Category: Prayers

Prayer for Revelation

For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints, 16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers; 17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, 19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might 20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. Ephesians 1:15-23 (NASB)

This is one of my favorite prayers. One of the greatest things we all need is to have our understanding expanded to believe what is true about God and us because of Christ. Below is a suggestion on how to personalize it. This is a prayer you can use every day.

Prayer

Father of Glory, please give me a spirit of wisdom and revelation so that I may know You better. Holy Spirit, open my spiritual eyes so that I will understand what is surely mine because of the calling You have given to me. Open my understanding so that I can comprehend more completely the glorious inheritance You have given to me as your son (or daughter) in Christ. Don’t let me take you or your blessings for granted or live in ignorance. Please open my eyes and heart so that I can understand and truly believe in your great power which is mine in Christ. Help me to understand and believe that Christ rules over all and that He shares His authority with me. Open my eyes so that I may see and believe that all things are under His feet, and, consequently, under mine; even though, it does not appear yet to be the case. Give me understanding of the glorious Headship of Christ over the church and over my life. Help me to willingly submit to His authority and rule every day. Amen.

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Prayer for Our Nation Regarding Abortion

According to Solomon, the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. (Proverbs 1:7) In another place, he informed us that the fear of the Lord is what enables us to turn away from evil. (Proverbs 16:6) The fear of the Lord is based on two key components: God’s glorious power and his commitment to justice. The fear of the Lord teaches us to turn from evil because we understand that God will judge us one day for what we think, say, and do.

Paul wrote the following, which should inspire the fear of God in each of us.

Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. Galatians 6:7 (ESV)

The Terror of Looming Judgment

The United States has put to death approximately sixty million innocent unborn children since the infamous Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court decision. Let that sink in. That is ten times the total number of people put to death by the Nazis during the Holocaust, which we decry as an example of the worst sort of evil. We know what judgment came to that nation. What might be stored up for us, a nation to whom so much has been committed and which has fallen so far from God’s intent for us?

Since God reckons that unborn babies are his creation endowed with a God-given spirit and are indeed people (Ecclesiastes 11:5, Isaiah 44:2, Jeremiah 1:5, Ephesians 1:4), no amount of legislation can ever make it okay to put them to death. To do so is a violation of God’s justice, which he hates and promises to punish.

Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side— leaders whose decrees permit injustice? 21  They gang up against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death.22  But the LORD is my fortress; my God is the mighty rock where I hide.23  God will turn the sins of evil people back on them. He will destroy them for their sins. The LORD our God will destroy them.Psalm 94:20-23 (NLT)

This should literally scare the hell out of all citizens of the United States. This is a corporate sin by the nation, and, even if we do not agree with it or contribute to it, we are likely to share in the judgment. Consider that not all Jews participated in the idolatry and wickedness of the majority and the leaders, but all suffered the consequences when Babylon finally destroyed Jerusalem. Afterward Jeremiah wrote these sadly insightful words.

Our ancestors sinned, but they have died— and we are suffering the punishment they deserved! Lamentations 5:7 (NLT)

Sin that is not confessed and forsaken begs God’s judgment (Proverbs 28:13), which may be stored up and fall upon a future generation. Jesus warned the residents of Jerusalem that this was precisely what would happen to them, and it did. (Luke 11:50-51) The blood of sixty million babies is crying out to God for vengeance, and he hears their voice.

And the LORD said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood is crying to me from the ground. Genesis 4:10 (ESV)

We are bound up corporately in life and either blessing or possibly judgment with the people around us. Our nation has enjoyed incomparable blessings over the last two hundred years, but we cannot think God will ignore our blasphemous swerve away from truth and justice in the last several decades. When a nation chooses to shake an angry fist at God and boldly transgress his laws, all those who dwell in that nation stand in jeopardy. That is why we need to pray with great fervency while there is still time. No one knows when God finally may say, “Enough!” and be done with us, but, since we are still here, we assume he is still giving us space to repent as a nation.

