Teach me from the Word of God.

Prayers from the Bible

God’s word in the Bible provides us many ways to speak to Him. Sometime God speaks to us in first person and other times through Christ showing us how to pray. But we often hear prayers of desire, pleading, glory, adoration, thankfulness, healing and more from the disciples and prophets. Learn to pray by developing an appreciation for the Word of God.

When I first started reading the scriptures I was surprised when I began to find these beautiful gems. As I grew in my reading and understanding the beauty of the scriptures unfolds. Each time I re-read the words of God there is a new layer of wisdom that is revealed. I pray that as you begin to see the words of God that you too will begin to understand the layers of truth and wisdom within the pages that extend beyond time and connect you to your soul.

A Prayer of Praise … Jude 23-25 NLT

4 And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy. 25 All glory to him, who alone is God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Yes, glory, majesty, power, and authority belong to him, in the beginning, now, and forevermore. Amen.

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Empowering

Appreciation of the Mystery … Ephesians 3:14-21 NKJV

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 15 from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, 16 that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, 17 that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height — 19 to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

20 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, 21 to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

The Lord’s Prayer … Matt 6:9-19

Our Father who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread.

And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil (one.)

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever

Amen.

Psalms 119:170-120:1 NLT

170 Listen to my prayer; rescue me as you promised.

171 Let my lips burst forth with praise, for you have taught me your principles.

172 Let my tongue sing about your word, for all your commands are right.

173 Stand ready to help me, for I have chosen to follow your commandments.

174 O LORD, I have longed for your salvation, and your law is my delight.

175 Let me live so I can praise you, and may your laws sustain me.

176 I have wandered away like a lost sheep; come and find me,

for I have not forgotten your commands.

Romans 15:13 NLT

13 So I pray that God, who gives you hope, will keep you happy and full of peace as you believe in him. May you overflow with hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 1:14-2:1 NLT

Paul’s Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom (yes this is a repeat but I love the words from this translation)

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, 16 I have never stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called. I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people.

19 I pray that you will begin to understand the incredible greatness of his power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else in this world or in the world to come. 22 And God has put all things under the authority of Christ, and he gave him this authority for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is filled by Christ, who fills everything everywhere with his presence.

Prayer of Jabez … 1 Chronicles 4:9-10 NLT

10 He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, “Oh, that you would bless me and extend my lands! Please be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain!” And God granted him his request.

(King James is a bit more eloquent – 10 And Jabez called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that thou wouldest bless me indeed, and enlarge my coast, and that thine hand might be with me, and that thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested.)

Judges 13:8 NLT

“Lord, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born.”

2 Samuel 7:27-8:1 NLT

27 “O LORD Almighty, God of Israel, I have been bold enough to pray this prayer because you have revealed that you will build a house for me — an eternal dynasty! 28 For you are God, O Sovereign LORD. Your words are truth, and you have promised these good things to me, your servant. 29 And now, may it please you to bless me and my family so that our dynasty may continue forever before you. For when you grant a blessing to your servant, O Sovereign LORD, it is an eternal blessing!”

1 Kings 9:3-5 NLT

3 The LORD said to him, “I have heard your prayer and your request. I have set apart this Temple you have built so that my name will be honored there forever. I will always watch over it and care for it. 4 As for you, if you will follow me with integrity and godliness, as David your father did, always obeying my commands and keeping my laws and regulations, 5 then I will establish the throne of your dynasty over Israel forever. For I made this promise to your father, David: ‘You will never fail to have a successor on the throne of Israel.’

1 Kings 17:21-23 NLT

“O LORD my God, please let this child’s life return to him.” 22 The LORD heard Elijah’s prayer, and the life of the child returned, and he came back to life!

2 Chronicles 6:19-21 NLT

19 Listen to my prayer and my request, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you. 20 May you watch over this Temple both day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 21 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.

Nehemiah 1:4-7 NLT

5 Then I said, “O LORD, God of heaven, the great and awesome God who keeps his covenant of unfailing love with those who love him and obey his commands, 6 listen to my prayer! Look down and see me praying night and day for your people Israel. I confess that we have sinned against you. Yes, even my own family and I have sinned! 7 We have sinned terribly by not obeying the commands, laws, and regulations that you gave us through your servant Moses.”

