Praying the Scriptures: Matthew 6:5-15

This section is a bit bigger than just the Lord's Prayer, because Jesus took the time before and after the prayer to give further instructions on prayer. 

Prayer

“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

“This, then, is how you should pray:

“‘Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done,

    on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

    as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation,

    but deliver us from the evil one.’

For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pray the Scriptures: Ephesians 3:16-20

Advent is the start of the church year and therefore the start of my new Bible reading plan. This year, as I read through the Bible, I want to note and pray the prayers of the Bible.

Ephesians 3:16-20 is a beautiful prayer to pray over someone, even as it finishes by praising God. 

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

New International Version (NIV) Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Pray for Leaders and Those in Authority

The Bible instructs us to pray for leaders and those in authority.

Even when they belong to the OTHER political party.

Even when they belong to a DIFFERENT form of government in another nation.

Even when we DISAGREE with and DISAPPROVE of their choices.

How do you pray for leaders and those in authority? 

Breath Prayers

I was recently introduced to the practice of breath prayers.

These prayers are short, simple, and done in a breath.

As you deeply inhale, pray a name or title or description of God.

-Almighty God

-Lord Jesus

-God our Savior

As you slowly exhale, state your request.

-Reduce my anxiety

-Give me Your words to say

-Help this person

Feel free to repeat the prayer as needed.

Listen in Nature

One way that we can pray to God is out in nature.

In cities, we have so many noises and notifications, distractions and demands on our time.

At a state park, it is possible to hike far enough to let the sounds of civilization fade, as we are too far from the road to hear cars and our cell phones barely connect to the internet.

Instead of hearing our usual sounds, we can sit and breathe out in nature, as we listen to...

-birds

-animals moving

-a stream

-the wind in the trees

And once we have found silence, we can better listen for what God is telling us. 

Yes, we can bring our laundry list of requests to God out in nature, but I challenge us to use the time in nature to be still, be silent, and be attentive to what God is saying. 

Listen and notice what God has created.

Listen and notice what God is telling you.

Listen. 

Pray for the Blind

October 15th is White Cane Safety Day, so we are taking time today to pray for those who are blind or who have visual impairments. 

Before you jump in with prayers for the blind to receive their sight and before you start belting out Amazing Grace, STOP.

Read the article above about what white cane safety day is.

Listen to a podcast or an online video by a blind person about being blind. 

Suggested themes to search:

*white cane day

*accessibility issues for blind

*guiding a blind person

*how to assist a blind person

*top annoyances for blind people (spoiler: going up to a blind person and asking to pray for their sight to be restored is mentioned in the top annoyances in several videos.) 

Learn what struggles blind people are having due to the lack of accessibility and general public ignorance. (Bonus points for writing to your representatives to actual DO something to improve accessibility).

Imagine having people come up to you and asking "Can I pray for you to lose weight?" or "Can I pray for you to become healthier?" 

Would you be offended? 

Would you think the person was presumptuous and rude? 

Would you be irritated that a person looked at you and made a snap decision on what THEY thought you needed prayer for? 

Would you have preferred to be asked "How can I pray for you?" 

Would you prefer not to discuss your prayer requests with a stranger? 

My go-to prayer for strangers is "God, be with them." Because I do not know their story. I do not know their struggles and successes. I would not want to open up to someone I just met, so why would I expect another person (with or without a disability) to open up to me? 

No one can stop you from silently praying for a blind person to receive healing and sight, but approaching them and wanting to pray that over them may not be what they want. Maybe they are in the mall to do their shopping. We may not get the "warm fuzzies" when we pray silently for a person instead of praying aloud, but that is not our goal in prayer. If we are upsetting people by going up to them and asking to pray for their sight to be restored, then we are doing more harm than good.

How can you pray for the blind today? 

Pray for the Marginalized

Pray for those on the margins of society, those whose voices get drowned out and whose needs get ignored.

Pray for the homeless.

Pray for the poor.

Pray for orphans and children in the foster system.

Pray for widows and widowers.

Pray for immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers.

Pray for those with disabilities and compromised immune systems.

Pray for the overworked and those underpaid.

Pray for those looking for jobs.

Then ask God, how He would have you care for these people and help them.