Disaster strikes. An emergency looms. A crisis threatens.
Sometimes there is no time to stop and pray. Events are moving too fast, and we can barely form a cohesive thought, let alone pause to bow our heads or fold our hands.
What do we do at such times? How can we pray? In moments like those, it pays to have a few go-to prayers readily available, in our memories and vocabularies. Here are a handful of “911 prayers” that may help when panic threatens to set in and words seem to escape us:
1) Help (Psalm 12:1)
Anne Lamott, in her short book, Help, Thanks, Wow, boils down prayer to three essentials, one of which is “Help.” It is the most basic of prayers. We may get fancier or wordier, but God’s ears seem to be tuned in to “Help,” perhaps as much as or more than any other prayer.
2) Lord, have mercy (Matthew 20:31)
So many cries and groans come to our minds and hearts in the course of a day or week, and many of them are urgent. “Lord, have mercy” is among my most frequent and heartfelt prayers at such times. I don’t have to know the details of an emergency, nor do I have to get more specific. God knows, so I simply cry out, like the blind men described in Matthew’s Gospel, “Lord, have mercy,” and trust Him to answer according to His sovereign insight, wisdom and power.
3) Our help is in the name of the Lord (Psalm 124:8)
Sometimes all we can do is to remind ourselves that “when other helpers fail and comforts flee,” God abides with us still—and He, after all, is the source of any help we may receive. At such times the biblical prayer, “Our help is in the name of the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth,” makes a great 911 prayer.
4) We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you (2 Chronicles 20:12)
When a foreign army threatened Israel’s capital, the king prayed to God, “We do not know what to do but our eyes are on you.” It is a confession, affirmation and petition rolled into one.
It helps to keep these four biblical prayers in mind when emergencies arise, but they can be a valuable resource, applicable to virtually any situation—especially when the need is deepest.
“Fear not. Just believe.” You don’t have to take it from me. Take it from Jesus. When word came back that Jairus’s daughter, whom He had promised to heal, had died, people were understandably upset. “Do not be afraid any longer,” He said. “Only believe.” (Matthew 5:36)
Evidently “Fear not” or “Do not be afraid” is one of the most frequent refrains in the Bible. Jesus says it, God says it, the angels proclaim it. Why? Because people back then, like people today (me, for instance!) get caught up in waves of fear.
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We desperately need that heavenly assurance. How do we get it? See what the Good Book says:
1) When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. (Psalm 56:3). The Psalmist has it right. The Psalmist knows what it is to be afraid and what to do about it. Sometimes I’ll just repeat that key word here. Trust, trust, trust. Trust God, not all those naysayers.
Avoid the news for a day or two. What’s the best way to get someone to log on and read about the latest developments? Scare them. That seems to work pretty well for digital traffic numbers. Guess what? The Good News is not like that at all. Put your trust in that.
2) Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6-7). Let God know about those fears. Don’t edit them out of your prayers. And then add that extra element that Paul suggests here: thanksgiving.
Try writing down those things you’re grateful for. Don’t stop. Keep writing. Once when a fit of depression had gotten the worst of me, I took out a pen and a piece of paper and wrote a list of things I was grateful for. By the time I got to 20 or 30, I was in a better frame of mind.
It’s called praying with a pencil. Or pen. Even better than typing on your computer.
3) There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. (1 John 4:18). What is the opposite of fear? Love. It doesn’t help me much to tell myself, “Stop worrying, Rick. Fear not.” I need to add this extra element, something to replace the fretting, fearful mind.
That’s exactly what Jesus seems to urge when He tells the people, “Only believe.” He’s giving us a key to banish the fears. Belief. Faith. Love. Contemplating God’s love. Let it embrace you.
Seem too abstract? Look at the good people God has put in your life to show you love. To give you love. To model love. Hold that love in your heart. It can help you cast out fear.
4) Be strong and courageous. Do not fear…for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you. (Deuteronomy 31:6). There is something bigger than your fears. God isn’t far away in the clouds. The Lord your God is right here by your side.
And everyone who reads these Bible verses, we are by each others’ side. Never alone.