Nehemiah 1:11 NLT

11 O Lord, please hear my prayer! Listen to the prayers of those of us who delight in honoring you. Please grant me success now as I go to ask the king for a great favor. Put it into his heart to be kind to me.”

Psalm 17:1-18 NKJV

Prayer with Confidence in Final Salvation

Hear a just cause, O LORD, Attend to my cry; Give ear to my prayer which is not from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from Your presence; Let Your eyes look on the things that are upright.

3 You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress. 4 Concerning the works of men, By the word of Your lips, I have kept away from the paths of the destroyer. 5 Uphold my steps in Your paths, That my footsteps may not slip.

6 I have called upon You, for You will hear me, O God; Incline Your ear to me, and hear my speech. 7 Show Your marvelous loving kindness by Your right hand, O You who save those who trust in You from those who rise up against them. 8 Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings, 9 From the wicked who oppress me, from my deadly enemies who surround me.

10 They have closed up their fat hearts; with their mouths they speak proudly. 11 They have now surrounded us in our steps; they have set their eyes, crouching down to the earth, 12 As a lion is eager to tear his prey, And like a young lion lurking in secret places.

13 Arise, O LORD, Confront him, cast him down; Deliver my life from the wicked with Your sword, 14 With Your hand from men, O LORD, From men of the world who have their portion in this life, And whose belly You fill with Your hidden treasure. They are satisfied with children, and leave the rest of their possession for their babes.

15 As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Psalm 54:2-55:1 NLT

2 O God, listen to my prayer. Pay attention to my plea.

3 For strangers are attacking me; violent men are trying to kill me.

They care nothing for God.

Selah

4 But God is my helper. The Lord is the one who keeps me alive!

5 May my enemies’ plans for evil be turned against them. Do as you promised and put an end to them.

6 I will sacrifice a voluntary offering to you; I will praise your name, O LORD, for it is good.

7 For you will rescue me from my troubles and help me to triumph over my enemies.

Psalm 61:1-62:1 NLT

O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I will cry to you for help, for my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings! Selah

5 For you have heard my vows, O God. You have given me an inheritance reserved for those who fear your name. 6 Add many years to the life of the king! May his years span the generations! 7 May he reign under God’s protection forever. Appoint your unfailing love and faithfulness to watch over him.

8 Then I will always sing praises to your name as I fulfill my vows day after day.

2 Thessalonians 3:2-5 NLT

2 Pray, too, that we will be saved from wicked and evil people, for not everyone believes in the Lord. 3 But the Lord is faithful; he will make you strong and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are practicing the things we commanded you, and that you always will. 5 May the Lord bring you into an ever deeper understanding of the love of God and the endurance that comes from Christ.

Mark 11:22-25 NLT

22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God. 23 I assure you that you can say to this mountain, ‘May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,’ and your command will be obeyed. All that’s required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart. 24 Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it. 25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too.”

John 17:1-26 — The Prayer of Jesus (also known as The Unity Prayer)

Author’s note: This is a prayer from Jesus for you (and me) where Jesus prayed directly to God on our behalf. This is also known as an intercessory prayer. We intercede each time we pray for someone else.

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. 2 For you have given him authority over everyone in all the earth. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. 3 And this is the way to have eternal life — to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth. 4 I brought glory to you here on earth by doing everything you told me to do. 5 And now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

6 “I have told these men about you. They were in the world, but then you gave them to me. Actually, they were always yours, and you gave them to me; and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything I have is a gift from you, 8 for I have passed on to them the words you gave me; and they accepted them and know that I came from you, and they believe you sent me.

9 “My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. 10 And all of them, since they are mine, belong to you; and you have given them back to me, so they are my glory! 11 Now I am departing the world; I am leaving them behind and coming to you. Holy Father, keep them and care for them — all those you have given me — so that they will be united just as we are. 12 During my time here, I have kept them safe. I guarded them so that not one was lost, except the one headed for destruction, as the Scriptures foretold.