A Way Out

Repentance begins with a change of mind which culminates in a change of behavior. The mind is ruled by the heart. If the heart is hard, the mind is unable to recognize and embrace truth. That is why God promises to give his people a new heart, one that is capable of recognizing and receiving God’s truth and properly responding to it.

And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27  And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules. Ezekiel 36:26-27 (ESV)

Unless God gives us a new heart through the new birth, we will angrily resist God’s truth and keep ourselves on a trajectory to collide with God’s sure judgment. The only way to avoid this future appointment with the wrath of God is to repent and believe the Gospel.

The Good News is that God recognized our hopeless situation and understood that, unless he came to our rescue, we had no hope at all. He sent Jesus to model his love, demonstrate his power, and teach us his ways. Jesus willingly sacrificed himself as a payment for our rebellious transgressions, fulfilling his role as the Lamb of God. When he shed his blood for us, he purchased our forgiveness and opened the way for us to be restored to God’s family. When he rose again, he did so in power and glory as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings, who is endowed with all authority, including the authority to judge all people, which he will do when he returns again.

If we recognize the confess that he is indeed the risen Lord and submit our lives to his rule (believe in him), we will be forgiven, saved, and made new on the inside. The Holy Spirit will come to live in us and daily lead and transform us to be more and more like Jesus. One day, Jesus will finish this great salvation by giving us brand new resurrection bodies. This is what it means to be saved. The more people who become Christ followers, the greater the influence of God will be in our nation. Currently, a majority of our people appear to be quite godless, and they are leading our nation into the spiritual abyss. Paul’s description of the decline of a society found in Romans Chapter One is taking place before our very eyes.

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. Romans 1:18 (ESV)

The markers associated with such a society are as follows:

  • The suppression of truth. This is now rampant in our schools and media. We are living in Orwellian times.
  • Refusal to honor God. The first step is to refuse to acknowledge him. The outcome of this is the determination to not glorify him or even thank him.
  • Given over to lust. Our nation is a fountain of sexual perversion, pornography, etc., which is being exported to the world.
  • Given over to a depraved mind. Paul describes the fierce society of the Last Days in Romans and 2 Timothy.
But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. 2  For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3  heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, 4  treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 2 Timothy 3:1-4 (ESV)

Obviously this describes the nation in which we live, at least the power brokers who control the media and our government.

Addressing the Root Problem of Legalized Abortion

There is a consternation among many today regarding the gross violation of justice going on in our FBI and DOJ. We wonder why those in high places who have committed crimes are not brought to justice. It should not surprise us, however, that there is a lack of honesty, truth, and justice. If we as a nation cannot be honest and forthright about the evil of murdering innocent unborn children in the womb, how can we honestly confront any evil? Until we repent of this horrendous violation of God’s justice, we have no right to expect justice anywhere. This is a wake up call  to our  nation!

Until our people truly change their way of thinking and embrace truth again, we are stuck in a downward spiral of deception, violence, and judgment. God will not be mocked. What we sow, we shall surely reap.  We cannot violently kill sixty million babies and get away with it.

Every nation is built upon the foundation of justice. Unless we restore justice to the unborn, I see little good in our future. God help us!

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; steadfast love and faithfulness go before you. Psalm 89:14 (ESV)

What about you, reader? Individually, we cannot turn the tide in the nation, but we can make things right between ourselves and God. Have you repented on behalf of our nation for this horrible sin? If enough people pray and ask God to turn the tide, perhaps we shall see true repentance sweep our nation – before it is too late. We can turn to Jesus, whose blood pleads for mercy rather than vengeance.

