7 Prayers That Work

A prayer taken from Psalm 55 . Oh, Lord, I am so dismayed and hurt. I'm filled with grief . You know that a friend(s) has/have betrayed me. Left me. Ignored me. Talked about me to others. Spread lies. They made this tragedy about what I "did to them" instead of what it really was-- what they did to me. I am innocent and trustworthy. Why would they misunderstand me? Misrepresent me? Dump me? I know you understand what this is like because the whole world has done it to you. Peter did it. Judas did it. All Christians do it. I cannot compare how I feel to how you must have felt (or still do), but I need to lament this grief to you. You understand . I know you hear me. I know you love me. I know you're with me. Heal my heart. Vindicate me in my righteousness. Restore me to living, instead of hurting. Repair this friendship or punish the wrongdoers so that your name will have honor and glory, rather than dishonor and shame. Christians should love one another. We shou...

  Lord, save me! I'm sinking. I'm not going to make it. I can't go on . I'm drowning right in front of you. I see your hand outstretched,  but I can't reach it. You said, "Come." And I came. I defied the waters below and the pure impossibility that I could join you in your mission-- that I had the faith-- but I don't. The winds and waves are too great for me. I know they're not too great for you, but today, that doesn't seem to matter. I can't go on. I can't see how anything will change. I don't feel you. Catch me, or I will perish. And lead me again into following you, even though my faith is small. I know you are the Son of God, but you feel so far from me and my desperate world. Amen. "Take courage. It is I. Do not be afraid."--Jesus ( Matthew 14:27-33 )

  Did you know that many of the key characters in the Christmas story left  prayers for us to read ? They were overwhelmed, amazed, frightened, and thankful. They were like us, really. They witnessed Emmanuel "God with us," just like we do. They had to stop in their stress and anxiety and notice God's wonder. And let that experience change them. Below are 7 prayers from that first Christmas.  Plus one from me.  They all address the issues we feel on a regular basis. The first 7 prayers are by the Christmas story characters themselves. Read their stories. Pray the prayers. Then watch and wait--God will fill you with wonder. I just know it! He really does wonder well. Prayer #1:  Mary--"How is this possible?"--a request for understanding ( Lk. 1:21-28 ) Prayer #2:  Mary--"Glory to God!"--a song of praise ( Lk. 1:21-55 ) Prayer #3:  Joseph--"What should I do?"--a prayer of grief and confusion ( Mtt. 1:18-20 ) Prayer #4:  Wisemen--"Where is ...

  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 ...

Oh, Lord Jesus, This is a Holy Saturday prayer-- remembering the silent Saturday that your body lay in a tomb, guarded by soldiers, celebrated by your enemies. While your friends and followers mourned, shocked and sickened with grief that somehow your enemies killed you . And you let them. You let them  betray you, lie about you, taunt you, torture you, and kill you. How often I am like your disciples from long ago-- I sit  grieving,   despairing, questioning, pleading, raging , shaking in fear , sobbing in solitude, hiding in shame because I think you've left me because you're silent. What a tangle of complex emotions we feel when we think you can't hear us-- when you're not here-- when we act like you're as shocked and traumatized by the world as we are. How agonizing was it to feel the sins of the whole world? To succumb to death, when you have always existed? To offer yourself to every single human being, whom you created in your image, knowing each of us, even...

Lord Jesus, I'm weary .  Will you carry me for awhile? Wherever you want. Just hold me tight. Amen.

Oh, Lord, King of heaven and earth, how you must be grieved. My heart is broken over the sins of my country and especially the Church. I can't imagine the heartbreak you have, and I can't fathom the hope and patience you also have for us when we sin. I confess the sins of my country. I confess our disunity, our rage, our insatiable desire for revenge . I confess our idolatry of wealth, class, power, fame, and self-righteousness. I confess our desire to condemn, hate, judge, blame, and kill one another. We're obsessed with our own comfort and security, to the detriment of anyone else. I confess our unflagging determination to idolize people: celebrities, politicians, millionaires, leaders of any field, as if they have the answers for life,  when You are the only one with answers. I confess our desire to win, to make teams, to align ourselves with political platforms and policies, to elevate elections, political races, and national power over loving our brothers and sisters...

