Life Verses

The Bible tells us over and over to Pray, present our request, ask and we shall receive. Often, when crisis hits us in the middle of our hearts we are motivated to pray. Severe crisis will motivate us to pray on our knees. Praying is an opportunity to converse with God. Here are some encouraging reasons to pray:

♥ Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:5-8 NIV

♥ Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7

♥ Gather together and come; assemble, you fugitives from the nations. Ignorant are those who carry about idols of wood, who pray to gods that cannot save. Isaiah 45:20

♥ Jesus said: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” Luke 11:9-11

♥ The Lords Prayer (NIV) One day Jesus was praying in a certain place. When he finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.”  He said to them, “When you pray, say: ” ‘Father, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread.  Forgive us our sins,  for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. Luke 11:1-4

When I grew up Catholic, I learned specific Catholic  Prayers including  the Hail Mary, Prayers of Saint Joseph, and Prayers by the Pope . Now, Christian Bible study leaders suggest praying with a scripture verse.

I’m going to use Psalm 139:1-4 NIV as an example. In the scripture verse, replace the word Me/My/I/Myself with your own name or the name of the person you are praying for, just like this:

O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

Write the scrripture verse on an index card, and change the words Me/My/I/Myself to your name or the name of another person. When you do this, the verse looks like this:

O LORD, you have searched Emily
and you know Emily.

You know when Emily sits and when Emily rises;
you perceive Emily’s thoughts from afar.

You discern Emily’s going out and Emily’s lying down;
you are familiar with all Emily’s ways.

Before a word is on Emily’s tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

Please try this yourself. Select a life verse from scripture that is meaningful for you. Change the words Me/My/I/Myself with your own name, and pray that verse daily!