13 “And now I am coming to you. I have told them many things while I was with them so they would be filled with my joy. 14 I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not. 15 I’m not asking you to take them out of the world, but to keep them safe from the evil one. 16 They are not part of this world any more than I am. 17 Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. 19 And I give myself entirely to you so they also might be entirely yours.

20 “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me because of their testimony. 21 My prayer for all of them is that they will be one, just as you and I are one, Father — that just as you are in me and I am in you, so they will be in us, and the world will believe you sent me.

22 “I have given them the glory you gave me, so that they may be one, as we are — 23 I in them and you in me, all being perfected into one. Then the world will know that you sent me and will understand that you love them as much as you love me. 24 Father, I want these whom you’ve given me to be with me, so they can see my glory. You gave me the glory because you loved me even before the world began!

25 “O righteous Father, the world doesn’t know you, but I do; and these disciples know you sent me. 26 And I have revealed you to them and will keep on revealing you. I will do this so that your love for me may be in them and I in them.”

Psalms 40:13-41:1 NLT

13 Please, LORD, rescue me! Come quickly, LORD, and help me.

14 May those who try to destroy me, be humiliated and put to shame.

May those who take delight in my trouble, be turned back in disgrace.

15 Let them be horrified by their shame, for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”

16 But may all who search for you be filled with joy and gladness.

May those who love your salvation repeatedly shout, “The LORD is great!”

17 As for me, I am poor and needy, but the Lord is thinking about me right now.

You are my helper and my savior. Do not delay, O my God.

Psalms 109:26-110:1 NLT

Help me, O LORD my God! Save me because of your unfailing love.

27 Let them see that this is your doing, that you yourself have done it, LORD.

28 Then let them curse me if they like, but you will bless me!

When they attack me, they will be disgraced! But I, your servant, will go right on rejoicing!

29 Make their humiliation obvious to all; clothe my accusers with disgrace.

30 But I will give repeated thanks to the LORD, praising him to everyone.

31 For he stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.

Psalms 30:10-31:1 NKJV

10 Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me; LORD, be my helper!”

11 You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever.

Psalm 28 NKJV

Rejoicing in Answered Prayer

A Psalm of David.

To You I will cry, O LORD my Rock: Do not be silent to me, Lest, if You are silent to me, I become like those who go down to the pit. 2 Hear the voice of my supplications When I cry to You, When I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary.

3 Do not take me away with the wicked And with the workers of iniquity, Who speak peace to their neighbors, But evil is in their hearts. 4 Give them according to their deeds, And according to the wickedness of their endeavors; Give them according to the work of their hands; Render to them what they deserve. 5 Because they do not regard the works of the LORD, Nor the operation of His hands, He shall destroy them And not build them up.

6 Blessed be the LORD, Because He has heard the voice of my supplications! 7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusted in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart greatly rejoices, And with my song I will praise Him.

8 The LORD is their strength, And He is the saving refuge of His anointed. 9 Save Your people, And bless Your inheritance; Shepherd them also, And bear them up forever.

Psalm 63:4-64:1 NLT

4 I will honor you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer.

5 You satisfy me more than the richest of foods. I will praise you with songs of joy.

6 I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night.

7 I think how much you have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings.

8 I follow close behind you; your strong right hand holds me securely.

9 But those plotting to destroy me will come to ruin. They will go down into the depths of the earth.

10 They will die by the sword and become the food of jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God. All who trust in him will praise him, while liars will be silenced.

Psalm 69:13-16 NLT

13 But I keep right on praying to you, LORD, hoping this is the time you will show me favor.

In your unfailing love, O God, answer my prayer with your sure salvation.

14 Pull me out of the mud; don’t let me sink any deeper!

Rescue me from those who hate me, and pull me from these deep waters.

15 Don’t let the floods overwhelm me, or the deep waters swallow me,

or the pit of death devour me.