We pray for healing. For ourselves. For those we love. For people we barely know, and even for strangers whose needs come to our attention.
Sometimes we cry out in desperation. At other times we simply present the need for healing before God and wait in hope and expectation. In every case, though, the prayer itself is a confession, an admission of need and a statement of faith—and God hears every one.
Still, it can be helpful to know that some prayers for healing not only won the attention of the Great Physician but also resulted in miraculous answers. Here are three such prayers that can shape how we pray:
1) “Just say the word.”
A Roman centurion once sent messengers to Jesus on behalf of a servant who had fallen ill. Jesus responded by heading for the centurion’s home. As Jesus approached, the man sent more messengers, who conveyed his message: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it” (Luke 7:6-8 NIV).
Jesus commended the man for his faith in believing that He could heal without a bedside visit or physical touch but with just a word, from a distance. The servant was healed.
It’s a frequent prayer of mine: “Just say the word.” Sometimes I’ll specify, “Just say the word, and I will be healed” or “Just say the word, and [name] will be healed.”
2) “Crumbs from your table”
On another occasion, a non-Jewish woman begged Jesus to heal her daughter, who was “suffering terribly” from demon-possession (Matthew 15:22 NIV). He didn’t respond immediately to her cries, so she came and knelt before Him, saying, “Lord, help me.” He rebuffed her, though we might infer a gentle tone as He said, “It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
She countered, “Even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master’s table,” at which he said, “Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted” (Matthew 15:26-28 NIV). The woman may have hoped for Jesus to go with her, to visit her home and touch her daughter, but instead she made the return trip alone and found that her daughter was healed.
The incident was an early indication that the healing and salvation Jesus brought extended beyond “the lost sheep of Israel” (Matthew 15:24 NIV), and it reminds me that His power is available even to me and mine. So, I sometimes pray for healing, asking Him for “crumbs from your table,” as a way of reminding myself that He can use even my humble prayer and my little faith to work a miracle.
3) “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief.”
Once, upon coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration where Jesus had conferred with Moses and Elijah, with Peter, James and John as witnesses, He was confronted with a desperate father. The man explained to Jesus, “I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not” (Mark 9:17-18 NIV).
Jesus engaged the man in conversation and said, “Everything is possible for one who believes,” to which the man answered, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24 NIV). Moments later, the boy was healed, and even Jesus’ closest followers were amazed.
As often as I’ve seen God work, even miraculously at times, to heal me and those I love, I still need that prayer: “I believe; help my unbelief.” It’s an honest prayer, reminding me that I believe, but still need a lot of help to overcome whatever doubts may remain or return.
These three prayers aren’t the only prayers for healing we find in scripture, but they’ve sure made a difference for me. I hope they help you to pray for yourself, for those you love and even those you barely—or don’t—know.
You may consider the words morbid. They may sound strange to your ears. That’s all right. You’re not supposed to like them. But you are supposed to take them to heart.
Not all followers of Jesus observe Ash Wednesday, and not all observe it in the same way.
But for centuries now, the imposition of ashes on that first day of Lent has been accompanied by the reminder, based on Genesis 3:19, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” (An alternative phrase–“Repent and believe in the Gospel”–is sometimes used).
To some, of course, it can be an invitation to depression. But theologically speaking, it is an invitation to prayerful awareness. That our lives are fragile and fleeting. That we are not guaranteed tomorrow. That those around us–those we love, those we like and those we don’t–are also quite temporary. And it is an invitation to forgive quickly and to live gratefully, humbly and mindfully.
By now, of course, if you received the ashes, they’ve worn or washed off. But you can nonetheless continue wearing them throughout Lent by praying, at every opportunity, a prayer of mortality.
1) You might preface each prayer with the imposition formula: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” and follow it with “Nevertheless ‘I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.’” (Galatians 2:20, ESV)
2) Or you may say, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” and follow it with “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21, ESV)
3) Or, “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return,” followed by “Yet ‘we know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.’”(2 Corinthians 5:6-9, ESV)
Or you may decide on another “prayer of mortality” to pray through the season of Lent. In any case, let me suggest four occasions to do so:
1) Anytime you pass or view a cemetery.
