During our Sunday service prayer time, Colin shared a prayer that he had written just through using scripture verses. I wanted to share this with us for a couple of reasons. First, to encourage us to also do the same. 1 Corinthians 14:26 speaks of each of us bringing a song or a prayer to share when we meet together. So if you haven’t thought of being pre-pared for church, or you don’t like praying off the cuff, then have a go at writing out your prayers before you come on Sunday. Second reason for sharing this prayer is because it is a beautiful prayer that is worth keeping and repeating when we feel like life is more than we can cope with. It illustrates how powerful it is when we use the bible in our prayers. When we are at a loss to know how to articulate what we feel, there is always someone in the bible who has been there before; especially in the psalms which describes situations with the rawest of emotions. But there is also always a word of encouragement in the scriptures for us to draw that gives us again a hope in the future.
Our Father in heaven,
Though you have made us see troubles, many & bitter, you will restore our lives again: from the depths of the earth you will again bring us up. You will increase our honour & comfort us once more. Heal us Lord & we will be healed; save us & we will be saved for you are the one we praise. For everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. And the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory in Christ, after we have suffered a little while, will himself restore us & make us strong, firm & steadfast. Amen.
(This prayer was taken from Psalm 71:20-21; Jeremiah 17:14; 1 John 5:4; 1 Peter 5:10).