I love the Lord, for He heard my voice;
He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me,
I will call on Him as long as I live.
Psalm 116.1-2
Enough said. There is no need for commentary.
This blog is devoted to prayer. Each day, I will post a prayer (either from the pen of contributors, or from my own hand). You are invented to add your comments and questions, and your prayers, prayer requests, needs, celebrations, and remembrances.
All who visit Prayer Matters are asked to "join together" in the prayers presented on this blog.
Thursday, February 11, 2016
Monday, November 4, 2013
Prayer Matters! (Re-launching an OLD blog)
I love the Lord, for He heard my voice;
He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me,
I will call on Him as long as I live.
Psalm 116.1-2
Enough said. There is no need for commentary.
This blog is devoted to prayer. Each day, I will post a prayer (either from the pen of contributors, or from my own hand). You are invented to add your comments and questions, and your prayers, prayer requests, needs, celebrations, and remembrances.
All who visit Prayer Matters are asked to "join together" in the prayers presented on this blog.
He heard my cry for mercy.
Because He turned His ear to me,
I will call on Him as long as I live.
Psalm 116.1-2
Enough said. There is no need for commentary.
This blog is devoted to prayer. Each day, I will post a prayer (either from the pen of contributors, or from my own hand). You are invented to add your comments and questions, and your prayers, prayer requests, needs, celebrations, and remembrances.
All who visit Prayer Matters are asked to "join together" in the prayers presented on this blog.
Monday, October 10, 2011
Father, Give Me a Good Kick!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Teach Me Lord To Wait
Teach me Lord, to wait
Down on my knees
Till in Your own good time
You answer my pleas
Teach me not to rely
On what others do
But to wait in prayer
For an answer from You
They who wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not grow weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me Lord
Teach me Lord, to wait
Teach me Lord, to wait
While hearts are aflame
Let me humble my pride
And call on Your name
Keep my faith renewed
My eyes on Thee
Let me be on this earth
What You want me to be
They who wait upon the Lord
Shall renew their strength
They shall mount up with wings like eagles
They shall run and not grow weary
They shall walk and not faint
Teach me Lord
Teach me Lord, to wait
Thursday, September 15, 2011
For You Will Answer Me
Psalm 86Hear, O Lord, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Guard my life, for I am devoted to you.
You are my God; save your servant
who trusts in you.
Have mercy on me, O Lord,
for I call to you all day long.
Bring joy to your servant,
for to you, O Lord,
I lift up my soul.
You are forgiving and good, O Lord,
abounding in love to all who call to you.
Hear my prayer, O Lord;
listen to my cry for mercy.
In the day of trouble I will call to you,
for you will answer me.
Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord;
no deeds can compare with yours.
All the nations you have made
will come and worship before you, O Lord;
they will bring glory to your name.
For you are great and do marvelous deeds;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O Lord,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your love toward me;
you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.
The arrogant are attacking me, O God;
a band of ruthless men seeks my life--
men without regard for you.
But you, O Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and have mercy on me;
grant your strength to your servant
and save the son of your maidservant.
Give me a sign of your goodness,
tht my enemies may see it and be put to shame,
for you, O Lord, have helped me and comforted me.
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Pray for Rain!!!
A photo certainly worth a 1,000 words . . . and some tears!
(Photo of wildfire burning near Bastrop, Texas)
Please pray for rain to come to Texas and drench these awful fires.
Our God is much greater than any wildfire.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Thank You For Our Labor
Father, thank you for the work you give my hands to do.
You have made me to be productive:
To create just as you do;
To sustain;
To aide and to help;
To bless others who are in need;
To lead and direct;
To teach;
To heal and to soothe;
To plan and to build;
To grow;
To mentor and inspire;
To entertain;
To learn and discover;
To recover and rebuild;
To counsel;
To protect and defend.
You did not create us to sit and be still,
for you gave us two arms and two legs,
hands that grip and feet that move,
and a mind that initiates and executes.
Thank you for our labor.
May we ever use our work as praise to You.
You have made me to be productive:
To create just as you do;
To sustain;
To aide and to help;
To bless others who are in need;
To lead and direct;
To teach;
To heal and to soothe;
To plan and to build;
To grow;
To mentor and inspire;
To entertain;
To learn and discover;
To recover and rebuild;
To counsel;
To protect and defend.