2) When you see or hear the popular acronym, “YOLO” (You Only Live Once).
3) As a funeral procession passes.
4) When you see a newspaper obituary or hear news of someone’s passing.
It may be no stretch for you to pray a prayer of mortality. Or it may be a totally new experience. It may even seem more than a little gloomy to you. But if it helps you to forgive someone or to be kind to someone or to live more gratefully yourself, it can be a wonderful way to pray…and to observe Lent.
How do you react to this suggestion? Does it seem strange to you? Or are you willing to try it? Or do you plan a different prayer practice this Lenten season? Please take a moment to share in the comment section below.
In recent years, many big amusement theme parks have introduced a perk for some visitors. They call it “Express Pass” or “FastPass,” and those customers who are willing to pay the extra fee bypass the long lines for the most popular rides. For many, it’s worth it to avoid the wait and squeeze more thrills and excitement into their visit.
It’s easy to see the benefit of a “no wait” option. But did you know that some prayers offer immediate results—with no additional cost? I can think of three prayers that God answers instantly.
1) Forgive me.
Author F. B. Meyer wrote, “God does sometimes keep us waiting for an answer to other prayers, but He never keeps us waiting one single second for an answer to our prayer for forgiveness.” It may take time for us to believe and own our forgiveness, but the promise of God is that “he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NIV).
2) Take my life.
Another prayer that God delights in answering immediately is the prayer of surrender and consecration. When we sincerely pray, like the hymnwriter, “Take my life and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee,” we receive a speedy answer from the One who promised, “whoever comes to me I will never drive away” (John 6:37 NIV). Like the prayer for forgiveness, it may take us time to believe that the Lord has done in us what He promised to us, but we can trust that the answer comes without delay.
3) Be glorified.
On the first Palm Sunday, after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus prayed aloud, “‘Father, glorify your name!’ Then a voice came from heaven, ‘I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.’ The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him” (John 12:28-29 NIV). The answer took apparently no time at all. Similarly, when we prayerfully invite God’s glory, He will immediately set His answer in motion.
Perhaps you’ve prayed these prayers. If so, you’ve experienced the power of “no-wait praying.” If not, why wait? Try them today.
Ever sit there, ready to pray and wonder what can help you get that connection to God? In the morning, munching my oatmeal, I read three Psalms and a chapter from the Gospels—better to start the day with the Good News rather than all that dreary and/or scary stuff in the newspaper.
Certain words pop up over and over again in Scripture. They might mean one thing in everyday speech but in a Biblical context—and prayer context—they offer so much power. Try them out as you pray. A single word that you can hold on to or pray all day long.
1) Mercy
You don’t hear this word much. Maybe my mom would say it, exclaiming, “Mercy me!” But see what an important word and concept it was to Jesus. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy” He says in the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:7).
Remember the parable of the publican and the Pharisee praying on their way to the temple (Luke 18:9-14). The Pharisee bragging, “God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers or even this tax collector.”
Whereas the tax collector is standing far off, beating his breast. He can barely look up to heaven. “God be merciful to me, a sinner,” he prays. He is the one Jesus calls out. The simplest prayer in the world: “Lord, have mercy.” It puts you in the right relationship with God.
2) Delight
We don’t normally think of delight connected to faith. But there it is, again and again, especially in the Psalms. “Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4) or “But their delight is in the law of the Lord, and on His law they meditate day and night” (Psalm 1:2).
God wants us to delight in His presence. We can delight in the creation as it brings us closer to the Creator. We delight in the godly people we meet and see. Make your prayers with delight.
3) Peace
The word “peace” I generally think of as it relates to the resolution of some global conflict or the good work people do in the Peace Corps. But as Jesus uses the word, it is a message directed straight to the world and our fears.
When the disciples are in their boat and a great storm comes up, waves crashing against the sides, Jesus is asleep in their midst. When they wake Him up, He says to the wind and sea: “Peace! Be still!” (Mark 2:39).
