Worship God Only

 In the name of Lord Jesus Christ let's worship using scripture 

 🗣️ : Worship God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord, our Maker!

O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!

Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

My mouth is filled with your praise, and with your glory all the day.

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Now I,  praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are right and His ways are just; and those who walk in pride He is able to humble.

Then Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head and fell on the ground and worshiped. And he said, “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.”

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

You shall serve the Lord your God, and he will bless your bread and your water, and I will take sickness away from among you.

Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised, and his greatness is unsearchable.

And Jesus answered him, “It is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and him only shall you serve.’”

For from HIM and through HIM and to HIM are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. So I will bless you as long as I live; in your name I will lift up my hands.

For it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.”

“Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth.

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the Lord; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation.

I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules.

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. 

To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness; tremble before HIM, all the earth!

Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation and my God.

O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you; my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.

Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours. Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as Head above all.

Now to GOD who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to HIM be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

I will extol you, my God and King, and bless your name forever and ever.

Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the peoples!

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples; I will sing praises to you among the nations.

I cried to HIM with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue.

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever!

Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.

Likewise also that women should adorn themselves in respectable apparel, with modesty and self-control, not with braided hair and gold or pearls or costly attire, but with what is proper for women who profess godliness—with good works.

But I have trusted in your steadfast love; my heart shall rejoice in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.

Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

“There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no Rock like our God.

Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah

And the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”

And the Lord said: “Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men,

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!

Therefore God has highly exalted Jesus Christ and bestowed on Jesus Christ the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus Christ every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!

I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth.

All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name.” Selah

Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will hear you.

I stretch out my hands to you; my soul thirsts for you like a parched land. Selah

Therefore you are great, O Lord God. For there is none like you, and there is no God besides you, according to all that we have heard with our ears.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.

Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.

Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah

The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily. 

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer. 

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

Brothers, my heart's desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved. For I bear them witness that they have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God's righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. For Moses writes about the righteousness that is based on the law, that the person who does the commandments shall live by them. 

When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of your name; deliver us, and atone for our sins, for your name's sake!

In those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration when Quirinius was governor of Syria. And all went to be registered, each to his own town. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the town of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed, who was with child.

 As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they say to me all the day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival. Why are you cast down, O my soul, and why are you in turmoil within me? Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation .

And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! Let your glory be over all the earth!

You will say in that day: “I will give thanks to you, O Lord, for though you were angry with me, your anger turned away, that you might comfort me. “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted. “Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously; let this be made known in all the earth. 

Exalt the Lord our God; worship at His footstool! Holy is he!

Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to HIM with songs of praise!

Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent. He lays the beams of his chambers on the waters; he makes the clouds his chariot; he rides on the wings of the wind; he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire. He set the earth on its foundations, so that it should never be moved. 

And you will say in that day: “Give thanks to the Lord, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the peoples, proclaim that his name is exalted.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come before HIM! Worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness;

Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the Rock of our Salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. In his hand are the depths of the earth; the heights of the mountains are his also. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. ...

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Be gone, Satan! For it is written, “‘You shall worship the Lord your God and HIM only shall you serve.’”

We give thanks to you, O God; we give thanks, for your name is near. We recount your wondrous deeds.

And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, “Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

Let them praise his name with dancing, making melody to him with tambourine and lyre!

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!”

Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise.

For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.”

For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,

And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

There is nothing more important. Pray God

 Luke 18:1–8

Luke 18:1–8 is a parable that the Lord uses to encourage His disciples to pray persistently.

Although I am not always consistent with keeping one, I would highly recommend using a prayer journal or perhaps, more simply, a prayer list. By this, I mean recording one’s petitions on paper and continuing to pray over them daily. There are two distinct advantages.

First, by keeping a record and praying until the Lord resolves the issue, one cannot help but notice God’s faithfulness in answering our prayers.

Second, and more pertinent to this month’s blog topic, a record facilitates persistence. As we all understand, the Lord answers some petitions quickly. Others can take months or even years. I distinctly recall petitions I brought before the Lord in prayer over a decade ago. Only now has He come to answer. I mention this not to lament over the Lord’s divine timing but to highlight His desire that we pray persistently.

