Last on our menu of Biblical writing is prayer and praise. However, rather than take these together in one giant post, let's look at them separately.
Prayers recorded in Scripture aren't much different from those we pray ourselves. Look for God's name and then the requests usually follow with the verbs leading the way.
- "Our Father in heaven … give us this day our daily bread, … forgive us … do not lead us into temptation …" Matthew 6:9-13
- "O Lord, hear! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, listen and act! Do not delay." Daniel 9:19
- "Now Lord, look on their threats and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word." Acts 4:29
Sometimes that order is reversed, with the request coming first.
- "Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me and I shall be saved, for You are my praise." Jeremiah 17:14
- "Remember me, O my God, for good." Nehemiah 13:30
- "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxieties." Psalm 139:23
Some other prayer markers to watch for are the words "may" and "let".
- "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
- "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Thessalonians 5:23
Which Biblical prayers mean the most to you?
I consider most of the Psalms to be prayers, actually. Some of them I really gravitate to when I'm sad and I have them written down (the references for right now). I don't really have a prayer or a Psalm when I'm happy. I mostly just praise God through other songs.
It was interesting to look at how you lined them up. I don't think I ever considered "May" and "Let" openings for prayers. But now that you've shown it here, "Let the works of my hands and meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight" (I think is how it goes) is a prayer to me now! I had never considered it tobe a prayer before! So that was neat.
Thanks for the post!