You have come to Jesus, the one who mediates the new covenant between God and people, and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks of forgiveness instead of crying out for vengeance like the blood of Abel. Hebrews 12:24 (NLT)

Prayer

Lord, our nation has shed innocent blood in the name of freedom, women’s rights, convenience, and the almighty dollar. Please forgive us for the murder of all those innocent babies, whose blood cries out to you for justice. Forgive me for not taking this as seriously as I should. Please help all those who have had abortions or provided them as a medical doctor or other staff to come to their senses and repent and turn away from this evil. Help them to find true forgiveness and peace through the gospel. (If perhaps you have had an abortion, but now see that it was wrong, you can pray as follows. Lord Jesus, forgive me for killing my baby. Please cleanse me and give me peace again.) Let the fear of God fall upon our nation. Let our people wake up to this horrible evil. Let our lawmakers and judges make just laws and decisions that will end the government sponsored legalized murder of unborn children. Let justice and righteousness once again grace our land and secure our government. Amen.

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Prayer for Peaceful Sleep

The Bible teaches us that God wants us to sleep well and gives us a secret for doing that. King David wrote:

In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8 (ESV)

For several years David lived as a man on the run. King Saul was jealous and afraid of David, knowing that God had selected him to replace Saul as king. Even though David was determined to do nothing to harm Saul or to hurry the transition, Saul was paranoid and made David’s life miserable by pursuing him through the wilderness in order to put him to death. David experienced several “near misses” when Saul seemed to have him cornered, but God saved the day each time. Despite this continual harassment and pressure, David was able to sleep in peace. How did he do this? The secret was that he was assured that God was his Shepherd and Keeper.

Psalm 23, probably the most famous psalm David ever wrote, contains these well-known verses.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.5  You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. 6  Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the LORD Forever. Psalm 23:4-6 (NKJV)

David was convinced in his heart that God was with him in every situation. God’s presence assured him that he had nothing to fear. David’s enemies would have to penetrate God’s defensive presence in order to reach him. They were all around, but God give him peace and rest anyway.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills– From whence comes my help?2  My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. 3  He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber. 4  Behold, He who keeps Israel Shall neither slumber nor sleep. 5  The LORD is your keeper; The LORD is your shade at your right hand. 6  The sun shall not strike you by day, Nor the moon by night. 7  The LORD shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. 8  The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:1-8 (NKJV)

Although David was not the author of Psalm 121, it is in complete agreement with Psalm 23. When we sleep, God, our Protector, is awake. If we are convinced that we can safely trust in God to keep us while we sleep, our rest will be peaceful. The secret to sleeping well in the midst of danger is to know God as Shepherd and Keeper.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, I depend upon you to guard my life while I sleep. You are my Shepherd, and, as long as you are with me, I will fear no evil. You are my Keeper who is always awake to guard my life. Holy Spirit, please confirm my heart in these truths so that I can rest undisturbed. I renounce worry and fear and embrace the peaceful sleep that you give. Amen.

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Prayer to Overcome the Fear of Abandonment

Many people have deeply embedded beliefs which hold them in bondage until Christ sets them free. One of the most fundamental is the fear of abandonment. We were created to be in relationship with God and be dependent upon his fellowship, guidance, and indwelling life. To attempt to live otherwise is similar to running an engine without oil. Sooner or later it breaks down. When Adam and Eve decided to abandon God and go it alone, it set the stage for the expectation of abandonment by God and others to become our deepest fear. It has hounded humanity ever since.

Each of us has likewise turned our backs on God in some way or another, and sinful people like us always expect to be treated the same way as we treat others. We think God is just like us, ready to abandon us. We think we will get the big “thumbs down” when we stand before him in judgment. The thing is that we deserve to be abandoned, but God did not. We deserve for him to cast us off forever. Is our fear of abandonment well founded then? She we feel this way? Is there any way out?

A deeply embedded fear of abandonment can manifest in various ways, but anxiety and fear of death might be the most common. It also shows up when we have an expectation that those we love and care for eventually are going to reject or leave us. Maybe we have already had that happen, which reinforced the belief that abandonment will always be our lot. Indeed, many people will abandon us over a lifetime, but we err when we transfer what we learn from people into making a judgment about God. He is different from us, thankfully.