Luke 18:1

And He told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

It is worth noting that the two Greek verbs used to express “to pray” and “lose heart” are both in the present tense. One sense of present tense Greek verbs is continuation. In other words, Jesus exhorts us to pray continuously, without end, regardless of time.

Yet there are at least three things that work against us as we try to pray continuously:

• The first thing that works against us is our sinful nature. Before the fall into sin in the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve petitioned the Lord and then anticipated His answer with rock-solid certainty. In our sinful nature, we are inclined to doubt and even distrust God, believing He is weak, distant, or indifferent.
• The second is our experience in the world. Life is replete with instances in which we petition others for many different needs. Human beings are inconsistent, forgetful, and selfish. Despite their best intentions, even those dearest to us fail to come through when we ask for help. We apply this negative experience to the Lord. People fail, so why should God be any different?
• Third, we reckon time from our own perspective. We pray to God not only with a petition but also with a timetable. God must answer my petition my way, according to my schedule.

Luke 18: 2–3

He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ ”

Recognizing the natures of the judge and the widow is central to understanding the force of the parable. The judge does not fear God. The Greek word for “fear” is also translated as “terror.” This is not the kind of fear based in love and respect that children are to have for their parents. Rather, this judge lacks the appropriate fear one should have for God, who can destroy the body and cast the soul into hell. The judge also does not respect—literally does not “turn aside”—any man. The widow petitions this judge for justice. Jesus wants His disciples to contrast the nature of the judge against the tender, faithful nature of God. We are also mindful that the widow has no real recourse of her own. Women have no legal standing in this context. We are to assume that she has no other male to plead her case or press her rights for her.

Luke 18: 4–5

“For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’ ”

While the judge gives justice to the widow, he, in keeping with his nature, does so to rid himself of her interminable clamoring, not out of compassion, the defense of justice, fear of God, or respect of men. He serves himself.

Luke 18:6–7

And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to His elect, who cry to Him day and night? Will He delay long over them?”

Jesus composes His questions in such a manner that we can answer them with nothing but a resounding yes. This is the nature of God. If the Lord loves us enough to redeem us through the perfect life and innocent death of His beloved Son, certainly He would not hesitate to answer our prayers. The second question alludes to the reality that God answers in His own time, perfect and loving, regardless of how impatient and frustrated we become.

Luke 18:8

“I tell you, He will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?”

In His perfect teaching method, Jesus caps the parable with a warning regarding the future. Not only will some lose heart and cease praying to the Lord, there will also be those who have turned away from the Lord altogether by the time of His return. Persistent prayer and faith go together. God wants us to pray continually because doing so keeps us in touch with Him. There is nothing more important.

What beauty and peace is ahead!

 It's always a joy to relive the excitement of the gospel of Jesus Christ, every moment.

There is so much of the Lord for us to discover and enjoy. What beauty and peace is ahead!

Have you ever heard of praying through the Bible? 

Praying Scripture will bring life and power to your prayers.

Praying Scripture is using the words of the Bible to inform our prayers. In other words, when we pray through the Bible, we speak God's Word back to Him. 

We see this done throughout the Bible, as men like Nehemiah and Jonah prayed Scripture in their times of trouble. We also see this done by Christ himself on the cross when He prayed Psalm 22, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" 

 Why? 

¶Praying through the Word gives us a greater understanding of Scripture as we slow down to meditate on it. 

¶It keeps us theologically grounded and gives us time to think on God's Word as it dwells deeply within our hearts.

¶Think with God.

 It helps us set our minds on things that are true, not on our ever-changing feelings (Philippians 4:8).

Philippians 4:8 is a biblical command by the Apostle Paul urging believers to curate their thought life by focusing exclusively on virtuous and godly attributes. The verse states: "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think on these things" 

Often when we pray on our own, we pray for the same blessings, topics, and fears over and over again. The problem is not that we pray persistently; it is a sign of great faith to continually bring our needs before the Lord (Luke 18:1-8).