Or when the woman suffering from a terrible hemorrhage just touches His robe and is healed instantly, Jesus feels the power that had gone out of Him. He turns to find her, and she comes to Him in fear and trembling. “Daughter, your faith has made you well,” He says. “Go in peace.”
Three words to help give you peace in these times.
Not a day goes by that I don’t pray for others. Don’t think I’m so holy for doing it. Truth to tell, I don’t do it just for them, I also do it for myself. It’s a way of restoring a right relationship with God and the world, one day at a time. Here are three Bible verses that help me do that:
1) Therefore confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. (James 5:16) To share in someone else’s pain is often a chance to acknowledge your own. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in your own misery. If you’re like me you have an inner voice talking to you, offering both self-congratulations and mental flogging. “Why did I do that? Why do I feel this way? Why can’t I be nicer?”
Then I’ll think of someone else who’s going through troubles. Loss, sorrow, sickness, despair. Pray for them. Feel compassion for them. I find that in doing so I can access God’s love for me, feeling God’s compassion for me. “Pray for one another,” as James says, “so that you may be healed.”
2) First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for everyone. (1Timothy 2:1) I find that sending a text or an email, even making a phone call, are perfect adjuncts to intercessory prayer. It’s what a friend used to tell me was “putting shoe leather on prayer.” An action to reinforce a prayer.
I remember what my father used to say when he heard of some trial a friend was facing: “I’ll hold a good thought for you.” Some people will picture the need and use that imagery to make a prayer. For me, feeling the expanse of compassion and understanding where there might have been none is very much the prayer. Holding that good thought.
3) And the Lord restored the fortunes of Job when he had prayed for his friends… (Job 42:10) God willing, none of us should have to suffer the way Job did. In quick and monstrous succession, he lost everything: his children, his wealth, his health. All he had left was his life. He might have cried out in anguish, but he did not reject God. Did not curse God.
And after his trials were over, all that he lost was restored, more than restored (although I’ve never understood how the lost children could simply be replaced). But first he had topray for his friends—friends who had blamed the blameless Job for all his misfortunes.
Like I said, to pray for others is to claim and restore a right relationship with the world and God. In the process, may we never have to suffer as Job did.
Many of us—if not most of us—can find the prospect of daily prayer and meditation daunting. There are so many challenges, not the least of which is our own fears of failure. Fret not. Humility about the process can be your greatest friend. Your own insecurity is fertile ground. All it takes is a seed, that mustard seed. Here are a few ways you can plant those seeds in a 30-day journey of self-nurture and delight.
Day 1: Listen. As a kid I used to wonder how those people in the Bible were able to listen to God. How did they do that? Then I’d hear my mom say, “You have to stop talking all the time and listen to me.” Be quiet. Get silent. Schedule a time when you will get silent with God. Even if it’s just a few minutes. Then throughout the day, notice how the silence rings true.
Day 2: Find a place. God can find you anywhere. But it’s easier to pray if you go back to the same place again and again, making it your holy place, even it’s just an old easy chair or a corner of your bedroom. It’s your sacred space. Choose it. Bless it with a prayer or two. Then sit there—or lie there—and make it your own. All the external stimuli will be your call to worship.
Day 3:Try a word, one word. It might be something from Scripture. God, love, mercy, hope, Jesus, sin, forgiveness. Use it to focus your mind. There’s a lot going on in your head. So much noise. Silence has revealed that to you. The word you choose will be a way to bring you back to the heavenly from your worldly concerns and fears. Find the power in a word.
Day 4:Be in comfortable silence. Loved ones can communicate without saying a word. Just by being in each other’s presence. The same for you. God is present, and you’re making yourself present for God. There might be a thousand thoughts going through your head, but you don’t have to say a thing. The shared silence is a mutual blessing. Think of how much it must mean to God.
Day 5: Notice the distractions. You’ve been doing this for five days now, and it bothers you how easily distracted you are. Not just the noise outside your window but the stuff that flies through your brain. Hear it, see it, notice it. Then let it go. In prayer. If you resist the distraction, it will only get bigger. If you pay attention to it, you can do something about it. Give it over to God.