The Bible calls the irrational logic of fear a stronghold. (2 Cor. 10:4-5) I call it a lie-based stronghold  because it is rooted in some lie that has just enough of a basis in truth to make it plausible. Strongholds are arguments we erect in our minds that nullify God’s truth and block us from having faith. They act as shields against God’s truth and promises, keeping them away from being able to penetrate into our hearts. The only way to be set free is to repent – to renounce and turn from the lie and open our hearts to God and his truth. Otherwise we stay stuck in unbelief.

The most important promise in the Bible?

If I asked you what are the most important words in the Bible, you might tell me John 3:16 – “for God so loved the world…”, and it would hard to deny your claim. However, I suggest this promise from God for your consideration. I quote from the Young’s Literal Translation.

…He hath said, `No, I will not leave, no, nor forsake thee,’ Hebrews 13:5 (YLT)

This translation captures the essence of the Greek wording, which is a triple negative. In Greek, the more negatives, the stronger it is. They do not offset each other, as in English. God emphasized three times his promise to never abandon us. This should become apparent to us when we contemplate that God loved us even when we were his enemies and our backs were turned to him.

For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7  For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 10  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11  And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Romans 5:6-11 (NASB)

I encourage you to read and reread the bold text several times, letting the words sink in to your heart, especially the “much more” conclusion.

Jesus Absorbed Our Abandonment

God did not send his Son to die for us because we were such good people. Quite the opposite. Jesus came to earth and willingly gave his life on the cross because God refused to abandon us. He took upon himself the abandonment we deserved. When he agonizingly cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46), he revealed that he was suffering what should have been our lot – to be abandoned by God because of sin. All our sin came upon him (2 Cor. 5:21), so that all his goodness and his wonderful relationship with God the Father could become ours as a free gift. Jesus was abandoned so that we never have to be, if we accept him as our Lord and Savior.

Jesus told his followers that he would send the Holy Spirit.

“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; John 14:16 (NASB)

He told us that he would never orphan us. (John 14:18) People fear being alone, orphaned, and abandoned, but those who put their confidence in Jesus never need fear those things. Jesus repaired the damage done by Adam’s and Eve’s sin. He healed the breach between us and God. He destroyed the threat of being abandoned. He brought us permanently into a place of family and closeness. He sent the Holy Spirit to actually live inside us, organically fused to our spirits (1 Cor. 6:17), never ever to leave us alone again. Hallelujah! Believe it!

Prayer to Defeat the Fear and Expectation of Being Abandoned by God

Father in heaven, I confess to you that I have doubted your love for me. I thought you were like me. I abandoned you and went my own way in sin, but you never turned your back on me. Thank you for sending your Son to die for me. Thank you for choosing me before you created the world. (Ephesians 1:4) Thank you for calling me to yourself because you love me. Thank you for revealing your Son Jesus to me and giving me the gifts of repentance and faith. Thank you for your promise that you will never, never, never leave me or forsake me. I repent of doubting your faithful love for me. I renounce the fear of abandonment and receive your promise of everlasting life and love. Fear, I command you to leave me alone from this day forward, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Prayer for our Enemies

Although it can be fitting to ask God to intervene in the affairs of government and society at large by judging those who are doing evil, our Lord told us to pray for those who persecute us and who are our personal enemies.

You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” 44  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45   so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:43-45 (ESV)

The natural response when people try to hurt us is to fight back or wish them harm. God’s kingdom operates by different principles because we have different objectives. Our highest priority is not survival. Instead, we are here to spread the Good News of God’s kingdom and make disciples by whatever means necessary. When we pray for our enemies, Jesus asks us to make it our hope that they will be able to repent and find forgiveness in Christ for themselves. Our eternity is secure, but theirs is not. They need someone to pray for them.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. Romans 5:10 (NASB)

The Bible says that Jesus died for us when we were still his enemies. If Jesus did that for us, is it too much for him to ask us to pray for the same blessing to come to our own enemies?

