Publishers of various
translations of the Bible often produce new editions to give us study notes and
visual aids that help us better understand the people, times, or places to
which those features refer. Sometimes, they provide new editions with wide
margins for us to make our own notes or drawings. And sometimes they publish
large print – even giant print – Bibles to ease our reading.
Whatever your particular
need or preference, you’ll likely find a review of the Bible that speaks most
clearly to you by scrolling through these blog pages. At the moment, though, I’ve
received no new copies to review during these troubling times.
I look forward to letting
you know about new translations or editions when they arrive. Meanwhile, we
need the Bible more than any time I can recall in my own long life. As COVID-19, riots, and
weird weather come crashing in on us, we need prayer!
Spontaneous prayers connect
us immediately to God, even if that’s merely the first two words most likely
prayed: “God help!” The Lord wants us to pour out our hearts in prayer as we
turn to God for confession, guidance, protection, wisdom, intercession,
thanks, or praise.
The people in Bible days did
this too. And they also experienced scary diseases, wars, political unrest, doubts,
fears, famine, and catastrophic weather conditions. They had much in common
with us, and, more important, they had faith in God.
For years, I’ve read their
prayers written in the Bible and prayed in agreement with those relevant to
present-day events and concerns. Such prayers lift ebbing spirits, ease
worries, and bump up the power in our prayer lives.
Remember, for instance, how
Abraham begged God not to destroy the city of Sodom? Here’s my paraphrase of
that conversational prayer:
Genesis 18:23, 32
Lord, would You really sweep away
the righteous with the wicked?
What if ten honorable people
are found?
And God answered:
For the sake of ten,
I will not destroy the town.
As you know, not even ten
people could be found! And yet, that prayer brings hope and comfort as we pray
for cities being swept by rioting.
And, remember, Jacob’s
wrestling with an Angel as he wrestled with his own doubts and faith?
Genesis 32:26
– a prayer of Jacob
Lord, I will
not let
You go
until
You bless me!
Are there times that very
prayer would speak for us and encourage us not to give up when facing all
sorts of calamities? And what about the prayer of Moses after God’s people had
been freed from slavery in Egypt? Does this prayer speak today?
Deuteronomy 21:8
Lord, You freed us!
Now please
make peace with us.
Don’t let the guilt
of unsolved offenses
reside with Your people.
Give us peace, Lord.
Give us peace.
In times of sickness and
personal loss, we have Job’s prayers to remind us we’re not alone. The
wonderful prayers in the Book of Psalms remind us that the beloved King David
had his troubles too.
Psalm 12:1-3, 6-7
Help, Lord!
Is there anyone still faithful to You?
Has all sense of loyalty disappeared?
People lie to each other
and flatter and deceive.
Stop them, Lord!
Whatever You say is purer than silver
refined seven times by fire.
Guard us, Lord.
Protect us in these terrible times.
Some Bible prayers will
quicken our faith and amplify our voice more than others. And some translations
will help us to hear better than others.
As I compiled the Bible
prayers I found in God’s Word, I visited the Bible Gateway site often, so I
could read each prayer in several versions before paraphrasing into everyday
English. Later, I used the site to locate the King James Version of the same prayers to provide a separate
edition for those who want KJV only. However, I encourage readers of the Book of Bible Prayers paraphrased and the Book of KJV Prayers to
keep their favorite translations alongside for increased understanding of what
the scriptures say.
For instance, most of us
love and can recite the KJV translation in Matthew 6 of the Lord’s Prayer aka
Our Father, but Luke has his way of recalling those words too.
Luke 11:2-4 – a prayer of Jesus
And (Jesus) said unto them,
When ye pray, say,
Our Father which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
as in heaven, so in earth.
Give us day by day our daily bread.
And forgive us our sins;
for we also forgive every one
that is indebted to us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
from the Book of KJV Prayers,
©2019, Mary Harwell Sayler
Luke 11:2-4 – a prayer of Jesus
Father in heaven,
may Your Name
be kept holy among us.
Bring us into Your kingdom.
Give us bread for the day.
Forgive us
as we forgive those who
have wronged us.
Keep us from temptation.
Deliver us
from a time of hard trials.
paraphrased from the Book of Bible Prayers, ©2019, Mary Harwell Sayler
People often use the Lord’s
Prayer as an outline to guide their prayers. For example, we might pray: “Father
in heaven, please help my family and I hallow Your Name in our thoughts and
conversations, decisions and actions. Please keep us one nation under God.”
Instead of lashing out at
others, we might ask God to remind us of what we need to forgive and also of
who might need to forgive us. We might pray for God’s help with specific
temptations and God’s deliverance from ill spirits of every kind as we keep in
mind those words of the Lord Jesus.
But, as you know, praying
doesn’t always mean asking! Look at these words in the prayer of Jesus’ mother
Mary and embrace them as her whole body embraced the Christ Child and forever
stayed at His side.
Luke 1:46-50 – a prayer of Mary
With all my heart, I praise You, Lord!
What favor You have shown!
From now on, every generation
will call me blessed
because of the great things
You have done for me.
Holy is Your Name!
In every generation,
You give mercy upon mercy
to all who honor You.
paraphrased from the Book of Bible Prayers, ©2019, Mary Harwell Sayler
…