You did not create us to sit and be still,
for you gave us two arms and two legs,
hands that grip and feet that move,
and a mind that initiates and executes.
Thank you for our labor.
May we ever use our work as praise to You.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Forgive Me For My Absence
O Lord my God
To you I lift my praise
You remind me daily of your love
And I don't have to look far to see your presence
But, forgive me for my absence
In my busyness I shove you out of the way
In my selfishness I give you no time
But my neglect only brings worry
Anxieties and stress
I can't do it on my own
That becomes clearer each day
So thank you for staying with me
For your long-suffering patience
For your love that knows no end
May I learn to pray to you daily
Not merely in those moments of despair
But also in gladness and smooth sailing seas
To you I lift my praise
You remind me daily of your love
And I don't have to look far to see your presence
But, forgive me for my absence
In my busyness I shove you out of the way
In my selfishness I give you no time
But my neglect only brings worry
Anxieties and stress
I can't do it on my own
That becomes clearer each day
So thank you for staying with me
For your long-suffering patience
For your love that knows no end
May I learn to pray to you daily
Not merely in those moments of despair
But also in gladness and smooth sailing seas
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Out of the Depths
Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord;
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O [man], put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Psalm 130
O Lord, hear my voice.
Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.
If you, O Lord, kept a record of sins,
O Lord, who could stand?
But with you there is forgiveness;
therefore you are feared.
I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in His word I put my hope.
My soul waits for the Lord
more than watchmen wait for the morning,
more than watchmen wait for the morning.
O [man], put your hope in the Lord,
for with the Lord is unfailing love
and with Him is full redemption.
He himself will redeem Israel
from all their sins.
Psalm 130
Saturday, March 20, 2010
My Whole Being, Praise the Lord
The prayer of Psalm 146:
My whole being, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praisies to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes
or other people, who cannot save you.
When people die, they are buried.
Then all of their plans come to an end.
Happy are those who are helped by the God of Jacob.
Their hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in it.
He remains loyal forever.
He does what is fair for those who have been wronged.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
The Lord protects the foreigners.
He defends the orphans and widows,
but he blocks the way of the wicked.
The Lord will be King forever.
Jerusalem, your God is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!
My whole being, praise the Lord.
I will praise the Lord all my life;
I will sing praisies to my God as long as I live.
Do not put your trust in princes
or other people, who cannot save you.
When people die, they are buried.
Then all of their plans come to an end.
Happy are those who are helped by the God of Jacob.
Their hope is in the Lord their God.
He made heaven and earth,
the sea and everything in it.
He remains loyal forever.
He does what is fair for those who have been wronged.
He gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets the prisoners free.
The Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord lifts up people who are in trouble.
The Lord loves those who do right.
The Lord protects the foreigners.
He defends the orphans and widows,
but he blocks the way of the wicked.
The Lord will be King forever.
Jerusalem, your God is everlasting.
Praise the Lord!
Thursday, March 18, 2010
The One Who Hears Prayer
Praise is rightfully Yours, God, in Zion;
vows to You will be fulfilled.
All humanity will come to You,
the One who hears prayer.
Iniquities overwhelm me;
only You can atone for our rebellions.
How happy is the one You choose
and bring near to live in Your courts!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple.
You answer us in righteousness,
with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the distant seas;
You establish the mountains by Your power,
robed with strength;
You silence the roar of the seas,
the roar of their waves,
and the tumult of the nations.
Those who live far away are awed by Your signs;
You make the east and west shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it abundantly,
enriching it greatly.
God's stream is filled with water,
for You prepare the earth in this way,
providing people with grain.
You soften it with showers and bless its growth,
soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
You crown the year with Your goodness;
Your ways overflow with plenty.
The wilderness pastures overflow,
and the hills are robed with joy.
The pastures are clothed with flocks,
and the valleys covered with grain.
They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.
The prayer of Psalm 65 (HCSB)
vows to You will be fulfilled.
All humanity will come to You,
the One who hears prayer.
Iniquities overwhelm me;
only You can atone for our rebellions.
How happy is the one You choose
and bring near to live in Your courts!
We will be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,
the holiness of Your temple.
