God is our refuge and strength,        an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way        and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam        and the mountains quake with their surging.     Psalm 46:1-3 Scripture often speaks to our fearful human hearts. “Do not be afraid, God is with you,” is a common … [Read more...] about Letting Go of Fear as Prayer

O LORD my God, I called to you for help        and you healed me. Psalm 30:2 The truth is that we are not well. We are full of fear and anxiety. We struggle with shame. We are caught up in obsessions and addictions. We are blind to our greed and pride. We are defensive, hard hearted and reactive. We are self centered. We fail to live as if we—and all others—are loved and valued beyond measure … [Read more...] about Asking for Healing as Prayer

When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified him, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:33-34 Forgiving others is a form of prayer. It is not easy for us to receive forgiveness. And it is not easy for us to forgive. Our tendency is to want to hold on to our … [Read more...] about Forgiving as Prayer

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. I John 1:9 God is a forgiving God. God extends the gift of forgiveness to us, asking us to receive it as a gift. Not glibly, as if nothing has happened. Not proudly as if we have earned this gift. But with godly sorrow and humility we are asked to receive the gift of … [Read more...] about Receiving Forgiveness as Prayer

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!” Mark 1:5 Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount. Luke 19:8 A life of prayer includes acts of repentance and making amends. To repent is to … [Read more...] about Repenting and Making Amends as Prayer

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it, you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise. Psalm 51:16-17 Prayer is being broken-hearted and contrite before God. The more we become aware of our shortcomings and character flaws, the more our hearts open in empathy and sorrow for … [Read more...] about Having a Broken and Contrite Heart as Prayer

I said, O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against you. Psalm 41:4 Prayer is sometimes confession. It is the acknowledgment of our short comings, our missing the mark, our moral failings. Confession is also the acknowledgment of our longing to change, our longing to be healed and our longing to be set free to love God and others. When we confess to God, we throw … [Read more...] about Confession as Prayer