The problem is that we get stuck in praying only for ourselves and our own needs. Our prayers begin to look more like mindless repetitions than communing with the almighty God.

When we use Scripture to pray, it not only gives us words for our emotions and leads us in truth, it also reminds us to pray for others–for believers in prison, the poor, and injustices around the world. Instead of praying based solely on the things we can see, we pray for God's glory and global mission through the lens of Scripture. In the Bible, we find a bountiful resource to pray through as it joins us with the prayers of saints throughout history. How?

the book of Psalms is a great place to start. This is because the Psalms are, quite literally, prayers and songs to the Lord. To pray through Scripture:

 

Pick a Psalm or section of Scripture to pray through. Read it all the way through. Look up any words that you don't understand, and make sure you know what the passage means. Use a trusted study Bible to help you understand what the passage meant to its original hearers.

Read it again, this time more slowly.

Pause after every section or verse to pray, using its words to inspire and inform your prayer. Do not rush onto the next verse, but spend time thinking about the verse. Look for ways the verse encourages you–to worship God for who He is, to confess your sins, to pray for a need in your own life or in the lives of those around you, or to thank the Lord for His Word and for the blessings found in Scripture.

 

Here is a case study using Psalm 67. We begin by reading the Psalm, making sure we understand its words, phrases, and ideas. Then we go back and read it more slowly, stopping regularly to pray.

"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, Selah"

🗣️: Lord, we love You. You are beautiful. In You, all blessing and treasure is found. Just as the Psalmist prays, would You be gracious to me and my family? Would You show us Your favor and shine Your face upon us?

"That your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations."

Speak 🗣️: Father God, may Your name and Your gospel be known to the ends of the earth. Lord, rise up and save the nations! Would You give me someone to share the gospel with? Send missionaries to the ends of the earth.

"Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you."

🗣️: Lord, would You be praised within our home? Would You bring revival within our churches and cities? (Spend time praying that you would honor and praise God in everything you do. Pray for your family, local church, city, and nation.)

1. Intercessory Prayer for Family Protection

Father, O Lord of Hosts, my Strong Tower, I stand in the gap for my family today. Be a wall of fire around us and the glory within. Hide us under the shadow of Your wings. Let no plague come near our dwelling, and no weapon formed against us prosper. Assign angels to every doorpost. I plead the blood of Jesus over our minds, bodies, and spirits. Let peace reign and confusion flee. You are our Refuge and Deliverer. I declare that as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord and live under divine protection. In Jesus Christ’s name.

2. Intercessory Prayer for Healing and Restoration

Father, Jehovah Rapha, the Lord who heals, I lift up the afflicted and broken. Stretch forth Your hand and heal every infirmity. You sent Your Word and healed them—let that Word manifest now. Restore what sickness, trauma, and sorrow have stolen. Bring healing to bones, flesh, and spirit. Where there has been pain, let there be peace. Where there was loss, let there be resurrection. I call forth divine recovery, for by His stripes we are healed. Let the breath of life return. I declare health, wholeness, and healing in Jesus Christ’s name. No more delay—Your restoration is here, Lord. 

3. Intercessory Prayer for Financial Breakthrough

Father, Jehovah Jireh, our Great Provider, I intercede for those burdened by lack and debt. Open the floodgates of Heaven and pour out provision we cannot contain. The silver and gold are Yours; release divine resources. As You fed Elijah by ravens, feed Your people. Let favor fall upon jobs, businesses, and opportunities. Rebuke the devourer for our sake and cause abundance to chase us. Let the blessing that makes rich and adds no sorrow be our portion. I speak overflow into dry places. Father, show Yourself as the God who supplies all our needs according to Your riches in glory.

4. Intercessory Prayer for Spiritual Warfare

Father, Lord God of Heaven’s Armies, we rise in authority against the schemes of darkness. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to pull down strongholds. I bind every principality, silence every accuser, and cast down every imagination that exalts itself above the knowledge of God. Let every demonic altar against Your people catch fire! Raise a standard by the blood of Jesus. Arm us with the shield of faith and the sword of the Spirit. We are more than conquerors. Victory is ours. Let Your Kingdom come, and every enemy scatter in Jesus Christ’s name!