  Oh, Lord, This is a lament about violence.  Our hearts are grieved but not surprised at the violence and encouragement toward violence that's been occurring in this country.  There is no limit to the senseless hatred and selfishness that transpires when we do not seek your kingdom first. Forgive us, Lord, for our partisanship and hatred for one another. Forgive us for our inconsistent laws and prejudiced perspectives. Forgive us for consulting political consultants instead of you. Forgive us for turning on one another because we disagree. Lord, we need to repent individually and corporately.  Restore power and order through the body of Christ. Let it spill out and influence our local and national leaders. May our churches lead the cause of compassion and restitution. Protect our law enforcement . Protect innocent bystanders. Bring perpetrators to justice. Vengeance belongs to you. We ask you to work through our justice system fairly. Give our country another ch...

Oh, Lord, I don't have the words for what I'm feeling right now. Or what I should say. Or if I should say anything at all. Words are tricky. They tend to pop out. Help me to pray YOUR words about MY words: Make the words of my mouth pleasing and acceptable to you. (Psalm 19:14) Give me gracious words, sweet like honeycomb and healing to the bones.  (Proverbs 16:24) May my mouth speak wisdom and my heart be filled with understanding.  (Psalm 49:3) Purify my words like silver, burn off the dross in your crucible. (Psalm 12:6) Whenever I open my mouth, give me the faith to speak the gospel fearlessly, as I should. (Ephesians 6:19) Help my speech to be as beautiful and valuable as apples of gold in pictures of silver.  (Proverbs 25:11) Your words are true and faithful. They will prove to be true. May I speak them! (Psalm 33:4) I want to take hold of your words, obey your commands, and live! (Proverbs 4:4) Lord, may all of my words be just. Keep me from speaking perverse words...

I was reading in Luke 11 this morning. I was struck by the profound similarities between the Pharisees of Jesus' day and the evangelical church of today. More startling is Jesus' response toward them. You might know that the Pharisees were the "bad guys" of Jesus' time--at least that's how Bible-readers like to view them, as if we are dissimilar to them in every way. And yet, they were well-respected and revered, even feared. They were obeyed. They were the experts about what God expected from his people. In modern day vernacular, they were the pastors, the conservative right, the non-profit leaders, the worship leaders, the televangelists, the Christian authors. They were the spiritual voice for their culture. And Jesus censured their religious rules, pointing out instead their lack of compassion and justice. Read Luke 11:37-53 to get the full effect of Jesus' words (they're harsh!). Here is a prayer of lament crafted from Jesus' rebuk...

Oh, Lord, Today is a grief-day for me. You know this. Nothing can change that or fix this. I can only lean into you. I seek refuge in your arms in and the truth of your words. Answer me in my distress. Protect me. Send me help from your sanctuary-- Will you give peace? Renewed faith? A call to action? Surround me with your angels. Remember my faithfulness and forgive me of my unfaithfulness. I confess and repent of all of it. I know that you will give me the desires of my heart and make all my plans succeed because you save me when I call on you. You reward me according to your faithfulness and goodness. You are everlasting. You are comfort. You are peace. You are enough and more than enough for me. Thank you. I love you, Amen. Psalm 20 Other prayers about grief: Prayer to fill the grieving space Praying comfort over grief How to pray a Bible verse when you're grieving How to pray when you're overwhelmed with sadness How to pray a pra...

Okay, Lord, It's not fair. I've helped,  loved,  sacrificed, strived, planned, performed, adjusted, given mercy, reached out, supported, affirmed, lovingly confronted, dreamed, achieved-- and what do I receive? Criticism, slander, misunderstanding, rejection, misrepresentation, betrayal, indifference, ignorance, bigotry, judgment, discrimination, correction, unfriendliness. It's not fair. No, it's not. Is this what suffering is? Is this what you warned me about-- what you said it would happen? I just didn't expect it from Christians. From church people. From friends. From people who smile at me and shake my hand and whisper about me when I'm not around. Yes, it happened to Job. It happened to Moses. It happened to David. It happened to you. Okay, I see why it happens to me. Friends and family will turn against someone  who stands for justice, mercy, purpose, and righteousness. Someone who gives grace wil...

I read Psalm 5 & Psalm 13 t his morning. They are prayers of lament and praise . David feels forgotten and assaulted, so he shares his discouragement, despair, fear, abandonment, and call for justice in his communication with God. He praises God for who He is and believes that God will make all things right in His own way. I am convicted. I turned these two Psalms into the following prayer: Lord God, How long will you forget me? Forever? Do you remember that I'm wrestling with my emotions and thoughts all the time and I can't get clarity on who you are or what you're doing in my life? I feel abandoned and forgotten . Weak . Misunderstood and assaulted. I'm trying to serve you, and always, someone or something is coming for me-- disappointing me, hurting me, rejecting me, discrediting me. Sometimes it's my own thoughts and faithlessness. Many times, I believe it is the enemy. Friends become foes . They secretly enjoy my misfortune...

