A Prayer about Listening to God

A Prayer about Listening to God

Speaking Lord, 

as we begin this week, 

many of us think about the work we need to do.

What if we began instead 

by thinking of prayer as our most important work?

And then, what if we began our prayer 

by listening to you 

rather than listing our many needs? 

Not that you don’t invite us 

to present all of our requests before you (Philippians 4: 6),

But too often we fail to see prayer as 

“answering God,” 

as Eugene Peterson put it. 

Today, let us begin by listening to a few things 

you’ve told us in your Word:

“For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, 

and the former things shall not be remembered or come to mind” (Isaiah 65:1).

[Remain quiet and dwell on these words God has spoken to you].

“But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; 

for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, 

and her people to be a gladness.”

[Remain quiet and listen to God speaking his joy and gladness over you.]

“I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; 

no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.”

[Remain quiet and imagine the day of no more weeping and distress.]

Lord, may our prayers become more quiet. 

Make us attentive listeners, 

curious to hear what you have to say to us. 

As we hear your voice, 

through your Word, through general revelation, 

and through your Spirit, 

make our hearts beat more regularly 

to the rhythm of your grace and glory. 

In the name of the Word-Made-Flesh, Jesus our Savior. Amen.

Read Isaiah 65:17-25. 

A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

A Prayer about a God Who Can Do Far More than We Ask or Think

Glorious God, 

I believe; I confess my unbelief.

For the past few days, 

we’ve been praying Paul’s prayer 

asking you to strengthen us

 through the power of your Spirit, 

for the purpose of comprehending 

your incomprehensible love.

As we come to the end of this series, 

we must ask ourselves honestly,

do we dare to pray this prayer:

You are able to do far more abundantly 

than ALL that we ask or think—

[pause for a few moments

and think about things 

that you may not dare to believe God is able to do…]

How do you do it? 

By working within us, 

through your power (not ours).

Why do you do it?

For the glory of the church 

and for the glory of Jesus Christ 

through all generations, forever and ever and ever.

Today, help us to see how you have already inscribed 

your incomprehensible love into our stories 

and into the redemption of your cosmos.

[Take a few moments again to write or name some of these things].

By the power of your Spirit and because of your glory, 

help us to grasp how much you really love us, Lord, 

and make that love flow boldly through our lives.

In Jesus’ everything-changing name. Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 

A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

A Prayer for the Kind of Strength We Need

Father God, 

Thank you for this comprehensive prayer 

Paul prayed for his friends the Ephesians. 

Today, we pray it for our loved ones and for ourselves:

Out of your glorious riches — 

your riches aren’t earned, 

nor are they corrupt, 

nor are they self-serving — 

they are glorious and generous and plentiful 

to provide all of our needs…

May you strengthen [insert name of loved one or your name] 

with your power — 

your power, which is perfectly wielded 

for the weak and needy (that’s us and others) 

to make us strong — 

not Ford tough or Chevy strong— 

but strong in our “inner being,” 

strong in your Spirit’s power, 

not our own. 

As you strengthen us 

by your Spirit, 

may [name of loved one’s] heart 

come to rest 

in the life-changing reality 

that Christ, our King and Savior, dwells in our hearts. 

In the name of our heart-dwelling Savior, Jesus, we pray.

Amen. 

Read Ephesians 3:14-21. 

A Prayer about Praying Boldly

A Prayer about Praying Boldly

Holy Spirit,

As you did with the early disciples 

when they were faced with persecution:

Fill us with your power 

and shake us out of our safe, status quo prayers. 

Sharpen the focus of our prayers—

that we might share the good news: 

Jesus has come to save his people!

far and wide, moment by moment. 

Embolden our prayers—

that you, the Holy God would do 

“signs and wonders” 

in the “name of his holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:30).

Strengthen us through our prayers—

that we might become bolder and wiser 

in the way we speak your Word. 

In the holy name of Jesus we ask. Amen. 

Read Acts 4:23-31. 

A Prayer about Not Worrying

A Prayer about Not Worrying

Good Father,

Once, after a hurricane, 

a friend told me how she handled her worry 

that her seventy-year-old house 

would be destroyed: 

“I stayed inside and thought happy thoughts.” 

There’s nothing wrong with thinking happy thoughts, 

but you have given us a much better antidote to the worry and fear 

that plague us during seasons of crisis: 

Prayer. 

Rejoicing in you, 

because that turns our thoughts 

toward your delight in us and our hope in that delight (Philippians 4:4).

Presenting our requests to you, 

because that acknowledges our utter helplessness, 

your supreme power,

and your good, Fatherly care for us (Philippians 4:6).

Thanking you, because that reminds us 

of how you have saved us in the past 

and points us toward 

how you will rescue us in the future (Philippians 4:6).

Lord, today, when worry creeps in, 

turn our hearts toward you in prayer, 

that we may know the peace 

that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:7).

In Jesus’ peace-bringing name.

Amen.

Read Philippians 4:4-9.

A Prayer about Learning to Pray

A Prayer about Learning to Pray

Holy Father,

Thank you for the gift of prayer.

Grow our understanding of the power and richness of prayer.

Thank you for David Powlison’s words 

that remind us of a key feature of prayer we often forget:

“We usually ask God to change events in people’s lives…

But think about the spiritual needs of each of these life situations….”

So, even as we pray,

“Lord, please bless my friend’s business,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please give my friend faith that you will provide for her in this business….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please heal my friend from chronic pain,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please sustain my friend’s hope in this hard season….”

Even as we pray,

“Lord, please bring my friend’s daughter back home,” 

we can also pray, 

“Lord, please help my friend forgive her daughter for causing so much pain….”

[Name some prayers of your own following this model….]

Thank you Lord, for the privilege of prayer. 

Please shape us more and more 

into the image of your Son as we learn to pray. 

In Jesus’ praying name. Amen. 

Read Luke 11:1-13.

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