You answer us in righteousness,
with awe-inspiring works, God of our salvation,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
and of the distant seas;
You establish the mountains by Your power,
robed with strength;
You silence the roar of the seas,
the roar of their waves,
and the tumult of the nations.
Those who live far away are awed by Your signs;
You make the east and west shout for joy.
You visit the earth and water it abundantly,
enriching it greatly.
God's stream is filled with water,
for You prepare the earth in this way,
providing people with grain.
You soften it with showers and bless its growth,
soaking its furrows and leveling its ridges.
You crown the year with Your goodness;
Your ways overflow with plenty.
The wilderness pastures overflow,
and the hills are robed with joy.
The pastures are clothed with flocks,
and the valleys covered with grain.
They shout in triumph; indeed, they sing.
The prayer of Psalm 65 (HCSB)
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
A Night Prayer
Answer me when I call,
God, who vindicates me.
You freed me from affliction;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
How long, exalted men,
will my honor be insulted?
How long will you love
what is worthless
and pursue a lie?
Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when i call to Him.
be angry and do not sin;
on your bed, reflect
in your heart and be still.
Offer sacrifices
in righteousness
and trust in the Lord.
Many are saying
'Who can show us
anything good?"
Look on us with favor, Lord.
You have put more joy
in my heart
than they have when their grain
and new wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep
in peace,
for You alone, Lord, make me
live in safety.
Psalm 4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
God, who vindicates me.
You freed me from affliction;
be gracious to me and hear my prayer.
How long, exalted men,
will my honor be insulted?
How long will you love
what is worthless
and pursue a lie?
Know that the Lord has set apart
the faithful for Himself;
the Lord will hear when i call to Him.
be angry and do not sin;
on your bed, reflect
in your heart and be still.
Offer sacrifices
in righteousness
and trust in the Lord.
Many are saying
'Who can show us
anything good?"
Look on us with favor, Lord.
You have put more joy
in my heart
than they have when their grain
and new wine abound.
I will both lie down and sleep
in peace,
for You alone, Lord, make me
live in safety.
Psalm 4 (Holman Christian Standard Bible)
Friday, March 5, 2010
The Meaning of Worship
To worship is:
To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God.
To feed the mind with the truth of God.
To purge the imagination with the beauty of God.
To open the heart to the love of God.
To devote the will to the purpose of God.
by William Temple
To quicken the conscience by the holiness of God.
To feed the mind with the truth of God.
To purge the imagination with the beauty of God.
To open the heart to the love of God.
To devote the will to the purpose of God.
by William Temple
Sunday, February 28, 2010
The Power of the Bended Knee
Birds go to sleep on their perches, but they never fall off. This is because of the tendons in the bird's legs. They are so constructed that when the leg is bent at the knee, the claws contract and grip like a steel trap. The claws refuse to let go until the knees are unbent again. The bended knee gives the bird the ability to hold on to his perch so tightly.
Isn't this also the secret of the holding power of the Christian? Daniel found this to be true. Surrounded by a pagan environment, tempted to compromise with evil, urged to weaken his grip on God, he refused to let go. He held firm when others faltered because he was a man of prayer. He knew the power of the bended knee.
From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us--honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is in the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold tightly to us.
--Rollin S. Burhans
Isn't this also the secret of the holding power of the Christian? Daniel found this to be true. Surrounded by a pagan environment, tempted to compromise with evil, urged to weaken his grip on God, he refused to let go. He held firm when others faltered because he was a man of prayer. He knew the power of the bended knee.
From sleeping birds we can learn the secret of holding things which are most precious to us--honesty, purity, thoughtfulness, honor, character. That secret is in the knee bent in prayer, seeking to get a firmer grip on those values which make life worth living. When we hold firmly to God in prayer, we can rest assured he will hold tightly to us.