5. Intercessory Prayer for Marital Reconciliation

Father, El Shaddai, God of covenant and restoration, I cry out for broken marriages today. Let love be resurrected where it has died. You are the God who binds up the brokenhearted and restores what the enemy tried to ruin. Where there’s unforgiveness, sow grace. Where there’s silence, plant understanding. Heal wounded hearts and reconnect divided souls. Let the threefold cord not be easily broken. Reignite unity, Lord, and be the glue that holds them together. Let no man put asunder what You have joined. Restore what has been torn and bring reconciliation by Your Spirit. In Jesus Christ’s powerful name, amen.

6. Intercessory Prayer for Deliverance from Strongholds

Father, Mighty Deliverer, Breaker of Chains, I stand in the gap for those imprisoned by addiction, fear, lust, pride, and every bondage. For whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Tear down the walls the enemy has built. Let every demonic stronghold crumble like Jericho. I speak liberty over the captives and declare, “Come out in Jesus Christ’s name!” Replace torment with peace and shame with joy. Holy Spirit, flood every dark place with light. I command every chain to break and declare a new beginning. Let them rise clothed in freedom. Deliver them, O Lord, and be glorified forever!

7. Intercessory Prayer for Wisdom and Divine Guidance

Father, O Ancient of Days, Fountain of Wisdom, I intercede for those seeking direction. You said, “If any lacks wisdom, let him ask,” so I ask boldly. Illuminate the path before them. Be their cloud by day and fire by night. Let Your Word be a lamp unto their feet. Remove confusion and every counterfeit door. Pour out discernment from above—pure, peaceable, full of mercy. Speak in dreams, whisper through peace, and thunder through confirmation. I declare clarity over chaos, and divine strategy over delay. Guide them with Your eye, Lord. Lead them in the way everlasting, in Jesus Christ’s name.

8. Intercessory Prayer for Church Leaders and Pastors

Father, Great Shepherd of the sheep, we lift up Your servants—pastors, teachers, and leaders You have anointed. Strengthen their hearts, refresh their spirits, and guard their families. Let no weapon formed against them prosper. Surround them with armor and angelic protection. Anoint their lips with fire, their hands with healing, and their words with power. Raise up Aaron and Hur to lift their arms in battle. May they not grow weary in doing good, for harvest is near. Pour fresh oil, O God, and let revival begin in the pulpit. Cover them, sustain them, and be glorified through them in Jesus Christ’s name.

9. Intercessory Prayer for National Revival

Father, Lord of Nations, King of Glory, we cry for revival in our land! Rend the heavens and come down! Let righteousness spring up from the ground and truth rain from Heaven. Forgive our sins and heal our land. Awaken the sleeping church. Shake every idol, expose every lie, and turn hearts back to You. Raise up intercessors like watchmen on the wall. Let repentance flood the streets and salvation sweep across cities. We speak life over dry bones—revive us again! From the government to the grassroots, let Your Spirit fall. Ignite a national awakening, Lord, for Your name’s sake!

10. Intercessory Prayer for the Lost and Unsaved

Father, Merciful Savior, Lover of Souls, I plead for the lost. Your Word says You desire none to perish but all to come to repentance. Draw them with cords of loving kindness. Pierce the veil from their eyes and soften their hearts. Remove stony places and sow seeds of truth. Send labourers into their path. Awaken their conscience; give them divine encounters. Let the prodigals return, the blind see, and the deaf hear Your voice. I cancel every assignment of the enemy against their salvation. Lord Jesus, rescue them from darkness and translate them into Your Kingdom of Light. Save them, O God!

11. Intercessory Prayer for Breakthrough in Career

Father, Jehovah El Elyon, God Most High, I lift those who feel stuck or stagnant in their careers. You said you open doors no man can shut. So arise, O Lord, and make a way in the wilderness. Let favour surround them like a shield. Reveal the next step. Provide divine connections, promotions, and breakthroughs. Remove limitations and lead them into divine placement. I cancel every spirit of delay and confusion. You are the God who promotes from the dust and lifts the humble. Let new levels of excellence, purpose, and provision manifest. Crown their efforts with success, in Jesus Christ’s mighty name.