Day 6: Turn to a Psalm. The Psalms are a rich resource. Too often I find myself simply reading them rather than praying them. Your prayer time is a chance. Take just one line of a psalm and meditate on that. Or make it shorter each time you say it. “Be still and know that I am God.” “Be still and know that I am…” “Be still and know…” Till you get to “Be…” With God.
Day 7: Rejoice in your humility. Jesus tells the story of the publican and the Pharisee, the latter full of self-congratulatory prayers, the publican feeling inadequate, asking for God’s mercy as he approaches the temple. Who does Jesus single out? The latter. “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” Jesus said. The poor in spirit. That’s a place where you are much blessed. Go with it.
Day 8: Breathe a prayer. God gave us humans the breath of life. Using your breath in a prayer is a way to re-connect with that. Breathe in the love of God. Breathe out those negative emotions: fear, anger, frustration, worry. Hold on to the love of God with each breath. Then let it go as you let go of those things that get in the way of that love. You can breathe such little prayers all day.
Day 9: Give to others. Let your meditations open you up to the opportunities. A need will pop into your head, a concern, a way to help. A phone call you can make, an email to send, an encouraging word to pass along, a check to write. We express our faith both vertically and horizontally, looking to the heavens and giving to our neighbors. Both are forms of prayer.
Day 10: Let go of the self-criticism. My head can be full of words of self-congratulation and just as full of niggling critiques. Sometimes I wonder if the former is an attempt to make up for the latter. Prayer is an opportunity to reset. If God can forgive me for my failures, why can’t I? We are to love our neighbors as ourselves. As ourselves. “Forgive me, God,” I pray.
Day 11: Praise God. Praise is rich, fulfilling and good for the soul. It’s a chance to give credit and thanks to God for all the good things that have come your way. Come up with five things that you are especially grateful for. Write them down. Hold them in your head. Then praise God. As we used to say at church camp: “Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for the grub, yeah God!’
Day 12: Don’t look at the clock. You might start worrying about how much time this is taking. That yearning to open your eyes and check the clock. To look at your phone. Or your watch. Two options: set a timer to keep track of the time so you don’t have to. And set your phone on “do not disturb” for that time. You’re going into a place beyond time and space. And your phone.
Day 13: Pray through anger. It’s perfectly natural to have moments of anger when you pray. Don’t run away from them. You might replay some perceived injustice—from yesterday or long ago. It might still infuriate you. Don’t bury it. Notice it. Express your anger, even if it might be addressed to God. God can take it. Then experience His infinite forgiveness and love.
Day 14: Keep at it. We often call it the practice of prayer. Practice, the operative word. Sometimes you’ll wonder if you’re getting anywhere, growing at all… It seems like so much work. Why bother? Remind yourself: trying to do it is doing it. In prayer, the trying is the doing. You cannot fail. Practice makes perfect because the practice is perfect.
Day 15: Let your light shine. “You are the light of the world,” Jesus said. Let it shine. No light shines without being hooked up to electricity. Guess what? That’s what you’re doing. Every day. Plugging yourself into the power source. Picture that source. God’s light is there, waiting to illuminate you as you linger in prayer. Plugged in.
Day 16:Pray without ceasing. The Apostle Paul’s admonition to “pray without ceasing” can feel intimidating. How to do that? How to pray in the middle of a busy day? Getting into the habit is what sets you there. The words you use, the powerful silence you have given yourself, can be called upon in little bits and bursts throughout a day. God’s love is without ceasing.
Day 17:Pray for others. “Hold a good thought” is how my father put it. Holding a good thought is enough. More than enough. Your compassion for whatever someone might be going through—a scary surgery, marital troubles, financial losses—is part of that prayer. Your compassion will stay with you long after your prayer time is over. Those good thoughts will be passed along.
Day 18: Change the world. Did you not realize that’s what you’re doing? We change the world by changing ourselves, by growing. Each day of prayer is a step towards that. Picture all the other people who are doing the same thing as you are. Countless souls. We might not see each other or hear each other but God hears all of us. Together.
