Writing Prayers

What You Will Learn

• Learn from prayers recorded in Scripture
• Use simple patterns to write prayers
• Turn a verse into a prayer
• Write honest prayers readers can pray as their own

Lesson Notes

Learning From Scripture's Prayers

The disciples asked, Lord, teach us to pray (Luke 11:1), and Jesus gave a pattern: After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name (Matthew 6:9). Hannah poured out her soul before the LORD (1 Samuel 1:15). Mary sang, My soul doth magnify the Lord (Luke 1:46). The Psalms hold praise, thanks, confession, and lament.

Jesus warned against vain repetitions (Matthew 6:7). Prayer is honest speech to a listening Father, not a performance. Plain words are welcome.

Simple Patterns

• ACTS: Adoration (praise God for who He is), Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication (asking).
• Praying Scripture: turn a verse into prayer. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want (Psalm 23:1) becomes Lord, You are my shepherd. Today I trust You to supply what I need.
• Name, Need, Thanks, Trust: name who God is, bring the need, thank Him, and end with trust.

Prayers for Readers

In a devotion, the prayer is written so the reader can pray it as her own. Keep it short (three to six sentences), use plain words, and connect it to the day's insight.

• Leave room for her own words: Lord, You know what I am facing today.
• Offer confession gently rather than assigning sins she may not have.
• Do not promise outcomes God has not promised. Pray for His will, His presence, and His strength.

Honest Prayers Are Welcome

Lament is biblical. Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us (Psalm 62:8). A prayer can hold grief, anger, confusion, or waiting, and still end in trust where that is honest.

When words fail, the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered (Romans 8:26). Your readers need permission to pray honestly. Your written prayers can give it.

Key Terms

In-Class Activities

Pray the Verse

Turn each verse into a short prayer of two to four sentences: Psalm 23:1; Psalm 51:10 (Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.); Isaiah 40:31 (But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength).

Prayer Pattern Practice

Using ACTS, write a prayer for the reader in your profile on a hard morning. Then underline one place where you left room for her own words.

Assignment: A Page of Prayers

Write five prayers for your seven-day set, three to six sentences each:

• One of praise.
• One of lament or honest struggle.
• One of confession, offered gently.
• One of thanksgiving.
• One for a specific need of your reader.

At least one must pray a Scripture back to God. Label which one.

Graded with the Module Assignment Rubric.

Reflection Journal

Psalm 19:14 asks that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our heart be acceptable to God. Write your own honest prayer about your writing: your hopes, fears, and what you want God to do through it.

Prayer focus: Pray Psalm 19:14 slowly, then ask God to teach you to pray and to help your readers pray honestly.

Plain Words to a Listening Father

Many people think prayer must sound holy and formal. Jesus taught the opposite. He warned against vain repetitions and gave a prayer simple enough for a child: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.

Hannah prayed so honestly that the priest thought she was drunk. She said she had poured out her soul before the LORD. God heard her. The Psalms are full of the same honesty: praise, thanks, confession, and lament, all brought to God.

When you write prayers for readers, you are giving them words they can borrow. Keep them short and plain. Leave room for their own words. Do not put promises in their mouths that God has not made.

One simple way to begin is to pray Scripture back to God. Take a verse, turn it toward Him, and make it personal. The LORD is my shepherd becomes Lord, You are my shepherd today.

Think About It

1. What makes prayer hard for you? ______________________
2. Which kind of prayer do you write most easily? ______________________
3. What verse could you pray back to God today? ______________________

Daily Devotions for Week 6

Acceptable Words

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.— Psalm 19:14 (KJV)

This prayer fits every writer. We ask God to receive our words and thoughts.

Reflect: What words do you want God to receive today?

Pray: Lord, let my words be acceptable to You.

Do: Pray Psalm 19:14 before you write.

Pour Out Your Heart

Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us.— Psalm 62:8 (KJV)

God invites honest prayer. He is a refuge, not a judge waiting to scold.

Reflect: What do you need to pour out before God?

Pray: Lord, You are my refuge.

Do: Write an honest prayer you will not show anyone.

When Words Fail

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.— Romans 8:26 (KJV)

When we do not know what to pray, the Spirit helps.

Reflect: Where do you not know what to pray?

Pray: Holy Spirit, pray for me when I cannot.

Do: Sit quietly with God for two minutes without words.

Teach Us to Pray

Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples.— Luke 11:1 (KJV)

Even the disciples needed to learn. Prayer is learned by praying.

Reflect: What would you like God to teach you about prayer?

Pray: Lord, teach me to pray.

Do: Pray the Lord's Prayer slowly, one line at a time.

Boldly to the Throne

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.— Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)

Because of Jesus, we come boldly, not timidly, to a throne of grace.

Reflect: What need will you bring boldly to God?

Pray: Lord, I come to You for mercy and grace.

Do: Write one bold request to God.