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The writer of Genesis does not give us a formula to a prayer that Abel said nor does he interpret the cries that came from the ground that penetrated God’s heavenly throne room. All we have is God telling Cain to listen to the cry of his brother’s blood from the ground. Interestingly, we know that there have been times in our lives when events engulfed us, when circumstances left us speechless, when the sun refused to shine and the only sounds we uttered to God were cries, moans or tight lips that masked gut-wrenching groans. I am reminded of the times I have heard parents cry out to God when they saw their child’s blood on the streets because of some senseless killing. Perhaps they were hearing the pain of their child crying out to them. For this reason St. Paul said, “The Spirit, too, comes to the aid of our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit itself intercedes with inexpressible groanings.” (Rm. 8:26) Breathing his last breath, Abel in his weakness cried out to God. He was confused or maybe wondering if God loved Cain more. Here again the writer leaves us with no evidence or clue to what Abel is thinking about, and perhaps we should not know what his weakness is or have an interpretation of the “cries” that pulled God’s ear. We by faith must see that there are times when events will leave us speechless and yet, God will interpret our cry. God heard Abel’s inexpressible cry in his weakness as his blood soaked the ground. God hears your cries, your inexpressible cries, your moans and groans. And more importantly, God will rightly interpret the cries bringing justice to your side.

Your Prayer Language Today: God, I come to you with tears, cries and moans, I am lost for words, take my hand and lead me...! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Job

“Therefore I disown what I have said, and repent in dust and ashes.”

“…for his prayer I will accept…” (Job 42:6, 8)

In appreciating the Prayer of Job, one must do a thought provoking study of Job. When studying Job, many scripture scholars teach that both Genesis and the book of Job should be read simultaneously because they have similar stories. Historically, they were written in a style to reveal a deeper truth, Genesis opens in a mythical genre while Job was written in a legendary style. In Genesis we have the creation story; we see a mythical interpretation of how sin came into the world through a good man. We see God and Satan, good and evil. Contrasting the book of Job, we see a righteous man, God and Satan, good and evil.

However, there is one aspect that is significantly different in these two settings. In Genesis there is no formalized prayer by the major characters from Gen. 1-11! Here, returning back to the book of Job we see that Job’s mouth wrote a check that was bogus. The writer used a legendary figure to show us that when we sin we must repent from our unloving ways. This behavior is not seen in the first eleven chapters of Genesis. In Job we see that after we have prayed and established a true relationship with God, we can then turn and pray for others. For this reason, God said to Job, “…for [Job’s] prayer I will accept.” Ask God for a repentant heart and then pray for others!

Your Prayer Language Today: I repent in dust and ashes knowing that I have spoken meaningless words, hear me now Lord, as I seek your face…” Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Abraham

"Will you sweep away the innocent with the guilty? Suppose there were fifty innocent people in the city; would you wipe out the place, rather than spare it for the sake of the fifty innocent people within it? Far be it from you to do such a thing, to make the innocent die with the guilty, so that the innocent and the guilty would be treated alike! Should not the judge of all the world act with justice?" (Gn. 18:23-25)

In the Catechism, the church tells us that since Abraham, “intercession—asking on behalf of another—has been characteristic of a heart attuned to God's mercy.” Wow! Did you get that? When you intercede for someone, your character mirrors the heart of God! You are depending on God to show his mercy for someone else. The Catechism furthermore teaches that you are showing a genuine interest in others, especially when you pray for others who wish to do you harm. In Philippians we have this admonishment, “Do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those of others.” (Phil. 2:4) Therefore we should never view Abraham’s prayer as a mathematical problem, wondering if Abraham can count. Abraham “humbly regarded others as more important!” For Abraham, the people in Sodom and Gomorrah, with their vicious living, needed God’s mercy more than he did. Instead of condemning them he looked for God to save the innocent in the midst of the guilty. Somebody needs you to pray for them right now. Will you?

Your Prayer Language Today: God I know now that you do not desire to destroy the wicked. Look at my heart dear God, I pray that you will help Mr. and Mrs. …..! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Hagar

"Let me not watch to see the child die." (Gen. 21:16)

A mother’s worst nightmare is to see her child die. Awakening suddenly in the dark night sends chills up a parent’s spine wondering if his/her child is alive. Hagar represents thousands of mothers, whose spouses left them after five, ten, maybe even fifteen years of marriage. As the spouse leaves, he leaves behind perhaps a boy as tender as Ishmael, with a single income to financially support what used to be a two family income. The Hagar’s of this world, mothers trying to raise a boy in this country are facing insurmountable odds. Many boys believe that they will not live beyond the age of twenty-five! Oh yes, these mothers have a reason to ask God to not let them see their children die. This prayer request is direct and straight to the point, but it also says a whole lot to God. This prayer first reveals how despondent Hagar is as she envision her life passing her by, remembering the harsh treatment of Sarah and the lack of support from her “baby daddy.” She is literally saying, “I have seen enough bad days in my life. God, let me not watch another bad day, let me not see my child die.” Hagar, as the old folks used to say, “Has been to hell and back.” Hagar in the end is looking for God to show her just one good day, one glimpse of hope that her baby boy will make it. Hagar is like so many mothers of today who are looking for hope, looking for that one good day. Keep looking, my sister, because one day God will do for you what he did for Hagar. “God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water.” (Gen 19:21)