God will actually turn the evil being perpetrated against us for good. (Romans 8:28) We simply need to maintain our faith. We can emulate Stephen, the first martyr, who prayed while being stoned to death by enemies of the gospel who became his personal enemies because he identified with Jesus.

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59  And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60  And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep. Acts 7:58-60 (ESV)

Our Lord asks us to do what he did: trust God to handle all judgment against the wicked, who will be sure to bring justice and exact vengeance upon all his enemies who do not repent.

For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously; 1 Peter 2:21-23 (NASB)

Prayer

Father in heaven who judges justly, you have been merciful to me, even when I was your enemy. You see how I am being mistreated by (name the persons). I ask you to be merciful to them as you were to me.  Please forgive them for hurting me and my family. Bring them to repentance and faith just as you did in my life. I trust you to uphold me by your grace during this time of testing. I also trust you to maintain justice. I know that you will bring all unrepentant evil doers to judgment in your good time.

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Prayer for Maintaining Our Integrity

Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers! 2 For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants. 3 Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! 4 Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers. 5 Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. Psalm 37:1-5 (NET1)

Insight

Fretting, anger, depression and hopelessness can assail us when things do not go as we think they should. Adversity tests our trust in God. Is He on His throne or not? Does He love us or not? Is He working all things for good in our lives or not? Tests and trials bring to the surface our doubts and fears – our sinful unbelief.

Do not fret when wicked men seem to succeed! Do not envy evildoers! 2 For they will quickly dry up like grass, and wither away like plants. 3 Trust in the LORD and do what is right! Settle in the land and maintain your integrity! 4 Then you will take delight in the LORD, and he will answer your prayers. 5 Commit your future to the LORD! Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. Psalm 37:1-5 (NET1)

David reminds us to make the conscious decision to maintain trust in God and walk in integrity, not surrendering to panic-driven thinking or fear-based decision making. Instead we must choose to delight in God, the One Who answers prayers and acts on behalf of those who rely upon Him.

Prayer

Lord, help me to see things from your perspective. Help me to never give up on doing the right thing, even if it seems to me that it is pointless or even hopeless. Help me continually to delight in you, giving thanks to You in ALL things, even those things that seem to be contrary to what I think is best for me. Lord, I believe you hear my prayers and will answer them. Thank you, Lord! I commit my future to you and believe you will act on my behalf. Amen.

For this reason do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is. 18 And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for each other in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 and submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Ephesians 5:17-21 (NET1)
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Prayer for Laborers in the Harvest

And Jesus went throughout all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction. 36  When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37  Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; 38  therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.” Matthew 9:35-38 (ESV)

Jesus specifically asked his followers to pray that he, the Lord of the harvest, would send out laborers into his harvest. We know from the context of the passage above that he meant those who are attuned to the plight of harassed and helpless people and are moved by compassion to do something about it. The Bible calls these people “shepherds,” which means they care enough about people to give themselves to the work of the gospel.

One might think that Jesus would ask us to pray for those who need to be saved, but, instead, he asked us to pray for laborers who would go and serve the harvest. Why is this? Could it be that since God the Father already chose many from before the foundation of the world to be his people, and since Jesus already died for them, and since the Holy Spirit is actively engaged with these people, that the only missing ingredient is the human component – love motivated witnesses and shepherds who will devote themselves to helping the lost come to Jesus and making them into disciples?

The church, unfortunately, has become very narcissistic. We have fallen in love with our own image and importance, imagining that everything important happens in our meetings and gatherings? Jesus, however, sees things quite differently. He said there is more joy in heave over one sinner who repents than over a mega-church that does not need to repent. (He actually said “99 who do not need to repent,” but my wording perhaps is more impacting.)

