A Prayer Shaped From Psalm 121 and Other Bible Readings From Today

         O Lord God Almighty, creator of heaven and earth and all that is within, blessed be your holy name, now and forever. The heavens declare your praise with its vastness and mystery. The whole earth reflects your majesty and splendor with power, with life, with beauty, and grandeur. All of creation calls me to worship you and you alone, who made it all and keeps it all even though the curse of sin upon it. Still you keep your creation in order and use it to point people to you carrying out your purpose for it from the beginning.

         And you created me, O Lord, and I worship you, the one who began my life. And you have kept me, and watched over me, guarded me, and guided me even though I rebelled, like Adam and Eve, and was bent against you. Still you kept me and did not cast me away. Thank you, God, my Father.

         You kept me alive and sent the Holy Spirit who revealed the emptiness of being lost and showed me Christ Jesus on the cross dying for me, in my place. You gave me faith as a gift to believe in Christ, and that his life, raised up on the third day, was mine. Thank you, God. And you have kept me, guarded me, and guided me in Christ and always will. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

Through times of plenty and through times of poverty, you have always been with me and have kept me from being lost. Even when I wandered so far away from you, you were there with me, refusing to give me over to my rebellion, selfishness, lust, and greed.

         Forgive me, Lord, for those times, when I was not myself but was denying my true identity in you. Teach me, Lord, to recognize those temptations and to trust and follow you away from them. Lead me not into it; lead me out of it. I pray. Give me confidence in who you are in me; your strength, your power, your joy, your purpose for keeping me. Hallelujah.

         Today, Lord, I pray against the things in our world that are destroying life; I pray against abortion, sex-trafficking, and terrorism, and all of the horror it breeds. Bring down these strongholds of death by the spread of the word of Life, the gospel, and may it go forth throughout the whole earth.

         I also pray for….in the name of Jesus, I pray. AMEN.

A Prayer Formed From Psalm 120 and the Songs of the Ascent

         Lord Jesus, you are the Good Shepherd leading us, your sheep, through this world to the Father’s house. Thank you, God, that you call us away from the world and its lies, from its idolatry, and violence. Thank you, Lord, for your voice of truth, calling to us and answering us when we cry for help. We are tempted to settle for the rotting slop that the world, the flesh, and the devil call delight. We are tempted to believe the lie that the world is getting better; to eat, drink, and be merry in it rather than sacrifice according to your word with a clear “no” to the offers of the world along with a faithful “yes” to the direction you lead us today.

         Thank you, Holy Spirit, for Psalm 120 and the next fifteen days with the Songs of the Ascent, reminding us that this world is not our home, that you are leading us upward and through it to higher ground, that we are travelers, not settlers, and that you are teaching us and preparing us for eternity now.

         Father, thank you for sending your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, and for the eternal salvation he has given with his life on the cross and from the empty grave. Thank you, Holy Spirit, for defining our lives under the liberating parameters of your word. Thank you, God, for your protection and provision through the wilderness of this world and the endurance you provide with the Cloud by day and the Fire by night, with daily Manna, and Water from the rock.

         Lord Jesus, today we pray for our church family, for your shepherd who serves under you among us, for your elders and deacons you have given to your body. Give them wisdom, understanding, insight in your word, compassion and patience with us, and endurance. Protect them from the schemes of the devil.

And the members of your body, our church family, we pray for spiritual health and growth according to your word. We ask for growing love and knowledge of you along with increasing opportunities to share your love with our town and world; all for your glory and the advancement of your Kingdom.

And I also pray for….in the name above every name, in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord, we pray. AMEN.

                 

A Prayer Shaped From Psalm 119 and Other Bible Readings From Today

         O Lord, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The unfolding of your words gives light, giving wisdom to the simple. Your instructions are true. Your promises are sure. Your commandments are eternal. Your word declares who you are. Thank you, God, for your word.

Lord Jesus, teach me to pray from your word. Holy Spirit, form and shape my prayer according to your word. Father, speak into my heart, my mind, my will, your will and may it be done in me, with me, through me, as me before you and the watching world around me, for your glory. Please, I pray.

I am surrounded by enemies; the world, the flesh, and the devil, whose one desire is to kill, to steal, and to destroy what you give to me. They set traps. They deceive with bait. They dig pits for me to fall. May they fall by their own schemes and caught in their own traps. As for me, I will stay focused upon your word by meditating on your promises. My hope is in you, Lord. Guide me through temptations, traps, and the distractions of the enemy today, I pray.

