Prayer

Many characterize the current chaotic fiasco occurring on the world stage as “dark times.” In America, there’s a crisis at the border, lawlessness in our streets, wokeness instead of greatness, inflation, racial division, Marxist Critical Race Theory in schools, young children sexualized in schools and public libraries with a lie that they can change their gender. Wrong is called right and right wrong, just like the Bible told us would happen during dark times.Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Isa. 5:20Sometimes, we want to stay in bed and hide under the covers hoping it will all go away, but God wants his people to be a light in this darkness. Complacency is like the morning fog that moves in silently to obscure the sunlight. Through prayers, praise, and spiritual empowerment, God will use us to overcome the darkness of this world that can envelop us in hopelessness and despair if we let it. Instead, God says inEphesians 5:10-11, “Carefully determine what pleases the Lord.Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them.”So God doesn't want us to succumb to the darkness, but instead to expose dark deeds by letting the bright Light of Jesus shine into the bleak darkness. Here are 4 prayers to help us be that light in dark times regardless of circumstances.Photo Credit: ©iStock/Getty Images Plus/PORNCHAI SODA

All too frequently, the concerns of life, the anxieties about tomorrow, or the wounds from the day can leave our minds in turmoil. Isn’t it time to invite the comforting embrace of His Word mingled with prayer into our sleepless nights?

If your marriage may feel like something too difficult to endure, here are four prayers to help move the mountains in your marriage.

When we live out our life’s purpose without having to work so hard, we won’t miss out on the milestones of life. Here are five prayers to move the mountain of career in your life.

Nighttime offers a unique opportunity to connect with God. At night, we’re often more relaxed than we are in the midst of busy days, so we’re less distracted at night than during the day. That can help us perceive God’s presence with us more. We also tend to reflect on our lives in the evening before going to sleep, and that can help us see our need for God. It’s important to seek God’s protection through prayer, and nighttime is a valuable time to do so. A night prayer for protection can be a powerful way to entrust our lives and loved ones into God’s care. Here’s why it’s worthwhile to pray a night prayer for protection, and 5 night prayers for protection to use in different situations. Why Pray a Night Prayer for Protection?Praying for protection at night allows us to rest in the assurance of God’s unfailing love, knowing that he is our ultimate protector. Psalm 91:4 beautifully reminds us of God’s love and power: “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.”When we sleep, we are vulnerable. Praying for God's protection can help us to feel safe and secure, knowing that he is watching over us. Psalm 4:8 declares: “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”Asking God to protect us at night can also help us find peace of mind. Nighttime can be a breeding ground for anxiety and worry. Philippians 4:6-7 reminds us to pray about everything so we can trade anxiety for peace from God: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, 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.” Through night prayers for protection, we can access the ultimate peace, which comes only from God. Praying for God's protection can help us to receive a restful and refreshing sleep. Psalm 127:2 reveals that God “grants sleep to those he loves.”Night prayers for protection also provide guidance, welcoming God’s light into the darkness. Life often presents us with uncertainties and challenges that can be particularly daunting in the darkness of night. Psalm 119:105 declares about God’s Word, the Bible: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Through evening prayers, we seek God’s guidance, asking him to illuminate our path and lead us safely through life’s trials.Finally, praying for God's protection at night can be a valuable way to end the day with an awareness of God’s presence with us. Psalm 139:11-12 points out that God is with us throughout each dark night: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.”Here are five nighttime prayers for protection:Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/AntonioGuillem

The Fall can feel like a whirlwind of activity! I feel like I can't keep up with the assignments, classes, sports, haircuts, dinner prep, parties, games, meets, appointments, and more. I have to confess I have mixed up more than one scheduled item because things just keep falling through the cracks of my brain.As parents, we can easily see the laundry list of what we need to do to nourish our kids' bodies, hearts, minds, and souls and get completely overwhelmed. I have good news, though: we aren't called to get it all perfect for our kids; we are just called to trust the Lord with our kids. Trust He is with them, preparing them for the many purposes he has for their lives, and he is able to cover our mistakes and forgotten birthday party gifts with his grace.Jesus invites those of us who are weary and burdened to draw closer to him (Matthew 11:28-30). When you start to wonder if you are enough for your kids, if you are making the right choices for them, and try to devise all the ways to protect them, it's time to bring that worry list to the feet of Jesus. He wants to draw you near and help you find him in this season of parenthood.Here are some verses and prayers that invite us to trust God with our families this school year:

Do you sometimes find it hard to be honest with God regarding the fertility problems you face? I know that I do at times. Perhaps sometimes it just feels easier to give God my best spiritual performance by telling him what I think he wants to hear instead. Perhaps a part of me still thinks my healing is based on my goodness or how well I weather the challenge.

