Bible Prayers For Guidance And Wisdom
A Request for Guidance in Psalms 25:4-5Show me your ways, Lord.Teach me your paths.Guide me in your truth, and teach me.For you are the God of my salvation.I wait for you all day long.
A Prayer in Psalm 119:33-40Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes.I will keep them to the end.Give me understanding, and I will keep your law.Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.Direct me in the path of your commandments,for I delight in them.Turn my heart toward your statutes,not toward selfish gain.Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.Revive me in your ways.Fulfill your promise to your servant,that you may be feared.Take away my disgrace that I dread,for your ordinances are good.Behold, I long for your orders!Revive me in your righteousness.
Tax Collectors Prayer Of Humility
Image from Wikimedia Commons
During biblical times, tax collectors were recognized as sinners. Tax collectors were encouraged to charge compensatory taxes. So, they often overcharged the taxes and people considered tax collectors as traitors and thieves. However, instead of persecuting them, Jesus treated tax collectors with grace and mercy. The tax collectors prayer is his humble acceptance of the sin he made against God. Hence, this is one of the most striking prayers in the Bible.
Luke 18: 9 13 9 To some who were confident of their righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: God, I thank you that I am not like other peoplerobbers, evildoers, adulterersor even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.13 But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, God, have mercy on me, a sinner.
Prayer Of Faith James : 13
When we pray in faith, it is us reaffirming that we have faith in Gods will. It isnt us enforcing our will into His, but it is us conceding that His will be done.
One example of this is in James 5:13-16 where it says, 13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Read Also: What Does Prosper Mean In The Bible
Lessons We Can Learn From Jabezs Prayer
Acknowledging God As The Center Of Our Lives
When Jabez cried to the God of Israel, he acknowledged Gods lordship over his life and declared that God is the one and only true God, and all blessings, including strength and protection, come from Him alone.
Your Name Is Not Your Identity
The name Jabez means he causes pain. But Jabez defied the testimony of his name and believed in the power of God and his identity is in God.
Come To God Vulnerable And Ask For Protection
He wholeheartedly cried out to God with boldness and vulnerability and requested that hand be with . When we ask for the hand of the Lord, what we are asking and seeking is Gods presence and protection in our lives.
A Heart To Invest In Gods Kingdom
When Jabez asked God to Enlarge territory, he was not seeking wealth or more land but he wanted God to expand his spiritual territory, to claim more generations for Gods kingdom. When we pray, not only should we bring our petitions to Him, but lets also turn our focus to God and have a heart for Him and His Kingdom.
Prayers Close To The Heart of God Will Be Answered
When Jabez prayed for the expansion of Gods Kingdom, he was putting Gods will above his own. With his faith, God answered Jabez. Similarly, when we seek Gods will above ours in faith, it is considered honorable and God will answer us.
Bible Prayers For Protection & Safety
A Prayer by David in Psalm 3:1-3 6-8Lord, how greatly are they increased who make attacks on me! In great numbers they come against me. Unnumbered are those who say of my soul, There is no help for him in God. But your strength, O Lord, is round me, you are my glory and the lifter up of my head. I will have no fear, though ten thousand have come round me, putting themselves against me. Come to me, Lord keep me safe, O my God for you have given all my haters blows on their face-bones the teeth of the evil-doers have been broken by you. Salvation comes from the Lord your blessing is on your people.
The Prayer Poem of David in Psalm 16Preserve me, God,for in you do I take refuge.Lord assigned my portion and my cup.You made my lot secure.
Protection Request in Psalms 22My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?Why are you so far from helping me,and from the words of my groaning?Dont be far off, Oh Lord.You are my help: hurry to help me.Deliver my soul from the sword,my precious life from the power of the dog.Save me from the lions mouth!Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen.
David asking for Protection in Psalm 54Save me, God, by your name.Vindicate me in your might.Hear my prayer, God.Listen to the words of my mouth.For strangers have risen up against me.Violent men have sought after my soul.They havent set God before them.
Read Also: What Is The Greatest Sin In The Bible
Bible Prayers Of Repentance And Forgiveness
The greatest repentance prayer in the bible was written by David in Psalm 51. He wrote it after being rebuked by prophet Nathan for committing adultery with Bathsheba and murdering her husband.
Heres a break-down of this prayer:
A. Asking God for Mercy Psalm 51:1-2Have mercy on me, God, according to your loving kindness. According to the multitude of your tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.