Your Prayer Language Today: O God do not let this bitter relationship destroy my faith, open my eyes to see a well of water to refresh my soul in this …!Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Ishmael

“God has heard the boy's cry in this plight of his.…” (Gen 21:17-18)

Now does this sound familiar? Another cry to the Lord! An urgent emotional request that leaves an individual’s face drenched, not knowing who holds the future. The verses prior to our text above showed Hagar’s anguish and desire to not see her baby boy expire. Here you must deepen your spiritual thoughts and imagine what this boy must be sensing. He sees his mommy, the first lady of his life, the one whose responsibility is to point him in the direction of God, is now showing signs of hopelessness and fear. With so much pain expressed on his mommy’s face, the image of him self cannot see her way, leaving him to cry out to God.

In this moment, can you perhaps see or feel that this boy’s cry is one of wonderment? Ishmael perhaps thought, “If my mommy is unsure or confused, what will happen to me?” This event gives new meaning to the old spiritual, “It’s not my mother or my father, but it is me oh Lord, standing in the need of prayer.” Yes, here again when we don’t have faith words. This young lad certainly did not understand all of what was going on, and yet, his cry pierced the heavenly throne touching the heart of God. Listen to the prophetic words of Isaiah, “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name…(Is. 49:17). I don’t believe for one moment that this mother forgot her child, but stuff was taking her under. Ishmael’s cry to God was answered as God picked him up by lifting up his mother. His mother’s faith was awakened as God spoke these words “Arise, lift up the boy and hold him by the hand” God answered the boy’s cry by lifting up his mommy. (Gen. 21:18).

Your Prayer Language Today: You are a God who cannot forget, you have written my name in your hand; carry me God when my hands are tired, hear me…! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Jacob

"I will not let you go until you bless me." (Gen. 32:27)

Jacob’s prayer resembles one of those old fashion prayer meetings around the “Camp Fire.” We know that this prayer lasted all night because the angel said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” The actual words or dialogue with God is missing, and yet we know that Jacob refuse to let the Divine out of sight even during the darkest of night. Some folks called this event a wrestling with the soul. We have all had these nights before when weep during the night, searching the black skies for some type of audible or sign for an immediate answer, we drench our pillows because of a trouble soul. In Psalm six we read “all night long tears drench my bed; my couch is soaked with weeping. My eyes are dimmed with sorrow, worn out because of all my foes” (Ps. 6:7-8).

Therefore, we should recognize the empathetic pronoun used by Jacob, “I will not.” In Jacob’s prayer there is no denying or wavering in his spirit, the angel is convince that Jacob he will not release him. How many times have you prayed and stood your ground with God? Can you say to God, empathetically “I will not let you go”? In your prayer life, come hell or high water, will God believe you will not let Him go?” Certain that Esau, his twin brother was going to beat him down, Jacob knew the only way to avoid this confrontation was to have the angel bless him in a way that only God can. The blessing came early in the morning as God changed his walk. With his hip divinely pulled, Jacob starting singing, “Learning to Lean.” With a new walk God also changed his character by changing his name from Jacob to Israel; a nation will soon be blessed as long as they learn to lean on the Divine.

Your Prayer Language Today: Most Divine, I know you see the dark night of our souls, in my darkness I am not going to let you go until you …! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Joseph

"May the God in whose ways my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked, the God who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day, the Angel who has delivered me from all harm, bless these boys, that in them my name be recalled, and the names of my fathers, Abraham and Isaac, And they may become teeming multitudes upon the earth!" (Gen. 48:15-16)

Joseph’s prayer before God is a testimony to the awesome presence of God in our lives. Standing before his brothers, resembling a family reunion, Joseph recalls the faith and the relationship that his grandfathers had with God. His grandfathers, Abraham and Isaac, walked with God. “To walk” here means more than to stroll to your neighborhood mall. To “walk” here is to have a relationship with God that is so meaningful, you follow his way out of love. These fathers, Great Grand Dad Abraham and Grand Dad Isaac, trusted in the covenant that God would bless them from one generation to the next without “the Ten Commandments.” Moving forward in our prayer, we see that Joseph begins to introduce the image of God as a shepherd, managing his life from birth to his present day. Joseph next adds the idea that an “Angel,” a divine intervention, has delivered him from all harm. Joseph in this prayer is summing up who God is and what God has done for his brothers, removing any doubt that God will bless his brothers, and our family. However, as in all prayers we must do our part. His brothers must remember who God is while God blesses their growth within the family. We too, no matter how hard it may be, must stand before our parents and siblings and first recall our family’s faith journey and our personal conviction of God, and we all know how challenging witnessing to our family can be. Pray with a family member today. We all need to hear from God whether we realize it or not!