--Rollin S. Burhans
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Thoughts on Prayer
They never sought in vain that sought the Lord aright! (Drummond Burns, b. 1823)
Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of heaven there are no barriers; the only password is prayer. (Hosea Ballou, b. 1771)
Prayer is the voice of faith. (Richard Horne, b. 1803)
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance. (Kahlil Gibran, b. 1884)
O God, if in the day of battle I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me. (William King, b. 1663)
God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays. (John Masefield, b. 1878)
Pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended upon man. (Francis J. Spellman, b. 1889)
Between the humble and contrite heart and the majesty of heaven there are no barriers; the only password is prayer. (Hosea Ballou, b. 1771)
Prayer is the voice of faith. (Richard Horne, b. 1803)
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance. (Kahlil Gibran, b. 1884)
O God, if in the day of battle I forget Thee, do not Thou forget me. (William King, b. 1663)
God warms his hands at man's heart when he prays. (John Masefield, b. 1878)
Pray as if everything depended upon God, and work as if everything depended upon man. (Francis J. Spellman, b. 1889)
Friday, February 26, 2010
Higher Thoughts
Lord, let me not be too content
with life in trifling service spent--
Make me aspire!
When days with petty cares are filled,
Let me with fleeting thought be thrilled
Of something higher!
Help me to long for mental grace
To struggle with the commonplace
I daily find.
My little deeds not bring to fruit
A crop of little thought to suit
A shriveled mind.
Author Unknown
with life in trifling service spent--
Make me aspire!
When days with petty cares are filled,
Let me with fleeting thought be thrilled
Of something higher!
Help me to long for mental grace
To struggle with the commonplace
I daily find.
My little deeds not bring to fruit
A crop of little thought to suit
A shriveled mind.
Author Unknown
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Sincere Prayer
'Tis not enough to bend the knee,
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree;
Or else we do not pray.
For words,without the heart,
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will he to those lips attend,
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Author Unknown
And words of prayer to say;
The heart must with the lips agree;
Or else we do not pray.
For words,without the heart,
The Lord will never hear;
Nor will he to those lips attend,
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Author Unknown
Monday, October 12, 2009
The Five Finger Prayer
Your thumb is nearest to you. So begin your prayers by praying for those closest to you. They are the easiest to remember. To pray for our loved ones is, as C. S. Lewis once said, "a sweet duty."
The next finger is the pointer finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as an piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
Lastly comes our pinkie; the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
Author Unknown
The next finger is the pointer finger. Pray for those who teach, instruct, and heal. This includes teachers, doctors, and ministers. They need support and wisdom in pointing others in the right direction. Keep them in your prayers.
The next finger is the tallest finger. It reminds us of our leaders. pray for the president, leaders in business and industry, and administrators. These people shape our nation and guide public opinion. They need God's guidance.
The fourth finger is our ring finger. Surprising to many is the fact that this is our weakest finger; as an piano teacher will testify. It should remind us to pray for those who are weak, in trouble, or in pain. They need your prayers day and night. You cannot pray too much for them.
Lastly comes our pinkie; the smallest finger of all, which is where we should place ourselves in relation to God and others. As the Bible says, "the least shall be the greatest among you." Your pinkie should remind you to pray for yourself. By the time you have prayed for the other four groups, your own needs will be put into proper perspective and you will be able to pray for yourself more effectively.
Author Unknown
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Be Sincere
We often say our prayers,
But do we ever pray?
And do the wishes of our heart
Go with the words we say?
We may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.
For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear,
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
But do we ever pray?
And do the wishes of our heart
Go with the words we say?
We may as well kneel down
And worship gods of stone
As offer to the living God
A prayer of words alone.
For words without the heart
The Lord will never hear,
Nor will He to those lips attend
Whose prayers are not sincere.
Author Unkown
Monday, September 28, 2009
More On Prayer
Every time we pray, our horizon is altered, our attitude to things is altered, not sometimes but every time, and the amazing thing is that we don't pray more. (Oswald Chambers)
It would be rash to say that there is any prayer in which God never grants. But the strongest candidate is the prayer we might express in the single word encore. (C. S. Lewis)
When life knocks you to your knees--well, that's the best position in which to pray, isn't it? (Ethel Barrymore)
Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. (William Cowper & John Newton)
Any revitalization of faith in this country will have to start with prayer, in which we gain a sense of the living presence of God. (George H. Gallup, Jr.)
It would be rash to say that there is any prayer in which God never grants. But the strongest candidate is the prayer we might express in the single word encore. (C. S. Lewis)
When life knocks you to your knees--well, that's the best position in which to pray, isn't it? (Ethel Barrymore)
Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint upon his knees. (William Cowper & John Newton)
Any revitalization of faith in this country will have to start with prayer, in which we gain a sense of the living presence of God. (George H. Gallup, Jr.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