B. Confessing Your Sins Psalm 51:3-6For I know my transgressions. My sin is constantly before me. Against you, and you only, have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight that you may be proved right when you speak, and justified when you judge. Behold, I was born in iniquity. In sin my mother conceived me. Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
C. Asking God For Restoration Psalm 51:7-12Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness. That the bones which you have broken may rejoice. Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all of my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a right spirit within me. Dont throw me from your presence, and dont take your holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation. Uphold me with a willing spirit.
Lessons We Can Learn From Solomons Prayer
Acknowledge Past Blessings
Solomon began his prayer by acknowledging the past blessings that God has given to his father, David. Remembering and recounting how much God has done for you in the past is a good habit to adopt, especially in petition prayers. Because it expresses your appreciation and gratitude for God, who chose to bless you.
Humble Yourselves Before God
King Solomon inherited the throne of David and was ruling over Israel. Despite his royal status, Solomon knows that it was nothing compared to God. He displays great humility in verse 7 when he identified himself as a little child in front of God. It is Solomons way of saying I cant do this. The job is so much bigger than what I can handle, I must rely on God.When we come to God in prayer, do we truly humble ourselves before Him?
Asking For Understanding Is Also Part Of Wisdom
In verse 9, Solomon asks for a discerning heart, a heart to understand what is right and wrong. This goes beyond asking for knowing what is right and wrong. We cannot gain wisdom if we know without understanding. Solomon realizes this and thus asks God to fill him with understanding, not mere knowledge. This is how we should ask for wisdom.
Asking God For What We Need, Not Want
Don’t Miss: My Book Of Bible Stories
Daniels Prayer For Forgiveness
Image by Adobe
We may know Daniel as the person who found favor in Gods eyes and was protected after being thrown into the lions den. But, his powerful prayers in the bible are also commendable and one that we should all practice as well. Here, he prayed a prayer for forgiveness, confessing the sins of his people on their behalf.
Daniel 9: 4-6 9-10 18-19 4 I prayed to the Lord my God and confessed: Lord, the great and awesome God, who keeps his covenant of love with those who love him and keep his commandments, 5 we have sinned and done wrong. We have been wicked and have rebelled we have turned away from your commands and laws. 6 We have not listened to your servants the prophets, who spoke in your name to our kings, our princes, and our ancestors, and to all the people of the land.
9 The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him 10 we have not obeyed the Lord our God or kept the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets.
18 Give ear, our God, and hear open your eyes and see the desolation of the city that bears your Name. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.19 Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! For your sake, my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name.
A Complete List Of The Apostle Pauls Prayers In The Bible
One way that each of us can improve the quality of our praying is to model our prayers after a mature believer. This is valuable advice to heed well in a church setting and also in our personal Bible reading.
Besides observing the Psalms and the teaching of Christ in the Lords Prayer , there may be no better person to turn to as a prayer model than the Apostle Paul.
Paul recorded many Spirit-inspired prayers throughout the thirteen New Testament books he authored. God used Paul in a radical way to reach the Gentiles for Christ and spread the gospel over the whole Roman world in the first century. Praying and learning from his prayers can help us deepen and strengthen our prayer lives by gazing deep into the soul of the passionate apostle who said, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord .
My prayer is that God would use the prayers of Paul to transform your prayer life, give you a greater eternal perspective, and reorient your thoughts and affections to be more Gospel-centered and Christ-exalting.
I highly recommend two books on Pauls prayers:
You may also enjoy: Six Observations from the Prayer Requests of the Apostle Paul or this 30-minute talk: How to Pray the Prayers of the Apostle Paul.
Recommended Reading: When You Feel Like Giving Up Bible Verses
Are You Ready To Pray Boldly
Looking for ways to deepen your prayer life? Read the BOLD Prayer Challenge blog series! In this four-day blog series on prayer, you will receive a short devotional discussing how different people in the Bible prayed with boldness.
You will can also download a prayer guide, Scripture reading plan, Scripture cards, bookmarks, and a Bible journaling page!
Jesus Prayer For Church Unity
Another one of Jesus most earnest prayers in the Bible is for all believers that they may remain united despite their differences. He prayed for unity amongst us so that the world may believe in God.