It's never too soon to pray for your kids' future spouses. I've been praying for my kids' spouses since the day my kids were born, hoping and longing for three girls to grow up loved and protected and conformed into the image of Christ. It's never too late to pray for that. All of us are growing and changing, no matter how old we are. The majesty of Scripture is that it is always revealing new truth to the people who seek truth, no matter how many times they've read it. Seek truth for yourself, then encourage your kids and their spouses to seek truth. We learn by watching others live right. Your job as a parent of adults is to live right and model righteous decisions. Your job as a child is to watch adults who live right and follow their example, which means that you are also making righteous decisions. Don't give up on people growing more like Christ. Don't give up on your kids, on your kids' girlfriends or boyfriends, or on your ...

Dear Lord in heaven, I feel weak today. So, so weak. Emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. I feel insufficient. Not enough. Less-than. I think you call this a strength because I'll to turn to you in my desperation just to survive. In my frustration , I might actually listen on you. Wait on you. Pray to you. Obey you. Trust you. This process makes me stronger because it gives your strength a chance to work in me and change me. You make me enough, just as I am, when I have you. I can do hard things when you're the strength behind my obedience. Thank you. You are so gracious and merciful. You love me, bless me, and guide me. I am in awe of how you work and why you decide to work in me and through me. I praise your name, O Most High. In Jesus' powerful name, Amen. "But he said to me, ' My grace  is sufficient for you, for my power  is made perfect in weakness.'  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about...

A day like Memorial Day stirs emotions for military families. (Read my personal blog about Memorial Day  here .) Perhaps it even affects regular families who sit with an empty chair at every dinner table. Grief is stirred both by remembering and by trying to forget. (Read about remembering grief here .) What should you do when you're overwhelmed with loss or sadness? You should lament. Just complain, vent, rage, mourn, grieve, cry, blubber. To God. Ask rhetorical questions. Make accusations. Just do it with a dependance and faith on God's love for you. Do it with the awareness that you are not and cannot see the whole picture of your life. Understand that grief and loss always blur reality. With or without immediate answers, when you lament, you must choose to trust in the unseen. That is faith, after all. For more about the lament, read my recent full Guideposts blog on lamentation here . A brief excerpt is below: Here are a few things you can include in ...

The death of a good person generally doesn't make sense. It's never the right time. Someone is always too young. No answer to your "why?" is ever sufficient, if it gets answered at all. Grief is always unbearably hard. Rachel Held Evan's death doesn't make sense. It wasn't a good time. She was too young. She was accomplishing so much. When something tragic happens, all I know to do is pray (which is sometimes simply a rhetorical "why????" and that's okay.) If you're grieving, give prayer a try. Dear Lord, Comfort Rachel Held Evans' family, friends, and readers at her sudden death. Comfort those of us who grieve whenever we feel another's loss fresh with pain. You can't make us understand, so just help us to trust you with our loss and our grief. Use this and every sorrow to bind us closer to you and find solace and faith in trusting your love for us and your continued plan to prosper us as your children...

What kind of prayer do you pray most often? Requests, probably. Me, too. Requests    are my website's most-clicked on kind of prayer. It seems we're all looking for the right way to ask God to help us. Guess what the second-most popular prayer is? Lamentation. The lament. I love that. I have an audience of grievers and groaners. Praise God. Learning to lament has been one of the most impactful aspects of my spiritual growth. Instead of crying in sorrow, lamenting teaches you to cry out to God (that's the literal meaning of lament). Lamentation is faith in action, maybe even more than when I make a request. When I lament, I dump my heavy burdens, my grief, and my hopelessness at God's feet and say something like, "I don't know what you're doing in my life right now, but help me trust you. I choose to believe you will work all things together for my good. But oh, God, this hurts so much. Cover me with your Spirit!" When I make a req...

Lord, Help me. I'm going through a crappy time, and I don't want to hear anyone saying trite little comments to me about how thankful I should be or how things will get better. I know that. I just don't feel that. I've decided I'm having a pity-party. This feels right, at the moment. But of course, then I feel worse. It's all selfishness. I know that. God, I don't know how you're going to change my heart. This is a big ask, and a bigger commitment to repent on my part. I need you. I need my faith in you to grow. I really do need someone to knock some sense into me. Except they really should do it from a distance because I'm likely to take a swing back. Hmm. Maybe I just need to find a punching bag. Punch me. I'll go open the Bible. I'm sure something there will reach out and knock me upside the head. So in advance of that happening, thank you. I do love you. Please bear with me a little longer. Amen. 1 Tim...

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 ...