12. Intercessory Prayer for Peace in Troubled Times

Father, Prince of Peace, Anchor in the storm, I intercede for those surrounded by chaos. Speak, “Peace, be still,” over every anxious heart. Let not their hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. Pour out the peace that surpasses understanding. Guard minds and emotions through Christ Jesus. I silence every voice of fear, torment, and despair. Release stillness in the storm and calm in the battle. Be their refuge and hiding place. Wrap them in your shalom—completeness, safety, and rest. I declare peace over homes, minds, and nations. You are our calm in the whirlwind. Be glorified, O Lord!

13. Intercessory Prayer for Strength in Weakness

Father, El Gibbor, Mighty God, I cry out for those who feel weary and faint. As You strengthened Elijah beneath the juniper tree, strengthen Your children today. Your Word declares, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Just as Paul rejoiced in infirmities, let Your power rest upon them now. Father, be their rock and firm foundation. When they walk through fire, they shall not be burned. Renew their strength like the eagle. Let them mount up and not faint. Wrap them in Your power, Lord, and cause them to rise again in Jesus Christ’s name.

14. Intercessory Prayer for Favour and Open Doors

Father, O God of Joseph, the Door-Opener, I lift those waiting for favour. As you gave Esther favour before the king and Joseph in Pharaoh’s court, let divine doors swing open! Your Word says, “You shall rise and have mercy upon Zion, for the time to favour her has come.” Break delay. Overrule protocols. Promote them beyond qualifications. Let kings come to the brightness of their rising. Cause the hearts of men to be stirred in their favour. I decree open doors, divine access, and accelerated breakthrough. The keys of David are in Your hands. Open, O Lord, and none shall shut!

15. Intercessory Prayer for Children’s Destiny

Abba Father, You are the Author of destiny and the Keeper of generations. I lift every child into Your sovereign hands. As You called Samuel from a young age and raised David from the field to the throne, let destinies arise. I declare, “Our children shall be taught by the Lord and great shall be their peace.” Cancel every satanic exchange and reverse every evil prophecy. Let their names be written in Heaven’s scroll. Plant them by rivers of living water. Protect them from every snare of darkness. Raise them as arrows in Your hand, and fulfill every divine assignment.

16. Intercessory Prayer for Overcoming Temptation

Father, Holy and Righteous Judge, I stand in the gap for those battling temptation. Strengthen them like you strengthened Jesus in the wilderness. Your Word declares, “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man, but God is faithful…” Rescue them from the snare of the enemy. Let them not fall as Adam, but stand as Joseph did. Give them escape routes, strength, and spiritual resistance. I bind every lying spirit that glorifies sin and loose a hunger for righteousness. Let holiness rise like incense in their lives. Keep them blameless until the day of Christ. In Jesus Christ’s name, amen.

17. Intercessory Prayer for Emotional Healing

Father, Jehovah Shalom, God of Peace, I intercede for the brokenhearted. Your Word says, “He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.” I call forth healing into every scar, every trauma, and every silent pain. Be to them the Balm in Gilead. Restore what grief, betrayal, and abuse have stolen. Like Hannah, turn their mourning into song. Wipe every tear. Release joy for sorrow and praise for heaviness. Let peace reign in the depths of their soul. Holy Spirit, breathe healing into every wound. I declare divine restoration and emotional resurrection. May their hearts beat again in freedom and joy.

18. Intercessory Prayer for Unity in the Body of Christ

Father, Elohim, God of Unity, I cry out for oneness in Your Church. As Jesus prayed, “That they all may be one,” let this prayer echo now. Break the spirit of division, offense, and competition. Let love bind us together in perfect harmony. As the early church gathered in one accord, pour out fresh fire and unshakable unity. Let denominational walls crumble. Unite our hearts for revival, for missions, for truth. Empower leaders to walk in humility and members in servanthood. Let the Church arise in strength and beauty, a Bride without spot. For where there is unity, You command the blessing.

