blessings, impact, suffering-- I will fight for Jesus' sake. It's your battle, it's your war, It's your victory, and so much more. Throughout history an...

Dear Father, My heart is heavy with worry and anguish over the hate and fear building in this country. Even among Christians, the pressure to retaliate and fight confuses my desire to be a light in this dark world. Why am I afraid? Because I look around me and see sinful men and sinful reactions. I see fear everywhere, and I know that when I am afraid, my trust in You vanishes like the morning mist. I pray now against fear and anxiety. God, make me brave. Make me strong and courageous. Then give me a passion to love others. Give me confidence in YOU and in the weapons you command me to use--praying in the power of the Holy Spirit and speaking the Word of God, which is sharper than any sword. Pierce me first, then pierce the darkness of this culture with the Light of the World. In You I trust. You are my deliverer, my safe haven, my stronghold. I will wait on You. I will not be afraid what men can do to me. In Jesus' holy and powerful name, Amen.