OLD TESTAMENT PRAYERS

Introduction

We are so glad you are joining us for these daily prayer posts. Over the next few weeks we are going to listen to the prayers we find in the Bible, and some of God’s most faithful saints and servants. Through their prayers, we will learn better how to pray and connect with our heavenly Father.

Each devotion will take less than ten minutes of your time.

1. We will look at an insight from those who know something important about prayer.
2. We will listen to the prayers of people in the Bible—people just like us. And to people who gained a deep measure of spiritual intimacy with God because they prayed.
3. We will reflect, asking the same four questions each day that invites us to look and listen with intent.
4. And we will pray, for it is in praying that we learn to pray. And it is in praying that the Spirit changes our hearts.

We want to encourage you to grab a journal or a notebook – something to write on as you walk through each prayer guide. Yes, it will add a few minutes to the time it takes to do the devotion, and it will also deepen your experience and shape your walk with God for years to come. This journal or notebook will be a keepsake to remind you of God’s faithfulness during this challenging season for all of us.

Look

“We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature — trees, flowers, grass — grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence…”
– Mother Theresa

Listen

We are blessed to live in Colorado where the beauty of creation reminds us of God’s good gifts and encourages our daily praise to Him for His deeds.

Psalm 66:1-10

Shout for joy to God, all the earth;
2 sing the glory of his name;
give to him glorious praise!
3 Say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!
So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you.
4 All the earth worships you
and sings praises to you;
they sing praises to your name.” Selah

5 Come and see what God has done:
he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.
6 He turned the sea into dry land;
they passed through the river on foot.
There did we rejoice in him,
7 who rules by his might forever,
whose eyes keep watch on the nations—
let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

8 Bless our God, O peoples;
let the sound of his praise be heard,
9 who has kept our soul among the living
and has not let our feet slip.
10 For you, O God, have tested us;
you have tried us as silver is tried.”

Reflect

1. Having read the Word, sit silently for a minute and give God’s Word a moment to settle within you.

2. Re-read the verses slowly and write down some thoughts that resonate with you.

3.Ask the Holy Spirit to help you see how some trying areas of life’s busy-ness or past setbacks could be turned over to praise. (For example you might write down, “The Psalmist praises God for testing us like silver is tested (through fire). What ways have I been tested, passed, and should turn back to praise?”) The Spirit can help you understand what God is saying to you during these quiet moments of reflection.

4. What are some elements in this joyful prayer of worship that you might apply to your own daily praises in moments of silence?

Pray

Lord, please help me to take some moments throughout the day to notice and to quiet the busy-ness so I may say to you, “How awesome are your deeds!” I need your loving face to shine upon me and I thank you for reminding me of your deeds in all the beauty of your creation surrounding me. Nature and all the earth worships you and I pray you help me be among that chorus. Thank you for the refining moments of my life and help me to see your hand at work. Help me to not slip, but to continue to follow you, to praise you, and to love others as you would have us do. Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 to come to Him with our burdens and He will give us rest. Please take my burdens now so I can turn back to praise and exalt you and your awesome deeds toward your beloved and loving child, me. Amen.

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These devotionals are adapted from various sources, including The Book of Common Prayer, Fenelon: The Seeking Heart, Fellowship Bible Church Nashville, Handbook to Prayer by Kenneth Boa and others.