19. Intercessory Prayer for Missionaries and God's Five-Fold, Ministers; apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers. Elders and deacons.

Father, Lord of the Harvest, Commander of Heaven’s army, I lift up every missionary and Your anointed ministers doing the work of the Gospel. As Paul and Barnabas were sent out by the Spirit, empower these laborers with boldness, protection, and supernatural provision. “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the Gospel of peace!” Let signs and wonders follow their message. Give them open heavens, receptive hearts, and favour with men. Shield them from persecution and discouragement. Strengthen their hands and stir fresh fire in their bones. May nations be transformed through their witness. Use them, O God, for Your glory.

20. Intercessory Prayer for Government Leaders

Father, Ruler of Nations, King of all kings, I stand in the gap for presidents, governors, lawmakers, and judges. Your Word commands us to pray for those in authority so we may live in peace. As you gave wisdom to Solomon, give our leaders divine discernment. Remove wicked counselors. Raise up Daniels and Josephs—God-fearing men and women in government. Let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream. Expose corruption, silence confusion, and establish truth. Protect those who walk in integrity. Lead our nation through righteous leadership. Rule through them, Lord, and be enthroned over every seat of power.

21. Intercessory Prayer for Supernatural Provision

Father, Jehovah Jireh, my Provider, I intercede for those in need of Heaven’s supply. As you sent manna to Israel and multiplied loaves for the 5,000, provide miraculously again. “The young lions may lack, but those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” Open windows of Heaven. Pour out blessings they cannot contain. Break every cycle of lack and devourer. Release creative ideas, divine favours, and angelic help. Let debts be cancelled and storehouses overflow. You are the God who brings water from rocks and coins from fish. Let supernatural provision manifest today, in Jesus Christ’s powerful name!

22. Intercessory Prayer for Breaking Generational Curses

Father, Chain-Breaking God, the Curse Reverser, I cry out for freedom across generations. Your Word says, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law.” Every inherited bondage—poverty, disease, addiction, failure—I uproot by the blood of Jesus! As Gideon tore down his father’s altar, let every evil pattern be destroyed. I decree: What bound my bloodline ends with me! From this moment, I walk in blessing and not curse. Let your fire consume every ancestral chain. Raise a new legacy of faith, favour, and freedom. I seal this family line with the covenant of Jesus Christ. No curse can stand, amen!

23. Intercessory Prayer for Divine Acceleration

Father, Lord of Speed and Suddenly, I stand in the gap for those who feel delayed. As Elijah outran Ahab’s chariot and Joseph rose from prison to palace in one day, let divine acceleration come! Your Word says, “I will do a quick work and cut it short in righteousness.” Redeem the years stolen by delay, fear, or failure. Send help swiftly. Shift times and seasons. Let what would take years happen in weeks. Place your hand upon them for supernatural speed. Let divine appointments, open doors, and answered prayers manifest now. No more delay! Arise, O God, and do it quickly!

24. Intercessory Prayer for Endurance and Perseverance

Father, God of Endurance, Strength of the weary, I intercede for those tempted to give up. As Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him, let strength arise in their inner man. “He who endures to the end shall be saved.” Give them a spirit that does not quit. Let hope anchor their soul. When the storm rages, speak peace. When the road is long, walk beside them. Infuse them with supernatural grace to finish strong. Remind them that You are faithful. The crown awaits. They shall not faint but overcome. Let perseverance be their portion, in Lord Jesus Christ’s name.

"Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon the earth. Selah"

🗣️: Lord, we joyfully praise You! May more and more people come to know You! You judge the world fairly. (Use this as a time of confession for unrepented sins.)

"Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!"

🗣️: Again, we cry out to You Lord, this time on behalf of our unbelieving friends and family. (Spend time interceding on behalf of friends and family who don't know the Lord. Call out their names.)

"The earth has produced its harvest; God, our God, blesses us."

 🗣️: Lord, You have blessed us. Thank You for saving us. Thank You for providing food for me to eat and a roof over my head. Thank You for all the blessings You have provided. (Spend time thinking through specific blessings God has given you.)