Day 19: Go for a walk. Go for a prayer walk. Get in touch with the Creator by taking a meditative walk in the Creation. Stare at the sky, the clouds, the trees, the grass. Breathe the air. Don’t listen to a podcast. Don’t make this a time to call a friend. Just walk. And feel the wonder of the Creation. Let yourself be transformed and inspired by that.
Day 20: Acknowledge any pains. You are sitting quietly in a meditative moment—and all at once you can feel that ping in your back, something you’ve been ignoring for a while. For too long. Notice it now. Ask God to be part of your healing. Maybe it’s something you need to see a doctor for. Or a physical therapist. They are collaborators in your healing. With God.
Day 21: Go without words. Can’t even find the words to pray? Not even sure what to put before God? As Paul reminds us, “The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Romans 8:26). Being wordless is a powerful place to be when you let the Holy Spirit do the work. That’s what prayer is. Letting God take charge.
Day 22: Notice the noise. Every morning when I sit on the sofa, trying to get quiet, I can hear all sorts of noises. Birds chirping, cars going past, a dog barking, a distant siren. We talked about how distractions can get only bigger if you ignore them. Same with those noises. You hear the birds? Think of what Jesus said about them. Hear that siren? Pray for any souls in distress.
Day 23:Hear the world’s suffering. It can be overwhelming at times. But I’m reminded of how the women who stayed to the end, watching the Crucifixion (how awful that must have been), were the first to see the empty tomb, that sign of the Resurrection. When sadness and mourning interrupts your prayers, know that we worship One who suffered and suffers with us.
Day 24: Repeat your prayers. A concern, a need, a difficulty, a challenge can linger and force us to come back to God over and over again with the same desires, the same request. That’s not bad. Persistence is everything. Be like the importunate widow in Jesus’s parable (Luke 18:1-8). Stick with it. The asking is what brings us to this godly place. Again and again.
Day 25: Lose your life for God. “For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it,” Jesus said (Mark 8:35). Losing track of your agenda, your long list of things to do? Good. The list will be there when you’re finished with this time. You’re in the prayerful daily practice of losing yourself.
Day 26: Think about death. You didn’t really want to, but death popped into your head. Your own death. The death of a loved one. The mortality we all face. Take this as an opportunity to make each day count, each day matter. “Make each day your masterpiece,” said legendary basketball coach John Wooden. Facing your mortality is a gift to be found in prayer.
Day 27:Love the Lord your God. The first and greatest commandment, to love the Lord our God “with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind…” Luke 10:27). It’s so simple and so great. How do you show someone your love? You spend time with them. You listen to them. You do what they say. You enjoy their presence. Like this.
Day 28:Don’t give up. The pleasures of doing this are never over. As are the challenges. When and if you stumble into what is called the dark night of the soul, know that it’s an opportunity, not a dead end. Because God will reveal what’s beyond that dark night, the sunrise that’s happening already. As you let go of what is finite, you uncover what is eternal. In prayer.
Day 29: Tap a prayer. In your silence, with your eyes closed, you might try this. Using the fingers of one hand, tapping at your heart, tapping at your free hand, tapping at a knee, tapping your cheek. External expressions of an inner prayer. To feel God’s love (the heart), to find your strength (the hand), the let go (the knee), to forgive (turning that other cheek). Quiet expressions.
Day 30: Be bold. As the old expression goes, “Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid.” Be bold in love, be bold in service, be bold in creativity, be bold in prayer. The impossible is only possible with God. That’s what you’re finding out. We are all co-laborers with God. And God can do the most for us when we step out in faith. Make that your prayer.
Whether you’re a morning person, a night owl or something in between, the best way to start your day is with prayer, before noise, traffic and work do their worst to crowd out conversation with God.
But it often seems next to impossible to focus our hearts and minds on prayer when we’re still groggy and mostly inarticulate. That’s okay, though, because the Bible answers our need with some of the finest “morning prayers” we will ever pray. We just have to keep them handy so that we can call upon them we need them. So here is a listing of my 12 favorite morning prayers from the Bible:
1) Psalm 5:2-3, NIV
Hear my cry for help,
my King and my God,
for to you I pray.