You are faithful, Lord. You promise and act according to your word. I promise to keep your words, but fail every time on my own. Without you, Lord Jesus, I can do nothing. Be my faithfulness, Lord Jesus, for you are faithful. My promise is my request. Do in me, with me, and through me what pleases you, according to your word. With a deeper intimacy, I will have a greater obedience; all from you and all for you, my Lord and my God.

I pray for the persecuted church around the world today. Be their strength today as you reveal your presence to them. Give them wisdom and joy among their persecutors and boldness in their witness of you. Comfort them in the loss of loved ones. Overwhelm them with your forgiveness for their persecutors. Grant those who torture and kill them with the gift of repentance and bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ. Let them know they are not alone and that we are praying for them today.

I also pray for….in the name of my Savior, my King, my Teacher, my Strength, my Refuge, my Light, and my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

A Prayer Shaped From Psalm 119 and Other Bible Readings From Today

         O Lord, your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. The unfolding of your words gives light, giving wisdom to the simple. Your instructions are true. Your promises are sure. Your commandments are eternal. Your word declares who you are. Thank you, God, for your word.

Lord Jesus, teach me to pray from your word. Holy Spirit, form and shape my prayer according to your word. Father, speak into my heart, my mind, my will, your will and may it be done in me, with me, through me, as me before you and the watching world around me, for your glory. Please, I pray.

I am surrounded by enemies; the world, the flesh, and the devil, whose one desire is to kill, to steal, and to destroy what you give to me. They set traps. They deceive with bait. They dig pits for me to fall. May they fall by their own schemes and caught in their own traps. As for me, I will stay focused upon your word by meditating on your promises. My hope is in you, Lord. Guide me through temptations, traps, and the distractions of the enemy today, I pray.

You are faithful, Lord. You promise and act according to your word. I promise to keep your words, but fail every time on my own. Without you, Lord Jesus, I can do nothing. Be my faithfulness, Lord Jesus, for you are faithful. My promise is my request. Do in me, with me, and through me what pleases you, according to your word. With a deeper intimacy, I will have a greater obedience; all from you and all for you, my Lord and my God.

I pray for the persecuted church around the world today. Be their strength today as you reveal your presence to them. Give them wisdom and joy among their persecutors and boldness in their witness of you. Comfort them in the loss of loved ones. Overwhelm them with your forgiveness for their persecutors. Grant those who torture and kill them with the gift of repentance and bring them to a saving knowledge of Christ. Let them know they are not alone and that we are praying for them today.

I also pray for….in the name of my Savior, my King, my Teacher, my Strength, my Refuge, my Light, and my Redeemer, Jesus Christ. AMEN.

A Prayer For Israel From Psalm 118 and Other Bible Reading From Today

         We give thanks to you, O Lord, our God and Savior, for you are good and your steadfast love endures forever. We praise you, Father, for the mystery of your will has been revealed to your servants, that the Way of salvation has been opened up to whosoever will believe. And we believe in Jesus Christ, your Son, born of a virgin of Israel, according to your word. Thank you, God, for grafting us into the Vine. Today we pray for Israel from whom Messiah came. Save Israel, we pray, according to your word.

         Your chosen people, Israel are surrounded on every side by those who would seek to destroy them, simply because they are your chosen people. In the name of Jesus, cut off their communications and cause their plans to destroy Israel to fall apart. Israel is surrounded by those who desire to take your land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In the name of Jesus, come to the aid of Israel, help her. The enemies of Israel want to push her into the sea. They come against her like a fire among thorns. In the name of Jesus, shield your people Israel. May they see and know you, Lord Jesus, as their Shield, their Protector, their Salvation, their long-awaited Messiah.

         Hasten the day of their rejoicing, the day that you have made for their scales to fall off and the partial hardening to be fulfilled. Come again to their shouts of praise, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” as some shouted when you came into Jerusalem of the donkey’s colt. Hear their cries of “Hosanna, save us we pray.” Open their eyes to see the Stone the builders rejected has become the Cornerstone, the Rock not made with hands, from Daniel’s prophecy. Show them from all the prophets that you, Lord Jesus, are the Resurrection and the Life. Give them burning hearts from your word with the desire to know you, to love you, to serve you, they way you have us. Thank you, Lord.

         And I also pray today for…your will be done in their lives as it is in heaven, we pray in the name of Jesus Christ. You are good, and your steadfast love endures forever. AMEN.