By Rev. Joseph Parker, 8th Episcopal District
What difference did it make that I prayed today? And what difference did it make what I prayed for? Did it make a difference at all?
It makes all the difference in the world! Because you prayed, specifically because you prayed specific Kingdom prayers (i.e., The Lord’s Prayer, Isaiah’s prayer in Isaiah 6:8, the Prayer of Jabez, Solomon’s prayer for wisdom, and Paul’s prayer in Acts 9:6), miracles happen. God will put you on peoples’ hearts who otherwise may not have you on their minds. People may seek you out specifically to ask you for prayer or wisdom. A unique opportunity for ministry just drops in your lap “out of the blue.”
Opportunities to minister to and bless people come because we ask. God is willing to answer our prayers and seeks disciples who pray daily.
The following are several prayers based on the Word of God. I encourage and challenge you to pray for them daily. As you do, God will use you more and more to be a greater blessing to the world—because you asked Him to.
Daily Prayer Tools
Prayers from the Word of God or based on the Word of God. Praying this daily helps us to become more fruitful vessels in the hands of the Holy Spirit :
For Salvation: If you would like to know Jesus Christ personally and invite him into your heart, pray this or a similar prayer to take that step:
Lord Jesus, I believe you are the Son of God. I recognize that I have sinned and done wrong. I repent of all my sins. Forgive me for all the wrong I have done. I do believe that you died on the cross to pay for my sins and that three days later, you rose from the dead so that I could be saved.
Thank you, Lord, for loving me enough to die for me. Lord Jesus, come into my heart. Become my Lord and Savior. Make me the person you want me to be. You said in your Word that whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. Right now, Lord, I‘m calling on your name. Lord Jesus, save me and fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank you, Lord, for saving me, and I now confess I am a child of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer Matthew 6:9 – 15
The Prayer of Jabez (Based on I Chronicles 4:10)
Lord, bless me indeed, Expand my territory, Place your Hand anew upon me, And keep me from evil, That I may not cause pain.
Pray the Ten Commandments
Lord, thank you for this day. Help me this day to put you first In every way and in all that I do. Help me, Lord, to not make or have any graven images. Help me, Lord, not to take your name in vain. Help me, Father, remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy. Lord, help me honor my father and mother on this day. Lord, help me this day, To not murder. Help me not to commit adultery. Help me not to steal. Help me, Lord, to tell the truth. Help me, Lord, to not covet. Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Prayer for Wisdom (Based on I Kings 3:4-15)
Thank you, Lord, for this day. Lord, on this day, give me Wisdom to be the ________ (husband, wife, Dad, Mom, Boss, employee, etc.) That you want me to be. Help and guide me by your Holy Spirit to do and be the best I can be. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
A Prayer of Availability
Here I am, Lord. I am available. Send me this day to do your will! Use me to do many miracles this day for your glory! ( Isaiah 6:8) Here I am Lord. What would you have me to do this day? Acts 9:6
A Prayer for Protection (Based on Psalm 9)
Today, I dwell in the secret place of the most High, and so I abide under the shadow of the Almighty. Today, I say of the LORD, you are my refuge and fortress: my God; I trust in you. Indeed, you deliver me from the snare of the fowler and the noisome pestilence. You cover me with your feathers, and under your wings, I trust. Your truth is my shield and buckler. And so, I am not afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flies by day; Nor for the pestilence that walks in darkness; nor for the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at my side, and ten thousand at my right hand, but it shall not come near me. Only with my eyes do I see the reward of the wicked. Because I have made the LORD my refuge, even the most High, my habitation; No evil befalls me, nor does any plague come nigh my dwelling. For he gives his angels charge over me, to keep me in all my ways. They bear me up in their hands lest I dash my foot against a stone. I tread upon the lion and the cobra: the young lion and the serpent I trample underfoot. Because I have set my love upon him, he delivers me. He sets me on high because I have known his name. I call upon him, and he answers me. He is with me in trouble, delivers, and honors me. With a long life, He satisfies me and shows me his salvation. In Jesus’s Name, Amen.
Aaron’s Prayer (Numbers 6:24 – 27)
The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift his countenance upon you, And give you peace. So they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them.
A Husband’s Daily Prayer for His Wife
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, Lord, for the gift my wife is to me, our family, the church, and the kingdom of God (Proverbs 31:1–31). Bless my wife today, Lord! Expand her territory! Cause your hand to be upon her mightily! And keep her from evil that she may not cause pain (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)! Help me this day to be the full blessing to her today that you want me to be. Fill her day today with joy, peace, grace, and encouragement. Help her to walk in your love, joy, and peace. Help her spend the time in your Word and prayer that you want her to spend today (Psalm 1, Psalm 119:18; Philippians 4:6-7; and 1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Help her to put you first in her life. Help her to avoid making any graven images. Help her not to take your name in vain. Help her remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Help her to honor her father and mother today. Help her value life. Help her not to steal. Help her not commit adultery. Help her to tell the truth. Help her not to covet (Exodus 20:1-17). Empower her this day to fulfill your call upon her life for this day. Help her live today as the sacrifice you want her to be for you and your will (Romans 12:1-2). Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer. And thank you again for the gift my wife is to me.
Dear Lord, bless and keep her. Dear Lord, make your face shine upon her and be gracious to her. Dear Lord, lift up your countenance upon her and give her peace. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
A Wife’s Daily Prayer for her Husband
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you, Lord, for the gift my husband is to me, our family, the church, and the Kingdom of God (Psalm 1). Bless my husband today, Lord! Expand his territory! Cause your hand to be mightily upon him and keep him from evil that he may not cause pain (1 Chronicles 4:9-10)! Help me this day to be the full blessing to him that you want me to be. Fill his day today with joy, peace, grace, and encouragement. Help him to walk in your love, joy, and peace. Help him spend time in your Word and prayer (Psalm 1, Psalm 119:18; Philippians 4:6-7; and 1 Thessalonians 5:17). Help him put you first today. Help him to make no graven images in his life this day. Help him not to take your name in vain. Help him remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Help him to honor his father and mother. Help him value life. Help him not steal. Help him not commit adultery. Help him to tell the truth and help him not to covet (Exodus 20:1-17). Empower him this day to fulfill your call upon his life. Help him live today as the sacrifice you want him to be for you and your will (Romans 12:1-2). Thank you, Lord, for hearing my prayer. Thank you for the gift my husband is to me and to the kingdom of God.
Dear Lord, bless him and keep him. Dear Lord, make your face shine upon him and be gracious to him. Dear Lord, lift up your countenance upon him and give him peace. In Jesus’s name, Amen.
Pastor Joseph Parker is the pastor of Bethlehem AME Church in Winona, Mississippi.