What if the rank and file members of every church were overcome with compassion for the people living, working, and playing around them? What if our eyes and ears were opened to the drama that is playing out behind every door in our neighborhood? What if we were willing to spend significant hunks of time being with neighbors who need Jesus – just to see what the Holy Spirit might do, should we give him the opportunity? What if the church heard Jesus’ call to go out into the harvest?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, forgive us for being so caught up with our own comfort and ease. Forgive us for being more concerned about the welfare of the church than we are about the eternal destinies of those who do not yet know you. Open our hearts, our eyes, and our ears to the plight of those who are harassed and helpless, having no one to care for them. Lord, we give ourselves to you and to your Great Commission. Baptize us afresh in the Holy Spirit. Equip, empower, and send us into our neighborhoods, workplaces, schools, clubs, and wherever people connect. Give us a “word in season” that will connect with people. Give us wisdom in effectively presenting the gospel message. Let your spiritual gifts flow freely as they did in Jesus’ ministry. Help us to be faithful in making disciples of those who become followers of Christ. Amen.

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Prayer for Jesus to Open My Eyes

As they were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed Him. 30 And two blind men sitting by the road, hearing that Jesus was passing by, cried out, “Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David!” 31 The crowd sternly told them to be quiet, but they cried out all the more, “Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!” 32 And Jesus stopped and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” 33 They *said to Him, “Lord, we want our eyes to be opened.” 34 Moved with compassion, Jesus touched their eyes; and immediately they regained their sight and followed Him. Matthew 20:29-34 (NASB)

I remember how it was before Jesus opened the eyes of my heart. I did not know him. I could not see the truth about him. I was groping about trying to find God, but had no one to help me find the way. Spiritual blindness is just as real as the physical, and just as those blind men needed a miracle; so do we all.

“While I am in the world, I am the Light of the world.” 6 When He had said this, He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and applied the clay to his eyes, 7 and said to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which is translated, Sent). So he went away and washed, and came back seeing. John 9:5-7 (NASB)

Without God, all of us live in perpetual darkness. Jesus came as God’s light to show us the way out of that darkness into God’s kingdom. Jesus is the only way to God, the only trustworthy light.

I remember praying, “Jesus, if you are real, please come into my life and reveal yourself to me.” From my perspective, my prayer was not very much different from that of the blind men. I had no way to help myself. If Jesus did not heal my spiritual blindness, I would remain in that condition.

For God, who said, “Light shall shine out of darkness,” is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 (NASB)

Jesus was moved with compassion to help those blind men so long ago. His compassion toward me, a sinner, prompted him to remove the scales from my eyes in answer to my prayer.

The two blind men immediately began to follow Jesus after he gave them their sight. This proved that they were not merely seeking what he could do for them. They valued Jesus for himself. They became true followers. That is what every person should do when Jesus opens his or her eyes. A disciple is a follower of Christ who dedicates his life to fishing for people in order to make them disciples as well.

So where do you find yourself today? Are you still spiritually blind and in need of Jesus’ healing touch? If so, ask him to open your eyes. Or have your eyes been opened, but you never made the decision to become a follower of Jesus? If that is your situation, pray that God will make you a true disciple. The key is to surrender your entire being to Jesus, the Lord.

Prayer for the Spiritually Blind

Jesus, I am spiritually blind and need you to open my eyes. I cannot see who you are or understand the Gospel, but I am drawn to you. Have mercy on me, Lord! Without your healing touch, I will never be able to see. I ask you to come into my life and reveal yourself to me. I surrender myself to you and to your will for my life. Thank you for doing this in your way and your timing. Amen.

Prayer of Surrender

Jesus, I am reminded that you opened my eyes long ago, but I never started following you in earnest. I have kept my distance from you, but now I repent and ask your forgiveness. I surrender myself and all that I am and have to you. I recognize that you alone are my Lord. Have your way in my life. Amen.

