How to pray when you can’t find the words
I learnt to pray at the dinner table and my bedside. I learnt to pray for strangers watching my mother do it without hesitation when an ambulance drove by. Scripture puts it pretty simply, we are to pray all the time, for all things. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Philippians 4:6, Ephesians 6:18, and many more!)
Sometimes prayers roll off the tongue, and I am able to pour out my heart as easily as breathing, other times, I make it is a far as “God…” and just admit that I don’t have the words to say. Scripture, is a goldmine of dialogue to incorporate into your prayer life.
I annotate my bible quite prolifically, and littered throughout, I have a little speech bubble corresponding to different verses and passages that I can incorporate into prayer.
Here’s a few of them:
Numbers 6:24-26
Isaiah 32:18
Ephesians 5:1-20
Jude 1:24-25
Colossians 1:10-14
Psalm 40:8
Hebrews 13:18
1 Corinthians 16:4-5
Luke 1:46-53
I encourage you to take the time to flick through your own bible, and make a note of verses and passages that you can incorporate into your prayer life. Read on for some prayer examples/prompts/starters to help guide you on your prayer journey.
A Prayer for:
WHEN YOU HEAR/SEE AN AMBULANCE/EMERGENCY VEHICLE:
Lord, protect and keep safe whoever is in need of help, guide and steady the hands of those looking after them, offer the person in need your comfort, and peace to their loved ones.
WHEN YOU’RE TIRED
Lord, I am tired, and I am weary. I’m struggling to find the energy to take on today. I know that you are the sustainer. Help me with my energy today and help my body to best use everything it’s being given, from food, to rest, help my body use these well. Encourage me even in my tiredness, to forge on, and help me to find true, restorative rest.
YOUR HOME (I like to pray something like this as I clean etc.)
God, bless this home, let it be a sanctuary where your peace and love is known. Thank you for this space that I can use to bless others, may each person in this household know you. Help me to build my home in wisdom, and in love, on your firm foundation.
FOR SOMEONE ELSE GOING THROUGH A HARD TIME
God, be with them, look after their heart in this time, offer them comfort and peace, knowing that you are a good father, a good God who has more love to offer than we can fathom. I ask that you would intercede in their circumstances, providing a way and hope where there is no hope. I pray that you place all the right people around them, to support them practically, to pray for them, to encourage them and to bless them. Thank you that you are a God of Providence, of protection, of mercy, of healing and hope.
COUNTING YOUR BLESSINGS
Thank you God for all that you have blessed me with, thank you for the way you provide for all my needs, and for the things that bring me joy, for the people, the community around me and thank you for the ways you are working on my heart each day. Thank you for [list some specific things you are thankful for].
FOR WISDOM
Lord, help me to respond to the prompting of your Holy Spirit, who I can lean on for discernment, wisdom and grace. Give me the words to say, and those not to say.
FOR A FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT
Lord, thank you for this opportunity to put into practice [love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and/or self-control.], help me to demonstrate it in this moment.
PREGNANCY/FERTILITY
Lord I lift up the health of [someone’s name, or yourself], bless their/my womb, thank you that you knit together each person, that they are fearfully and wonderfully made. May this journey be one of joy, of blessing and of peace. I ask that you would place all the right people around NAME/ME, from friends, family, and medical professionals, may their consel and encoruagement be from you, and help them to have wisdom. Thank you, that you have gone before NAME/ME, and have already prepared NAMES/MY body for such a time and task as this.
MARRIAGE:
Thank you lord, for the blessing of marriage.
For our marriage that is [long standing, just starting, is being prepared for.]
I pray that we would be kind, tender-hearted, and forgiving toward one another, speaking truth with love. Let our marriage be one of mutual encouragement and support, where we would sharpen each other like iron, growing together in wisdom and grace.
Unite us in both purpose and love, that we may work together with a shared heart and mind. May we seek to be faithful in the small things, trusting that these moments build the foundation of a strong, lasting marriage.
Where one goes, may the other follow, bound together in unity of heart and spirit.
Let what You have joined together never be separated
I pray that I and my spouse would have the eyes to see you and your work in one another, falling deeper in love with one another and with you.
PARENTS:
Lord, give NAME/the parents I know the wisdom and discernment to raise their children in a way that glorifies and honours you. Thank you for the gift of Godly parents, that have the heirloom of faith to pass onto the next generation. Bless them and keep them, may their homes be filled with your love, joy and grace. Help them to lean on you and not on their own understanding, and surround them with a village.
WHEN YOU’RE SAD
God, you are the comforter and my peace, help me to feel the embrace of your great love. I know that you see my tears and all the ways my heart breaks, and that you are with me in the midst of this.