Psalm 86:1-87:1 NLT

A prayer of David

Bend down, O LORD, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. 2 Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. 3 Be merciful, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. 4 Give me happiness, O Lord, for my life depends on you. 5 O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask your aid. 6 Listen closely to my prayer, O LORD; hear my urgent cry. 7 I will call to you whenever trouble strikes and you will answer me.

8 Nowhere among the pagan gods is there a god like you, O Lord. There are no other miracles like yours. 9 All the nations — and you made each one — will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your great and holy name. 10 For you are great and perform great miracles. You alone are God.

11 Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, that I may honor you. 12 With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, 13 for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death!

14 O God, insolent people rise up against me; violent people are trying to kill me. And you mean nothing to them. 15 But you, O Lord, are a merciful and gracious God, slow to get angry, full of unfailing love and truth. 16 Look down and have mercy on me. Give strength to your servant; yes, save me, for I am your servant. 17 Send me a sign of your favor. Then those who hate me will be put to shame, for you, O LORD, help and comfort me.

Psalm 90:1-91:1 NLT

A prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, through all the generations you have been our home! 2 Before the mountains were created, before you made the earth and the world, you are God, without beginning or end.

3 You turn people back to dust, saying, and “Return to dust!” 4 For you, a thousand years are as yesterday! They are like a few hours! 5 You sweep people away like dreams that disappear or like grass that springs up in the morning. 6 In the morning it blooms and flourishes, but by evening it is dry and withered. 7 We wither beneath your anger; we are overwhelmed by your fury. 8 You spread out our sins before you — our secret sins — and you see them all. 9 We live our lives beneath your wrath. We end our lives with a groan.

10 Seventy years are given to us! Some may even reach eighty. But even the best of these years are filled with pain and trouble; soon they disappear, and we are gone. 11 Who can comprehend the power of your anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. 12 Teach us to make the most of our time, so that we may grow in wisdom.

13 O LORD, come back to us! How long will you delay? Take pity on your servants! 14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, so we may sing for joy to the end of our lives. 15 Give us gladness in proportion to our former misery! Replace the evil years with good. 16 Let us see your miracles again; let our children see your glory at work. 17 And may the Lord our God show us his approval and make our efforts successful. Yes, make our efforts successful! Amen.

Psalm 102:1-103:1 NLT

A prayer of one overwhelmed with trouble, pouring out problems before the LORD.

LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea! 2 Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down your ear and answer me quickly when I call to you, 3 for my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals. 4 My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite. 5 Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones. 6 I am like an owl in the desert, like a lonely owl in a far-off wilderness. 7 I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof. 8 My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me. 9 I eat ashes instead of my food. My tears run down into my drink 10 because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out. 11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering like grass.

12 But you, O LORD, will rule forever. Your fame will endure to every generation. 13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem — and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help. 14 For your people love every stone in her walls and show favor even to the dust in her streets. 15 And the nations will tremble before the LORD. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory. 16 For the LORD will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory. 17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.

18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a nation yet to be created will praise the LORD. 19 Tell them the LORD looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked to the earth from heaven 20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die. 21 And so the LORD’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem, 22 when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the LORD.

23 He has cut me down in midlife, shortening my days. 24 But I cried to him, “My God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am still so young! 25 In ages past you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 Even they will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment, and they will fade away. 27 But you are always the same; your years never end. 28 The children of your people will live in security.

Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”

Psalm 141:2-142:1 NLT

Accept my prayer as incense offered to you, and my upraised hands as an evening offering.

3 Take control of what I say, O LORD, and keep my lips sealed. 4 Don’t let me lust for evil things; don’t let me participate in acts of wickedness.

Don’t let me share in the delicacies of those who do evil.

5 Let the godly strike me! It will be a kindness! If they reprove me, it is soothing medicine. Don’t let me refuse it.

But I am in constant prayer against the wicked and their deeds. 6 When their leaders are thrown down from a cliff, they will listen to my words and find them pleasing. 7 Even as a farmer breaks up the soil and brings up rocks, so the bones of the wicked will be scattered without a decent burial.