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Prayer for Grace to Live Each Day

Who considers the power of your anger, and your wrath according to the fear of you? 12 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD! How long? Have pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, and for as many years as we have seen evil. 16 Let your work be shown to your servants, and your glorious power to their children. 17 Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands! Psalm 90:11-17 (ESV)

One of the foundational truths Jesus wants us to always keep in the forefront of our minds is the coming judgment of the living and the dead. God allots each person a set time here on earth. How long we live is in God’s hands, but how we use our time is our responsibility. The fear of the Lord teaches us to live in such a way that we will be found faithful when we stand before Jesus in judgment. The unbeliever will face God’s wrath at the last judgment for not believing and accepting God’s provision for life and forgiveness offered through Christ. Believers will account to God for how faithful we have been with what we have been given. One of the greatest gifts God distributes to us is the gift of time here on earth to be alive.

Moses asked God for several things in the passage quoted above.

  • Help us to realize how brief our days are so that we can live with a sense of urgency and rightly prioritize what is truly important. We do not want to waste the time that God has given us pursuing what has no eternal value.
  • Show us mercy and love. None of us can possibly measure up to God’s righteousness.We can only be faithful to the degree we learn to receive and depend upon God’s grace. As we learn to believe in and receive God’s love and mercy, we will be inspired to praise him continually.
  • Thirdly, Moses understood the important truth that God works all things together for our good. (Romans 8:28) When we comprehend that our Lord turns even our pain and suffering into something beautiful, it will keep us from sinking into the mire of bitterness or self-pity.
  • Fourthly, Moses asks God to reveal to him what he is doing. Jesus said that he only did what he saw the Father doing. (John 5:19) If we are going to agree with and participate in what the Spirit is doing all around us, the Lord must open our eyes to see and help us to believe that he has the power to fulfill his promises.
  • Lastly Moses asks God to show him favor and establish the work of his hands. God’s favor is like his smile. Faith believes that God is favorably disposed to help us and make us successful as we pursue his kingdom and righteousness.

Prayer

Lord, help us to understand how brief our time is here on earth. Help us to live each day as if it were our last, putting your priorities at the top of our to do list. Help us to love people and be about the business of your kingdom. Be merciful to us, O Lord, because we are unable to serve you properly without constantly drawing upon your mercy and grace. Thank you, for providing an unending supply through Jesus. Let us be satisfied every day with knowing how much you love us, and help us to pass that love on to other people through loving acts and sharing the gospel. Help us to always be praising you because we are confident that you are always working things out for our good and your glory. Turn our pain and suffering and disappointments into showcases for your grace. Let us find joy in turning the table on the devil by using what has been difficult as a spring board into ministry to others who are suffering. Open our eyes to see what you are doing around us so we can join you. Help us believe in your unlimited power to help us and those around us who need your grace. Help us to be bold to pray for others so they will also encounter your love and power. Show us your everlasting favor in ways we can see and understand so we will not lose heart. Establish the work of our hands, because without you, we can do nothing. But with you we can do all things. Amen.

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Prayer for God’s Fullness in Our Lives

This is another of my favorite prayers. Below is a suggestion on how to personalize it. This is a prayer you can use every day.

When I think of the wisdom and scope of God’s plan, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, 15 the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. 16 I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit. 17 And I pray that Christ will be more and more at home in your hearts as you trust in him. May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love. 18 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love really is. 19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God. 20 Now glory be to God! By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope. 21 May he be given glory in the church and in Christ Jesus forever and ever through endless ages. Amen. Ephesians 3:14-21 (NLT)

 

Prayer

Father of Glory, Creator of everything in heaven and earth, from your glorious and unlimited resources, give us inner strength through your Holy Spirit. Give us a clearer revelation that Christ lives inside us by faith so that we can more fully trust Him and believe in what He has done, is doing, and will do for us. Let our roots go down deep into the soil of your marvelous love. Give us a greater revelation of that love – how wide and long and high and deep it really is. Let us experience that love even though we may never fully comprehend it with our minds. Fill us with the fullness of your life and power as we grow in the knowledge and experience of your love. I believe you are able to accomplish far more than I can ever ask for or imagine through your mighty power that is at work in my life. Father, may you be glorified in all things through my life, your church, and your Son Jesus Christ for all eternity! Amen.

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