I was talking with a friend at a conference several years ago. She was in the midst of an intense season of stress and grief. She had to be strong for loved ones, while at the same time needed energy to carry on with her very full life.
She shared that her prayer life seemed dry; she felt like she was simply going through the motions. As I listened to her, I was reminded of a time when my own prayers were in particular need of help.
My mind was often foggy. I was tired all the time. I felt dried out, through and through.
I had a little blue box of verses, scribbled out on index cards, that I had been collecting for years. During that season in the desert, I would take three or four cards out each day and turn them into prayers.
As I shared with my friend, these prayers weren’t fancy. I didn’t speak them out loud with any sort of eloquence; in fact, the only way I could stay focused was to type them out on my computer. (I still do that, in fact. I’ve never found a better way to keep my mind from wandering when I pray.)
This season didn’t last forever, but I still have my little blue box of verses. The timeless encouragement and comfort it holds will be there the next time I need it (and I’m fairly certain there will be a next time).
We make prayer more difficult than it is, I think. There are so many books, so many strategies, so many standards we think we have to meet.
I’m not saying the books aren’t helpful. In fact, a long-running piece of my own prayer life is based on two books from Stormie Omartian’s Power of a Praying series.
When we get right down to it, though, prayer is simply talking—to the sovereign God of the universe, yes, but also to the only Person who knows everything about us and loves us anyway.
Even so, as my friend and I discovered at different times in our lives, we sometimes reach a point where we’ve prayed all the prayers we know to pray so many times we’re sick of them.
It’s at times like these—when it feels like we’ve completely run out of things to say—that turning to the Bible and praying God’s words right back to Him can help reopen our end of the communication lines.
• When we don’t know what to do: Send your light and your truth, let them lead me. (Psalm 43:3)
• When we really want a particular thing to happen but also need to hold our desires loosely: Nevertheless, not my will, but yours be done. (Luke 22:42)
• When we’re tired of waiting for God to rescue us: I long for your salvation; I put my hope in your word. My eyes grow weary looking for what you have promised; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” (Psalm 119:81-82)
• When a looming season of life makes us feel untethered and without direction: The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me. Lord, your love is eternal; do not abandon the work of Your hands. (Psalm 138:8)
• When we wonder how long God is going to put up with what’s going on in the world: Lord, I have heard the report about you; Lord, I stand in awe of your deeds. Revive your work in these years; make it known in these years. In your wrath remember mercy! (Habakkuk 3:2)
• When we’re feeling weak and alone. I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer, my God, my mountain where I seek refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. (Psalm 18:1-2)
• When we’re struggling to be steadfast: Teach me your way, Lord, and I will live by your truth. Give me an undivided mind to fear your name. (Psalm 86:11)
• When we’re feeling overwhelmed: If I say, “My foot is slipping,” your faithful love will support me, Lord. When I am filled with cares, your comfort brings me joy. (Psalm 94:18-19)
• When we don’t have strength to keep going: I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my shelter, my portion in the land of the living.” Listen to my cry, for I am very weak. (Psalm 142:5-6)
• When we’re concerned about our loved ones’ hearts: Lord, do not withhold your compassion from [them]; Your constant love and truth will always guard [them]. (Psalm 40:11)
• When the way ahead seems dark and scary: Show me the path of life; in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)
I could go on with this all day, but I’d love to hear from you too. Please share some scriptures that have helped you pray during a dark or dry season, or a verse that’s helping you now.
Who knows? The verse you share might be the very prayer someone else needs today.
♥ Lois
Prayer is simply talking—to the sovereign God of the universe AND the only Person who knows everything about us and loves us anyway. Click To Tweet When we’ve run out of things to say, praying God’s words right back to Him can help reopen our end of the communication lines. Click To TweetP.S. I’m linking up this week with #tellhisstory, InstaEncouragements, Recharge Wednesday, Let’s Have Coffee, Inspire Me Monday and Grace & Truth.
30 comments
Such an important post, Lois. We too often turn prayer into a difficult thing, but you’re right that it is just having a conversation. When I’m in my most challenging seasons, I type out my prayers too, both to help me sort through my own thoughts and also to hear how God might be ministering to me through the words he gives me as I type. Prayer is such a gift I need to use more often!
Typing out my prayers does the same thing for me, Lisa. There have been many mornings when I’ve been all spun up inside about something after a restless night, and a few minutes of concentrated prayer settles my heart and helps me remember Who’s really in control.