Your Prayer Language Today: To our God, the One who shepherds our family, the One who send angels to watch over us, help our family to stay…! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Moses

"You, indeed, are telling me to lead this people on; but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. Yet you have said, 'You are my intimate friend,' and also, 'You have found favor with me.' Now, if I have found favor with you, do let me know your ways so that, in knowing you, I may continue to find favor with you. Then, too, this nation is, after all, your own people." (Ex.33:12:-14)

When reviewing Moses’ ministry as a prophet and judge of the people of Israel, you would think that he would never question God. Moses was God’s instrument for justice while leading the Israelites toward the Promised Land, which makes this prayer interesting. This prayer captures a thought that many of us, I dare say, have had as we pass through the very core of our own spirituality before God. Searching for direction, like Moses, we want direction for our ministry. However, to articulate in a prayerful manner that God has not informed me of the whole plan is a place I could not go. To charge God as if the Creator has failed, for me—is frightening. Moses later tells God, earth’s Creator, humanity’s Provider, and the elements’ Source, “Do let me know your ways.” This is something else as Isaiah reminds us, “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways my ways, says the LORD.” (Is. 55:8) Moses, say what you like, is keeping his prayer language real; “God, tell me what’s next!” God’s response however is one for all ages; “I myself will go before you.” Here by faith we must see with our third eye, God acknowledges that the Divine Presence is always with us. God is Omnipresent! When we make a move in our ministry, God is present to direct us because while we are in prayer, we are in his Divine Presence.

Your Prayer Language Today: O God, you are Omnipresent in our lives, no longer do I believe but now I see you moving me to …! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Aaron and Moses

"Ah, my Lord!" he said to Moses, "Please do not charge us with the sin that we have foolishly committed! Let her not thus be like the stillborn babe that comes forth from its mother's womb with its flesh half consumed." Then Moses cried out to the Lord…"Please, not this! Pray, heal her!" (Num. 12:11-13)

To capture the urgency in Moses’ prayer in the book of Numbers, you must be aware of the situation that occurred. Moses was doing some great things for the people of Israel. However, a jealous spirit was growing in Aaron and Miriam! They were not happy that Moses garnered the attention from the people and that God exclusively spoke to Moses. Aaron and Miriam asked, “Is it through Moses alone that the LORD speaks? Does he not speak through us also?" (Nu. 12:2) This jealous spirit, I am sure, is one that many of us have experienced in our ministry. Yes, receiving a revelation from God is an awesome experience. Being used by God and seeing God’s hand in ministry will leave you speechless. The problem here is that Aaron and Miriam wanted more; they failed to see their position with God, and coveted the position of the big “HPIC” (Head Preacher In Charge)!

Now, understand the urgency in Aaron’s request as he looks at his sister as she feels and sees her skin discoloring before their eyes. He knew they failed to recognize their own relationship with God. Foolish is truly the right word to explain their actions for in the Hebrew language “foolish” means “wicked folly.” Their actions were wicked! For this reason, Aaron admits to the sin that came forth from their unruly tongues, and then asks Moses to pray on behalf of Miriam and him self. The spiritual challenge here is that Moses does not hesitate to pray for Aaron and Miriam even after they have displayed this “wicked folly.” Can you ask for God’s healing for those who have offended you or stabbed you in the back on your job or in your family?

Your Prayer Language Today: "Please, not this! I pray that you heal those who have cause anguish in my heart, don’t let this …! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Joshua

"Why did you ever allow this people to pass over the Jordan, delivering us into the power of the Amorites, that they might destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell on the other side of the Jordan. Pray, Lord, what can I say, now that Israel has turned its back to its enemies? When the Canaanites and the other inhabitants of the land hear of it, they will close in around us and efface our name from the earth. What will you do for your great name?" (Jos. 7:7-9)

As leaders in any profession or vocation, we have confidence that our plans will always work. We proceed, optimistic that our plans are fail-proof. However, after much planning and using all the resources available to us, our plans can fail. This is what happened to Joshua, the great leader of the Israelites. As a leader he was leading the children of Israel to the much coveted Promised Land, until someone compromised their morals, violating the commands of God. This bad apple in the group caused the Israelites to be delivered to the Amorites. Upset that they had lost a battle, