Week 14:Unleashing the power of prayer

Devotional readings focused on Psalm 20, 91 and 121 for the second week of April.

Meditation

Skip to the Bible readings

This week’s edition of Daily Focus might feel a little different! I’m going to propose a practical exercise for us to do together, one which I think will make a big difference in the way we pray for our kids and grandkids.

Do you struggle with having a vibrant prayer life? I do. For me, it is a case of mental and digital clutter: as soon as I begin to pray, my mind typically floods with items from my to do list. Or, as I mention a person to the Lord, my thoughts begin to ruminate on my last conversation with that person. Worse yet, if I’m praying about an area in my life I want to bring into better alignment with God’s purposes, my mind might suggest a list of tips from the latest self-help article or video I encountered online. So much for focusing on the Almighty!

But then I opened up Psalm 20. A few verses in, the psalm began to sound like the prayer of a parent for their child. So, I went back to the beginning and read it again as a petition to God. My mind stayed steadily focused on the words of the psalm as I prayed—relief from my usual jumbled thoughts!

I know I'm not the first one to suggest praying through scripture. That has been a recommended practice for God's followers since the earliest prayers were written. But it did remind me that God wants prayer to be a joy and pleasure, rather than a burden. It is a privilege to bring our burdens to our Heavenly Father and let Him carry them for us. Even in those times when we struggle to put our thoughts into coherent words, God still wants to hear our hearts.

And we never struggle alone. Paul teaches in Romans that the Holy Spirit Himself puts our pain and tears into words when we just can't articulate what's on our hearts:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.

For we do not know how we ought to pray,

but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groans too deep for words.

And He who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,

because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

Romans 8:26-27

One way the Holy Spirit does that is by bringing to mind passages of scripture we have studied so that we can cling to God's promises and, in a respectful and faith-filled way, hold Him accountable to come to our aid. I think God loves to hear the words He breathed out whispered back to Him by faithful hearts.

So here's what I'm proposing this week. I have put together a reading list of passages for each day; each passage contains a prayer or a blessing. As you read, note the parts that speak to the needs of your children and grandchildren right now. Then compile those parts into a complete scripture prayer in a note app on your phone, and start praying those scriptures over your family. Feel free to choose other Bible passages that you know, as well!

I'm going to share my compiled prayer below in the comments this week. I would love to see yours! And please let me know if this makes prayer easier for you. Our kids and grands need prayer, so anything that removes the roadblock to meeting with God is helpful. I'm praying for you all this week, that the Lord will strengthen your connection to Him through prayer!

Suggested Readings for Creating

Your Scripture Prayer this Week

Monday's reading: Psalm 20

Tuesday's reading: Psalm 91 and Psalm 121

Wednesday's reading: 1 Chronicles 29:10-19

Thursday's reading: Luke 1:46-55

Friday's reading: Ephesians 3:14-21

Weekend reading: Philippians 1:3-11

Share your prayer below in the comments section . . . can't wait to hear from you!