Thank you for this beautiful peek into your little blue box, Lois! I’m so grateful we can speak God’s Word right back to Him, especially when we don’t know what to say.
Me too, Bethany. 🙂
What a blessing to simply sit with God’s Word and meditate, pray, rest in the power of His words to us.
Because sometimes there are no words. He knows.
Amen, Linda. ❤️
Lois, this is beautiful. I too at times struggle with finding the right words in prayer. I usually have a running dialog with Jesus throughout my day. I find at times I struggle with what to pray when I’m focusing on a specific circumstance or person I’m praying for. My running daily dialog with Jesus comes so freely though as I talk to him as if I’m sitting having coffee with you at the kitchen table. Blessings.
I think that’s exactly as it should be, Paula!
Lois, what a powerful post! I needed this. And the verses you share to pray during various seasons and trials? Gold, my friend. Thank you for sharing from your experience and your heart. I needed to hear/read your words.
Aw, Jeanne … I’m glad this was helpful for you this week. Praying that God would strengthen you for the days ahead, whatever they hold. ❤️
I agree, we do overcomplicate prayer at times, and I love the examples you share of praying God’s words back to him. The Lord’s Prayer is one I like to use as a starting point sometimes – bringing a situation to God and praying each line, then expanding on it a bit to link it to the situation. Also Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:15-20.
I love Paul’s prayer too, Lesley … especially the part about the eyes of our hearts being enlightened so that we can know the hope to which we are called. Wow!
I can relate to this, Lois. I know the feeling – “My mind was often foggy. I was tired all the time. I felt dried out, through and through.” Sometimes all we can do is feebly cry, “Help, Lord.” Then it can be a comfort to know that when we have only sighs and not words, the Holy Spirit carries our needs up with groanings which cannot be uttered. I find praying God’s Word is strengthening. Psalm 43:3 has been a frequent one for me these past months. Thank you for this reflection and all these verses. Love and blessings to you!
Oh yes, Trudy … Psalm 43:3 is a frequent prayer of mine too. “Send Your light and Your truth; let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, to Your dwelling place.” So helpful especially now. Love and blessings right back to you, my friend!
Thank you for these verses of encouragement Lois. Thank you, Lord, that You “dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.” Isaiah 57:15b
Beautiful, Lisa. That’s such an appropriate verse for times such as these.
Great piece, Lois. I love praying God’s Word. We speak life and truth over ourselves, others, and the world. And I love to insert names into scriptures and pay them. Such a powerful practice.
Thanks, Karen. You’ve reminded me of that old hymn, “Wonderful Words of Life.” They really are, aren’t they?
Thank you for gathering these verses together. It is so true that our prayers can simply be His words and promises.
Lynn, God has given us the best prayer resource of them all, hasn’t He? 🙂
Love this. Praying scripture has become my very favorite discipline.
Lauren, it makes a big difference, doesn’t it? ❤️
Lois, such a timely post! I have struggled in a dry season of prayer, but God encouraged me with sitting quietly in His Presence and as you mentioned praying scripture verses. I also have a little set of all of His attributes and I sit with one or two of them seeking to notice those throughout my day. Thank you my Friend for helping us along in the hard seasons!
Aw, Donna … I’m glad this post was timely for you. I love the idea of having a set of God’s attributes, in addition to the verses. 🙂
I’ve made a list of some of Paul’s prayers in the NT to pray for myself and loved ones. One of my favorites is Colossians 1:9-12: “that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.”
When I am feeling dry spiritually, one of my favorite verses is Psalm 119:25: “My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!”
That Colossians passage makes for one powerful prayer, Barbara. I’m going to have to write that one down. Psalm 119:25 is a great one for those times of spiritual dryness.
I think many of us go through dry prayer times. I appreciate your advice on praying His words back to him. Thk you
You’re welcome, Jan! 🙂
“Prayer is simply talking to God.” We (I) sure do make prayer more difficult than it need to be. Yesterday was a Psalm 9:1-2 kind of day: “I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Your wonders. I will be glad and exult in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” Remembering and talking to Him about what He has done in the past, filled me with joy and hope for the days ahead 🙂
What a wonderful practice, Joanne … to look to God’s faithfulness in the past when we are faced with uncertainty and trials today. I’m so glad doing this has bolstered your hope and filled you with joy. And thanks for sharing the verses from Psalm 9 … so encouraging!