If mountains of stress, worry, or fear dominate the landscape of your life, you’re not alone.

Grief is something that we all are going to experience during this lifetime. Let's look at how we can lift up a prayer for grief for ourselves and others who are going through a period of pain.

God will get you through, bring you people who can support you, and help you to overcome any addiction. Here are seven prayers to help you deal with addictions in your life.

Here are 25 prayers that will fit any mealtime situation, from formal family dinners, to meals on the go at the neighborhood drive-thru:

God is big enough to move any mountain in my life—including my health! Here are four ways to pray if health is a challenge for you as well.

As our children go back to school, we throw ourselves into preparations. Instructions from teachers send us scurrying for supplies, including everything from notebooks to calculators to tissues. We shop for new school clothing, shoes, backpacks, and more. For those who don’t buy lunches at school, we stock the pantry with nutritious, easy-to-pack foods. With older students, we analyze class schedules to make sure our kids have the courses they’ll need for their next steps in life.By now, most of us have already posted first-day-of-school pictures on social media. We breathe a sigh of relief as transportation snafus finally resolve. The days fall back into routine after summer’s freedom. But have our preparations been enough?When we send our children to school, we allow others to influence them. We all can remember that special teacher who inspired and motivated us. Most of us also recall others, perhaps a coach or a bully, who devastated our self-image. The content of the curriculum itself shapes young minds and hearts. There’s no doubt our kids will encounter material that is contrary to God’s holiness. Despite our best efforts to shield them from the world, our children’s peers will expose them to all forms of ungodliness. And behind all those primary concerns, we wonder if the recent spate of mass shootings could make its way to our hometown.These transitional days back to school mark a critical need to lay a foundation of prayer for our children. Our best resource for prayer is the Bible because it contains God’s will for us. Meditate on the following verses and ten prayers for the school year. As you pray, include the names of your children to make them personal.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/SkynesherHere Are 10 Prayers for the School Year:

Are you facing a difficult disease, illness or malady but don't know what to pray? If you feel scared, alone, unsure of the future, or don't understand how healing works, pray these words in faith today!

“Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield” (Psalm 5:12).Most of us have been on the receiving end of God’s kindness at one time or another. And we can give powerful testimonies of His goodness to us, whether the gifts we’ve gotten have been more material, emotional or spiritual in nature.For me, God’s blessings have come in many different forms. But I didn’t always recognize them as His handiwork. I confess that early on in my Christian walk, I often mistook His provision as coincidence. But as I grew in understanding, I realized just how much He provided for me each day, in big and small ways.Then I began to learn that God actually wanted to hear my prayers for blessings. I was amazed and thrilled that I could ask the Lord for anything. But, I soon saw that learning how to lift up requests in a way that would please Him, and seeking things that He would want to give me, were both crucial parts of the process.Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Aaron Amat

Share these night prayers for evening bedtime with your children, spouse and friends so they too can fall asleep feeling blessed and thankful. God is wanting and waiting to give you peace and comfort at night time.

Is your heart troubled? Are you feeling like the psalmist, who asked his own soul, "Why are you in despair? And why have you become disturbed within me?" One of the hardest parts of knowing peace is understanding how it has nothing to do with control. If you're having trouble with trust or finding the words to pray above the howling of the scary storms, feel free to offer up these words to the Lord now!

In memory of tragedy, we often ask where God is in all of it. Everchanging and Almighty, God certainly has the power to stop these things from happening. How can the same people God specifically created to love become conduits of pure evil?

If you lost someone on 9/11 or you feel deep sadness over the events, a great thing you can do is to offer up a few prayers for America this year on the anniversary of 9/11. Here are five prayers for America on 9/11.