"God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!"

🗣️: Lord, You are good. You are a kind Father who longs to give good gifts to his children. You will bless us, and the ends of the earth will fear You. Use me to spread Your gospel to the ends of the Earth. We love you, Lord.

 

By using Scripture to inform our prayers, we use God's words and speak them back to Him. God promises that his Word never returns void, and praying Scripture is a beautiful way to know God's heart and pray in accordance with God's will. It guards our theology and helps guide our wandering hearts. May you be strengthened in prayer and in your love for His Word!

Psalms 67

An Invocation and a Doxology

To the Chief Musician. On stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.

¹God be merciful to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us,

Selah

²That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.

³Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

⁴Oh, let the nations be glad and sing for joy!

For You shall judge the people righteously,

And govern the nations on earth.

Selah

⁵Let the peoples praise You, O God;

Let all the peoples praise You.

⁶Then the earth shall yield her increase;

God, our own God, shall bless us.

⁷God shall bless us,

And all the ends of the earth shall fear Him.

Teach us to pray God's Word Will

 We are praying meaning. We are not just praying words. Not just saying vain repetitions to Almighty God. 

So, I am just going to start with Colossians 2:6, because I have been in Colossians in my devotions, and I am going to show you how I turn Colossians 2:6–7 into prayer. And I will break it up in two pieces. It just turned out that way. So, here we go. This is reading from Colossians 2:6–7: “As you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Yes, Lord Jesus, I have received you and I do receive you afresh right now this morning. I welcome you to take full control of my life. If I am estranging you in any way, pushing you away at all, show me and help me to kill that sin. I want to walk in you, in your power, in your way, in your fellowship. I dedicate myself to this right now again, just like I have so many times in the past. And I turn from all others, anything else that would compete with you as my closest friend and helper. You have given rootedness and foundation to my life. Thank you.

I didn’t create these roots in you or these great foundation stones of faith. You did that. Thank you. Thank you for sending teachers into my life. Thank you for my parents and many Christians  and dozens of partners in ministry over the years that have exhorted me and kept me on the narrow way. Oh, how I thank you, Lord! It has all been owning to you. My reaching you and my walking in you and my rootedness and foundation in you, it is all owing to you. All my teachers were from you. You are kind and merciful, a mighty God. I love you this morning.

And then I keep reading: “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy or empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Colossians 2:8–9).

Lord Jesus, I am not even sure I know what “the elemental spirits of the world” are. But until I find out, I pray that you would protect me from them. Your work in me is way more important than my perfect understanding. Guard me. But I know something of the dangers of human tradition and philosophy. I have felt the pull of forces away from you. Oh, thank you that I am still here, right now praying and not over the cliff of unbelief. Oh, give me discernment so I can see what is according to Christ, like you said, in the books that I read, in the TV shows that I watch, in the movies and the news.

O Lord, these forces are so strong, and I am so prone to be entertained by ideas and actions that are not according to Christ. Have mercy upon me and give me the courage to say no to anything that tends to undermine my fellowship with you and my boldness in witness. How could I ever be lured away, Lord? For in you is the whole fullness of deity, Paul says, the whole fullness of deity dwelling bodily. Amazing. Amazing. Absolutely amazing. O Christ, help me all day, every day, this very day to be more amazed at you and your fullness of deity that I will never turn away — more amazed than I am at anything else. Let my amazement at your fullness of deity spill over at work today. Make me a means of others being amazed, I pray, in Jesus’s name. Amen.

Pray with the Bible with revelation knowledge, not the five-senses knowledge. Praying the Scriptures is so important in the Christian life. If we do not form the habit of praying the Scriptures, our prayers will almost certainly degenerate into vain repetitions that eventually revolve entirely around our immediate private concerns, rather than God’s larger purposes. 

First, we should notice that the early church prayed the Scriptures in Acts 4:24 and following. In fact, they explicitly quote Scriptures. Threats had been made against them and it says, “They lifted their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.’” They are exulting in what they know from God in Scripture. Then verses 25–26: “Who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed.’” That is a quotation from Psalm 2. So, we know that the early church prayed back to God the very words that God had given them — for example, in the Psalms.