In the morning, Lord, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.
2) Psalm 19:14, ESV
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
3) Psalm 25:5, NLT
Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.
4) Psalm 65:8, NIV
The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns, where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.
5) Psalm 84:10-11, NIV
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 bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.
6) Psalm 90:14, NIV
Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
7) Psalm 118:24, CEV
This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today.
8) Psalm 130:5-6, NIV
I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
and in his word I put my hope.
I wait for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
9) Psalm 143:8, NIV
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love,
for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
for to you I entrust my life.
10) Isaiah 33:2, NIV
Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.
11) Lamentations 3:22-23, NASB
The Lord’s loving kindnesses indeed never cease,
For His compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
12) 2 Timothy 1:12, KJV
For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
You may want to print these out and pray one each morning. Or pray through them all on your drive to work. Or pick three of your favorites to commit to memory. But whether you’re a morning person or not, you’ll never be sorry for turning your heart and mind toward God in the morning.
Regular prayer retreats have refreshed my prayer life for decades (for example, see my post on 10 good reasons to take a prayer retreat.) But the first few times on retreat, I was flying by the seat of my pants, so to speak, when it came to what to pack. I took the wrong stuff on my first prayer retreat and took too much on my second. Over time, though I learned that—whether I had carved out a few hours or a few days—some things were always good to have with me. Here’s a short list of what I consider necessities:
1. A Bible
It seems obvious, I know, but some people assume that because they’re going on a retreat with a church or at a monastery, Bibles will be plentiful. They probably will be, but it may not be a translation you’re familiar with, and you may not be able to carry it around with you. So take your favorite Bible.
2. A journal
You may never write in a journal. But you may want to take a journal or notebook (and a good pen) with you anyway. You will probably be surprised at the ideas, solutions, thoughts and questions that arise in your mind once it disengages from the noise of the world.
3. Music and headphones
Some people connect with God far better through music than through, say, silence or printed words. So take music with you—but include headphones, because some retreat centers ask you not to play music, even in your private room.
4. A water bottle
You may have 24/7 access to coffee and tea during your retreat, but a refillable water bottle will come in handy in any case.
5. Good walking shoes
Many retreat centers offer attractive paths and hiking trails. You may not be in the habit of taking a walk, but having the time—and footwear—to do so can be a boon to your prayers.
6. A good book
You know that book you’ve intended to read but never got around to it? Take it with you on your prayer retreat. I suggest a devotional or spiritual volume, such as A. W. Tozer’s The Pursuit of God or John Ortberg’s God Is Closer Than You Think.
7. Layered clothing
Whatever the weather forecast for your retreat is, it is likely to change. Even if you stay indoors for the duration of your retreat, you probably won’t have control of the thermostat. Packing layers helps to make sure that the weather or temperature is not a distraction.
8. A camera
You probably have a camera on your phone. If not, pack one. You may be surprised at the photo-ready sights that greet you on your retreat.
9. A pillow or blanket
Check the information your retreat center provides, but keep in mind that even if they provide pillows and blankets, you may be more comfortable if you bring your own.
10. An expectant heart and mind
The most important equipment for your retreat is an open, expectant, grateful mind and heart. Even if you forget everything else, those items will make your retreat truly life-changing.
I figured I’d go through and pick my favorite Bible passages in Handel’s “Messiah.” Problem is, it’s all from the Bible, either the King James Version or the psalms from the Book of Common Prayer.
At any rate, here are my selections. The real test: Can you read without humming along?
1. I know that my redeemer liveth… (Job 19:25)
The soprano sings this in the third movement and it breaks my heart every time because I’m reminded of the many funerals where it has been sung.
The middle section comes from the New Testament, “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the first fruits of them that slept” (I Cor. 15:20), but the core is Job.
2. Comfort ye, comfort ye my people… (Isaiah 40:1)
The tenor gets to make this statement right up front at the beginning of the piece, the promise of the coming of the Lord.
When he proclaims, “The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness…” the listener is naturally reminded of John the Baptist, who did indeed prepare the way of the Lord. But the text is Isaiah.
