Scripture prayers #4

Have you ever been so sure that God directed you in a certain way and promised you a certain outcome, but then you come up against a crisis of your faith, and suddenly you are so afraid?

That is how Jacob was in this passage. He reminds God that God is the one who gave him this command. Then he says that he knows that all he has is from God, and that He needs God’s protection. Lastly, he claims the promise that God has made to him.

We can do the same as we pray. I’ll share the Scripture then a prayer that we can customize for ourselves, tweaking and filling in the blanks.

“Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD, who said to me, “Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,” I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies.'”

“‘Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.'” Genesis 32:9-12 NASB

O God, the God who has been active in the lives of others whom I love and respect, and who has also come to me and given me directions for what I should do next, You have told me to __________________________________, and You would prosper me, and I have obeyed you. Lord, I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; when I started out on this journey with You, I had next to nothing. All these blessings that I now have are from You, You alone. Things could have gone far differently, but You chose to bless me. Thank You, Lord.

But now I am up against ______________________, and I’m so afraid. I know You’ve delivered me before, and I ask, I need You to deliver me again! Please deliver us from ______________________, for I fear what could happen if You don’t! I’m so afraid of the (physical, verbal, spiritual) attacks that could come against me and those you’ve given me and wipe us out. If You don’t step in and save us, Lord, the enemy will destroy us.

Lord, You have promised __________________________________________, (ex: “I will never leave You nor forsake You.” “I will be with you always, even unto the end of the earth.” “The LORD our God is mighty to save.” “Be still and see the salvation of the LORD.”) Lord, I believe Your promise. Please save us by Your mighty power because of Your great love, mercy, and grace.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.