Our God has seen fit to fill the scriptures with prayers of praise and petition for others. There are so many of these prayers that it is clear that the Lord is trying to show us how to pray according to His will. Here are a few of these prayers by general topic.

Worship and praise

Psalm 19:1-4  “The heavens are telling the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.  Day to day pours forth speech, and night to night declares knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words; their voice is not heard;yet their voice goes out through all the earth and their words to the end of the world.” 

Psalm 27:1-3   “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh—my adversaries and foes—they shall stumble and fall.  Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident.” 

Psalm 34:1-10   “I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.  My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt his name together.  I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.  I look to him, and am radiant, so my face shall never be ashamed.  This poor soul cried and was heard by the Lord and was saved from every trouble.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him and delivers them.  O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him.  O fear the Lord, you his holy ones, for those who fear him have no want.  The young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.” 

Psalm 36:5-9  “Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds.  Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; your judgments are like the great deep; you save humans and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your steadfast love, O God!  All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.  They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights.  For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”

Psalm 45:6-8   “Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever.  Your royal scepter is a scepter of equity; you love righteousness and hate wickedness. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions; your robes are all fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.” 

Intercessory prayers

Ephesians 1:17-19  “I pray that You, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to me a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of You. I pray that the eyes of my heart may be enlightened, so that I will know what is the hope of our Your calling, what are the riches of the glory of Your inheritance in the saints,and what is the surpassing greatness of Your power toward me when I truly believe.”

1 Thessalonians 3:11-12  “Now may You, my God and Father and my Lord Jesus … make my love increase and overflow for You and for everyone else. May You, Lord, strengthen my heart so that I will be blameless and holy in the presence of You, my God and Father when the Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”

Psalm 5  “Lord, lead me in Your righteousness because of my enemies; make Your way straight before me.  For there is nothing trustworthy in their mouth; their inward part is destruction itself. Their throat is an open grave; they flatter with their tongue. Make them pay, God; have them fall by their own schemes!  Scatter them in the multitude of their wrongdoings, For they are rebellious against You.”

“But rejoice, all who take refuge in You, sing for joy forever!  And may You shelter them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.  For You bless the righteous person, Lord, you surround him with favor as with a shield.”

Psalm 12  “Help, Lord, for the godly person has come to an end, for the faithful have disappeared from the sons of mankind.  They speak lies to one another; they speak with flattering lips and a double heart.  May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things; who have said, “With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?”  “Because of the devastation of the poor, because of the groaning of the needy, now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will put him in the safety for which he longs.”  You, Lord, will keep them; You will protect him from this generation forever.  The wicked strut about on every side when vileness is exalted among the sons of mankind.”

Watch for more prayers from scripture in future posts.

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