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How Do I Pray the Bible?

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Episode 999 February 6, 2017

Interview with John Piper

Founder & Teacher, Desiring God

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Audio Transcript

Welcome back to a new week on the Ask Pastor John podcast, with longtime author and pastor John Piper. Thanks for making us a part of your day. Today is episode number 999, and our question today comes from a listener named Dalibor — I think that name is Czech. “Pastor John, can you give an example or two on how to pray the Scriptures? This seems right, but also foreign to me. How do I read in such a way that the words become alive and speak to me here and now? How do my feelings reflect or get aligned with the text I’m reading now? Or even better, perhaps you would be willing to pray through a section of Scripture with us / for us?”

I love this question, because praying the Scriptures is so important in the Christian life. If we don’t form the habit of praying the Scriptures, our prayers will almost certainly degenerate into vain repetitions that eventually revolve entirely around our immediate private concerns, rather than God’s larger purposes. So, let me try to help Dalibor see this as less foreign. He said it felt foreign to him. Let me see if I can help make it feel less foreign.

First, we should notice that the early church prayed the Scriptures in Acts 4:24 and following. In fact, they explicitly quote Scriptures. Threats had been made against them and it says, “They lifted their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them.’” They are exulting in what they know from God in Scripture. Then verses 25–26: “Who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed.’” That is a quotation from Psalm 2. So, we know that the early church prayed back to God the very words that God had given them — for example, in the Psalms.

“We know that the early church prayed back to God the very words that God had given them.”

Here is a second thing. Don’t forget the obvious; namely, that many parts of the Scripture are prayers. So, simply to read them is to pray, if we are awake — if you are thinking about what you are doing. Paul has got numerous prayers that he prays for the people that he is writing his letters to. And every time we read that, we should pray with Paul. And a great portion of the Psalms are prayers, and Jesus gave us some prayers. I have used the acronym IOUS from the Psalms to guide how I pray the Scriptures:

I, Incline my heart to your testimonies (Psalm 119:36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,and not to selfish gain!).

O, Open my eyes to see wonderful things (Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.).

U, Unite my heart to fear your name (Psalm 86:11 Teach me your way, O Lord,that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name.).

S, Satisfy me in the morning with your steadfast love (Psalm 90:14 Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.).

So, the Scripture models for us how to pray about reading the Scriptures and turning them into prayers.

And then think about this, which is so obvious: The Scriptures either tell us something about God and Christ when we are reading so that we can praise him. Or, they tell us something about what God and Christ and the Holy Spirit have done so that we can thank him and express faith in it. Or, they tell us what God expects from us so that we can cry out for his help. Or, they tell us about something we failed to do so that we can confess our sins. So, it seems to me that virtually all the Bible is doing one or more of those four things: something about God, something about what God has done, something about what God expects, something about how we have failed, so that they naturally lead into praise to God, thanks to God, crying for help to God, and confession of sin to God.

But one caution here: Let’s be realistic. What we are praying is the meaning of texts, not just words. This is important. So, for example, when reading part of the Old Testament history book that takes a whole chapter to tell a story, say, about Ahab’s wickedness I just read this morning (1 Kings 21). Ahab’s wickedness. And I also read this morning a whole chapter about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego’s faith and courage in front of that fiery furnace. Now, how do you pray Scripture like that? You don’t probably turn every verse into a prayer, because it takes more than one verse to make a point. And that is my point. We are praying meaning. We are not just praying words.

So, you have to read enough of the Bible to catch the meaning. What is the author trying to say here about boldness and courage and faith in Daniel 3? And so, you might wait during three or four minutes of reading and then pause and say, “O God, make me like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and forgive me for my pansy like relation to feeling embarrassed” or whatever. And the same thing with Ahab. I just got so mad at him this morning when he took Naboth’s vineyard and killed him (1 Kings 21:1–16). Oh! And the prophet came and really laid into him and told him: You are going to be in big trouble (1 Kings 21:17–24). There is so much there to pray about. But you have to read the whole chapter before you can get it right in your head and heart.