8 I look to you for help, O Sovereign LORD. You are my refuge; don’t let them kill me. 9 Keep me out of the traps they have set for me, out of the snares of those who do evil. 10 Let the wicked fall into their own snares, but let me escape.

Daniel 9:4-19 NLT

4 I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed: “O Lord, you are a great and awesome God! You always fulfill your promises of unfailing love to those who love you and keep your commands. 5 But we have sinned and done wrong. We have rebelled against you and scorned your commands and regulations. 6 We have refused to listen to your servants the prophets, who spoke your messages to our kings and princes and ancestors and to all the people of the land.

7 “Lord, you are in the right; but our faces are covered with shame, just as you see us now. This is true of us all, including the people of Judah and Jerusalem and all Israel, scattered near and far, wherever you have driven us because of our disloyalty to you. 8 O LORD, we and our kings, princes, and ancestors are covered with shame because we have sinned against you. 9 But the Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against him. 10 We have not obeyed the LORD our God, for we have not followed the laws he gave us through his servants the prophets. 11 All Israel has disobeyed your law and turned away, refusing to listen to your voice. “So now the solemn curses and judgments written in the law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out against us because of our sin. 12 You have done exactly what you warned you would do against us and our rulers. Never in all history has there been a disaster like the one that happened in Jerusalem. 13 Every curse written against us in the law of Moses has come true. All the troubles he predicted have taken place. But we have refused to seek mercy from the LORD our God by turning from our sins and recognizing his truth. 14 The LORD has brought against us the disaster he prepared, for we did not obey him, and the LORD our God is just in everything he does.

15 “O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. 16 In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city of Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

17 “O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary. 18 “O my God, listen to me and hear my request. Open your eyes and see our wretchedness. See how your city lies in ruins — for everyone knows that it is yours. We do not ask because we deserve help, but because you are so merciful. 19 “O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, O my God, do not delay, for your people and your city bear your name.”

Habakkuk 3:1-2 NLT

This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk:

2 I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done. In this time of our deep need, begin again to help us, as you did in years gone by. Show us your power to save us. And in your anger, remember your mercy.

Matthew 11:25-12:1 NLT

25 Then Jesus prayed this prayer: “O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, thank you for hiding the truth from those who think themselves so wise and clever, and for revealing it to the childlike. 26 Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way!

27 “My Father has given me authority over everything. No one really knows the Son except the Father, and no one really knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light.”

John 17:9-20 NKJV

9 “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are. 12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I come to You, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have My joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sakes I sanctify Myself, that they also may be sanctified by the truth.

John 17:20-18:1 NKJV

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; 21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

24 “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. 25 O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. 26 And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”

1 Peter 2:3-12 NLT

Living Stones for God’s House

4 Come to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by the people, but he is precious to God who chose him.

5 And now God is building you, as living stones, into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are God’s holy priests, who offer the spiritual sacrifices that please him because of Jesus Christ. 6 As the Scriptures express it,

“I am placing a stone in Jerusalem, a chosen cornerstone, and anyone who believes in him will never be disappointed.”

7 Yes, he is very precious to you who believe. But for those who reject him,

“The stone that was rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.”

8 And the Scriptures also say,

“He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that will make them fall.”

They stumble because they do not listen to God’s word or obey it, and so they meet the fate that has been planned for them.

9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are a kingdom of priests, God’s holy nation, his very own possession. This is so you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 “Once you were not a people; now you are the people of God. Once you received none of God’s mercy; now you have received his mercy.”

11 Dear brothers and sisters, you are foreigners and aliens here. So I warn you to keep away from evil desires because they fight against your very souls. 12 Be careful how you live among your unbelieving neighbors. Even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will believe and give honor to God when he comes to judge the world.

Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication 1 Kings 8:21-53 NLT

22 Then Solomon stood with his hands lifted toward heaven before the altar of the LORD in front of the entire community of Israel. 23 He prayed,

“O LORD, God of Israel, there is no God like you in all of heaven or earth. You keep your promises and show unfailing love to all who obey you and are eager to do your will. 24 You have kept your promise to your servant David, my father. You made that promise with your own mouth, and today you have fulfilled it with your own hands. 25 And now, O LORD, God of Israel, carry out your further promise to your servant David, my father. For you said to him, ‘If your descendants guard their behavior as you have done, they will always reign over Israel.’ 26 Now, O God of Israel, fulfill this promise to your servant David, my father.