John 17: 20-23 20 My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one 23 I in them and you in meso that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
Don’t Miss: What Does Bible Say About Cremation Vs Burial
Davids Prayer Of Thanksgiving
Image by Adobe
King David wrote many hymns and psalms in the Book of Psalms, about 73 out of the 150 books. Many of these prayers in the Bible that David wrote were personal and highly emotional. That is why many regard the Book of Psalms as anatomy to the soul. Every range of emotions from thanksgiving to forgiveness, petitions for protection and deliverance, and even anger are written in Psalms. Here, David wrote a thanksgiving prayer, one of the most comforting prayers in the Bible.
/ Pray The Bible Free Ebooklet
Transform your prayer life with Pray the Bible, Guideposts new eBook featuring 30 powerful prayers from the pages of the Bible. Scripture is filled with biblical figures who summoned the power of God. From Jabez to Jonah, Asa to Nebuchadnezzar, the 30 prayers featured in Pray the Bible have been specifically selected to guide you through the opportunities and challenges in your life. Draw near to Him and open your heart to His blessings as you delve deeper into His Word.
Read Also: What Does The Bible Say About Working On The Sabbath
Hannahs Prayer Of Praise
My heart rejoices in the Lord in the Lord my horn is lifted high. My mouth boasts over my enemies, for I delight in your deliverance. There is no one holy like the Lord, there is no one besides you there is no Rock like our God. 1 Samuel 2:1-2
Reading Hannahs prayer we remember that she felt deeply distressed, even depressed, over infertility. Hannah cried out to God and begged Him to give her a son. She then promised God that if He blessed her with a son she would give him back to the Lord. God did answer her prayer and gave her Samuel.
Hannahs first response to Gods blessing of Samuel is praise. How often is that our first response? For me, its not often enough. When God has answered a long-awaited prayer, we can pray Hannahs prayer of praise.
Why Your Kids Misbehave And What To Do About It
Tantrums. Talking back. Throwing toys or food. Meltdowns. Slamming doors. Kids know just how to push your buttons. Youve tried all sorts of methods, but nothing seems to work. In this book, Dr. Kevin Leman reveals exactly why kids misbehave and how you can turn that behavior around with practical, no-nonsense strategies that really work . . . and are a long-term win for both of you.
Read Also: Is Being Gay In The Bible
Sharing Your Faith With Grace And Purpose
You can confidently and lovingly share your faithyou just need to learn some new tactics to do so! In this Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast, apologist Greg Koukl outlines the Columbo tactic of asking questions, the self-defeating argument tactic to find holes in your opponents arguments, and other specific methods for engaging in faith-building conversations with others. Greg pulls from his over 30 years of experience debating atheists and agnostics to help you share your faith with grace and truth.
Prayers To Conquer Evil And Temptation
Prayer for Strength in Temptation in Psalm 19:13-14Keep back your servant also from willful sins.Let them not have dominion over me.Then I will be upright.I will be blameless and innocentof great transgression.Let the words of my mouth andthe meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,Lord, my rock, and my redeemer.
Another Prayer for Strength in Temptation in Psalm 141:1-5Lord, I have called on you.Come to me quickly!Listen to my voice when I call to you.Let my prayer be set before you like incense the lifting up of my hands like the evening sacrifice.Set a watch, Yahweh, before my mouth.Keep the door of my lips.Dont incline my heart to any evil thing,to practice deeds of wickedness with men who work iniquity.Dont let me eat of their delicacies.Let the righteous strike me, it is kindness let him reprove me, it is like oil on the head dont let my head refuse it Yet my prayer is always against evil deeds.
Prayer for Liars in Psalm 12:1-3Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.Everyone lies to their neighbor they flatter with their lipsbut harbor deception in their hearts.May the LORD silence all flattering lipsand every boastful tongue
Read Also: What Is The Real Bible To Read
Prayers In The Bible For The Nations
Judgement Prayer in Psalm 9:19-20Arise, Lord, do not let mortals triumph let the nations be judged in your presence.Strike them with terror, Lord let the nations know they are only mortal.
Prayer Before War in 2 Chronicles 14:11Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, LORD our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. LORD, you are our God do not let mere mortals prevail against you.
Asking God to Save a Nation in 2 Kings 19:15-19Lord, the God of Israel, who sit above the cherubim, you are the God, even you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Incline your ear, Lord, and hear. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib, which he has sent to defy the living God. Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire for they were no gods, but the work of mens hands, wood and stone. Therefore they have destroyed them. Now therefore, Lord our God, save us, I beg you, out of his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, Lord, are God alone.