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10 Best Prayers from THE BIBLE
14-Nov-2013
I really have no idea why I decided to blog on this subject. With over 650 prayers in the Bible, picking out the best 10 is an impossible task. So at the cost of likely making many readers unhappy for excluding their favorite prayers, let me present to you my top 10.
Negotiating with God – Genesis 18:22-32
I love the conversation that Abraham has with God in Genesis Chapter 18. In the midst of the city of Sodom’s sin, Abraham approaches the Lord and asks: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
Then starts an amazing negotiation.
“What is there are fifty righteous?” Abraham dares to ask. “How about five less than fifty?”
After bringing down the number a great deal, Abraham ends his negotiating saying, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
The Lord answers, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
It is my desire to have such a real and heartfelt conversation with God. It is a beautiful prayer.
Wrestling with God – Genesis 32:26
While Abraham negotiates with God, Jacob takes the concept of prayer a step further and wrestles with God. Near morning, the Lord says to Jacob, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But Jacob replies, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
It is my hope to have such a persistent hunger for the things of God.
David’s Repentance – Psalm 51:2
For those of you who have not had a perfect run in life, David’s prayer is your road map. He says to the Lord, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Humble, honest, and direct, David heart of repentance is an example for us.
The Prayer of Jabez – 1 Chronicles 4:10
For many years, I had this prayer on the door of my house in Calcutta, India.
Jabez cries out to God, “Oh, that you will bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”
The verse ends with the Lord granting his request. This prayer reminds us that when we talk to the Lord, he hears us.
Moses Interceding for the People – Exodus 32:11-13
The prayer of Jabez is directed towards himself, and there is nothing wrong with that. Moses seeks the favor of the Lord for his people.
“Lord,” he said, “Why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?”
Moses goes a step further and reminds God of his promises, as if God had forgotten. He says, “Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’”
It is good from time to time to claim the promises from the Bible. Use these promises as words of prayer to God. God’s covenant and promises do not fail or fall flat, but are yours to receive.
Hannah’s Prayer – I Samuel 1:9-18
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, says a prayer to God that sheds light on the value of not giving up. She asks God for help, but also vows to do her part. She finishes her prayer saying, “May your servant find favor in your eyes,” and walks away no longer downcast.
This prayer is worth reading for its sincerity, humility and confidence in God’s ability and willingness to answer prayer.
Jonah’s Prayer - Jonah 2:27
Jonah prays aloud to the Lord when he finds himself in some deep, deep trouble. He quickly admits that he is praying because he needs help, saying, “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me.”
If I was writing a book called “Prayer for Dummies,” this is what I would say: “When in crisis – pray.”
Stephen’s Prayer for His Murderers – Acts 7:60
Recall the words of Jesus while he is being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Stephen in the book of Acts is being stoned to death. He falls down on his knees and prays a similar prayer for his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
In my own life, I have visited the home of Gladys Staines in Orissa (India) after her husband, Graham Staines, and two sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (6), were burnt alive by antagonists on January 22nd, 1999. Gladys and her daughter, Esther, stunned India by what they did. Gladys mentions it this way:
“I cannot express how I felt when I got the news of my husband and sons being burnt alive. I told my daughter Esther that though we had been left alone, we would forgive and my daughter replied, ‘Yes, we will.’”
I have never felt pain from such a loss nor have I ever been able to pray as wonderfully as this. Prayers of this kind are examples to me when I need to let go of injustices. To pray a prayer of forgiveness is not easy, but possible.
Jesus’ Prayer of Unity – John 17:21
At the last supper, while Jesus is with his disciples, he prays for the unity of all of us who would believe in him. Jesus says:
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
The Lord’s Prayer – Mathew 6:9-13
The disciples came to Jesus and asked him how we should pray. Jesus answers:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’”
Allow me to close this blog with the words of Andrew Murray:
“Shut the world out, withdraw from all worldly thoughts and occupations, and shut yourself alone with God, to pray to Him in secret. Let this be your chief object in prayer, to realize the presence of your heavenly Father.”