27 “But will God really live on earth? Why, even the highest heavens cannot contain you. How much less this Temple I have built! 28 Listen to my prayer and my request, O LORD my God. Hear the cry and the prayer that your servant is making to you today. 29 May you watch over this Temple both day and night, this place where you have said you would put your name. May you always hear the prayers I make toward this place. 30 May you hear the humble and earnest requests from me and your people Israel when we pray toward this place. Yes, hear us from heaven where you live, and when you hear, forgive.

31 “If someone wrongs another person and is required to take an oath of innocence in front of the altar at this Temple, 32 then hear from heaven and judge between your servants — the accuser and the accused. Punish the guilty party and acquit the one who is innocent.

33 “If your people Israel are defeated by their enemies because they have sinned against you, and if they turn to you and call on your name and pray to you here in this Temple, 34 then hear from heaven and forgive their sins and return them to this land you gave their ancestors.

35 “If the skies are shut up and there is no rain because your people have sinned against you, and then they pray toward this Temple and confess your name and turn from their sins because you have punished them, 36 then hear from heaven and forgive the sins of your servants, your people Israel. Teach them to do what is right, and send rain on your land that you have given to your people as their special possession.

37 “If there is a famine in the land, or plagues, or crop disease, or attacks of locusts or caterpillars, or if your people’s enemies are in the land besieging their towns — whatever the trouble is — 38 and if your people offer a prayer concerning their troubles or sorrow, raising their hands toward this Temple, 39 then hear from heaven where you live, and forgive. Give your people whatever they deserve, for you alone know the human heart. 40 Then they will fear you and walk in your ways as long as they live in the land you gave to our ancestors.

41 “And when foreigners hear of you and come from distant lands to worship your great name — 42 for they will hear of you and of your mighty miracles and your power — and when they pray toward this Temple, 43 then hear from heaven where you live, and grant what they ask of you. Then all the people of the earth will come to know and fear you, just as your own people Israel do. They, too, will know that this Temple I have built bears your name.

44 “If your people go out at your command to fight their enemies, and if they pray to the LORD toward this city that you have chosen and toward this Temple that I have built for your name, 45 then hear their prayers from heaven and uphold their cause.

46 “If they sin against you — and who has never sinned? — you may become angry with them and let their enemies conquer them and take them captive to a foreign land far or near. 47 But in that land of exile, they may turn to you again in repentance and pray, ‘We have sinned, done evil, and acted wickedly.’ 48 Then if they turn to you with their whole heart and soul and pray toward the land you gave to their ancestors, toward this city you have chosen, and toward this Temple I have built to honor your name, 49 then hear their prayers from heaven where you live. Uphold their cause 50 and forgive your people who have sinned against you. Make their captors merciful to them, 51 for they are your people — your special possession — whom you brought out of the iron-smelting furnace of Egypt.

52 “May your eyes be open to my requests and to the requests of your people Israel. Hear and answer them whenever they cry out to you. 53 For when you brought our ancestors out of Egypt, O Sovereign LORD, you told your servant Moses that you had separated Israel from among all the nations of the earth to be your own special possession.”

Luke 22:39-46 NLT

Author Note: Notice in this short story there is instruction to pray, a plea to stop the suffering, a submission to God’s will, an answer to prayer, help from angels sent by God, a scolding and a call to action to pray with a warning. See if you notice which emotion has a physical effect.

40 There he told them,

“Pray that you will not be overcome by temptation.”

41 He walked away, about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed,

42 “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will, not mine.”

43 Then an angel from heaven appeared and strengthened him. 44 He prayed more fervently, and he was in such agony of spirit that his sweat fell to the ground like great drops of blood. 45 At last he stood up again and returned to the disciples, only to find them asleep, exhausted from grief.

46 “Why are you sleeping?” he asked. “Get up and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you.”