3. For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given…(Isaiah 9:6)
Every chorister loves to sing this. You just let your voice bounce along. It’s only when I come to the phrase “Wonderful, Counsellor…” that I wonder why there’s a comma and pause between “wonderful” and “counselor”?
Shouldn’t it be “wonderful counselor?” Maybe it was because Handel’s first language was German. But actually, the text is exactly what’s in the King James Version, with the comma (and “Counsellor” spelled with two l’s).
4. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion…(Zechariah 9:9)
Another soprano solo with giddy-making melismas. “What’s a melisma?” you wonder. It’s when you sing one syllable on several notes, and in this one the soprano goes up and down breathlessly on the second syllable of rejoice. It give both listener and singer the feeling of joy.
5. His yoke is easy and his burden is light. (Matthew 11:30)
Charles Jennens, who wrote the libretto, made a slight change in the Biblical text here, from “my yoke” and “my burden” to the third person, reminding the chorus that indeed Jesus’s yoke is easy. But as anyone of faith knows, and any good chorister knows, singing with such ease takes commitment and practice.
6. Surely he hath borne our griefs and carried our sorrows…(Isaiah 53:4–5)
I don’t know whether it was Jennens or Handel who decided the chorus should repeat the word “Surely” at the front, but it makes perfect sense.
Some thoughts are so big, like the concept of atonement, that you need to underline their importance before the idea is even introduced.
7. All we like sheep have gone astray…(Isaiah 53:6)
What chorister hasn’t sung this, thinking, “Yes, I do like sheep?” Of course, “like” is a simile here, not a verb, and Handel is an exquisite word painter because he takes the chorus astray on melisma after melisma, bringing them back to the painful thought “and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
8. Lift up your heads, O ye gates…(Psalm 24:7)
Messiah wouldn’t be such a popular choral work or have survived the test of time if it weren’t so much fun to sing. In its balance of texts from the Hebrew Scriptures and from the New Testament, it reaffirms faith in the singers and the listeners. I always want to lift up my head when I sing this.
9. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed…(Isaiah 40:5)
Not for nothing is Isaiah sometimes referred to as the “fifth Gospel.” With its prophecies of a savior and its theology of a suffering servant, it was often referenced in the New Testament as a reminder of the coming of the Lord.
This chorus comes early in “Messiah,” promising musically what the text promises. “For the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it!” as will the mouths of all the singers.
10. Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth…(Revelation 19:6)
This is it, the Hallelujah chorus. But look how the verses of Revelation were rearranged: “The kingdoms of this world…” (Revelation 11:15) comes in the middle and then you end with “King of kings and Lord of Lords” (Revelation 19:16).
Can’t argue with that. Can’t argue with any of it.
A job is a blessing—but it can also produce high stress levels, even if we mostly enjoy or appreciate our work. Whatever the case may be for you, here are 10 verses (some revised from the original text to make them more “prayable”) to pray your way through work-related stress:
1) You, Lord, are “my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold” (Psalm 18:2 NIV).
2) The Lord is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life—of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1 NIV).
3) May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands (Psalm 90:17 NIV).
4) [My] help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 124:8 NIV).
5) God, surely You are my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. You, the Lord himself, are my strength and my defense; You have become my salvation (from Isaiah 12:2 NIV).
6) Lord, give me grace to do as Your Word says: “Banish emotional stress from your mind and put away pain from your body” (Ecclesiastes 11:10 NET Bible).
7) Your steadfast love, Lord, never ceases; Your mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23 ESV).
9) Let the peace of God, which transcends all understanding guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus (from Philippians 4:7 NIV).
10) God, help me to remember that even if I should suffer for what is right, I am blessed. I do not fear their threats; I will not be frightened (from 1 Peter 3:14 NIV).
You may choose to repeat these Bible verses and prayers throughout your work week. You might select one a day to meditate on. You could also keep them handy for specific circumstances that bring on stress in your work life.
Whatever is most helpful to you, these—and other verses the above may suggest—can steer your attention to the God who is “always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1 NIV).