Ref: Amitabh Singh Article - 10 Best Prayers from THE BIBLE
Negotiating with God – Genesis 18:22-32
I love the conversation that Abraham has with God in Genesis Chapter 18. In the midst of the city of Sodom’s sin, Abraham approaches the Lord and asks: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked?”
Then starts an amazing negotiation.
“What is there are fifty righteous?” Abraham dares to ask. “How about five less than fifty?”
After bringing down the number a great deal, Abraham ends his negotiating saying, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”
The Lord answers, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”
It is my desire to have such a real and heartfelt conversation with God. It is a beautiful prayer.
Wrestling with God – Genesis 32:26
While Abraham negotiates with God, Jacob takes the concept of prayer a step further and wrestles with God. Near morning, the Lord says to Jacob, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But Jacob replies, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
It is my hope to have such a persistent hunger for the things of God.
David’s Repentance – Psalm 51:2
For those of you who have not had a perfect run in life, David’s prayer is your road map. He says to the Lord, “Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.”
Humble, honest, and direct, David heart of repentance is an example for us.
The Prayer of Jabez – 1 Chronicles 4:10
For many years, I had this prayer on the door of my house in Calcutta, India.
Jabez cries out to God, “Oh, that you will bless me and enlarge my territory! Let your hand be with me, and keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.”
The verse ends with the Lord granting his request. This prayer reminds us that when we talk to the Lord, he hears us.
Moses Interceding for the People – Exodus 32:11-13
The prayer of Jabez is directed towards himself, and there is nothing wrong with that. Moses seeks the favor of the Lord for his people.
“Lord,” he said, “Why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand?”
Moses goes a step further and reminds God of his promises, as if God had forgotten. He says, “Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’”
It is good from time to time to claim the promises from the Bible. Use these promises as words of prayer to God. God’s covenant and promises do not fail or fall flat, but are yours to receive.
Hannah’s Prayer – I Samuel 1:9-18
Samuel’s mother, Hannah, says a prayer to God that sheds light on the value of not giving up. She asks God for help, but also vows to do her part. She finishes her prayer saying, “May your servant find favor in your eyes,” and walks away no longer downcast.
This prayer is worth reading for its sincerity, humility and confidence in God’s ability and willingness to answer prayer.
Jonah’s Prayer - Jonah 2:27
Jonah prays aloud to the Lord when he finds himself in some deep, deep trouble. He quickly admits that he is praying because he needs help, saying, “I cried out to the Lord because of my affliction, and He answered me.”
If I was writing a book called “Prayer for Dummies,” this is what I would say: “When in crisis – pray.”
Stephen’s Prayer for His Murderers – Acts 7:60
Recall the words of Jesus while he is being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
Stephen in the book of Acts is being stoned to death. He falls down on his knees and prays a similar prayer for his murderers: “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.”
In my own life, I have visited the home of Gladys Staines in Orissa (India) after her husband, Graham Staines, and two sons, Philip (10) and Timothy (6), were burnt alive by antagonists on January 22nd, 1999. Gladys and her daughter, Esther, stunned India by what they did. Gladys mentions it this way:
“I cannot express how I felt when I got the news of my husband and sons being burnt alive. I told my daughter Esther that though we had been left alone, we would forgive and my daughter replied, ‘Yes, we will.’”
I have never felt pain from such a loss nor have I ever been able to pray as wonderfully as this. Prayers of this kind are examples to me when I need to let go of injustices. To pray a prayer of forgiveness is not easy, but possible.
Jesus’ Prayer of Unity – John 17:21
At the last supper, while Jesus is with his disciples, he prays for the unity of all of us who would believe in him. Jesus says:
“That all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.”
The Lord’s Prayer – Mathew 6:9-13
The disciples came to Jesus and asked him how we should pray. Jesus answers:
“This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.’”
Allow me to close this blog with the words of Andrew Murray:
“Shut the world out, withdraw from all worldly thoughts and occupations, and shut yourself alone with God, to pray to Him in secret. Let this be your chief object in prayer, to realize the presence of your heavenly Father.”
Ref: Amitabh Singh Article - 10 Best Prayers from THE BIBLE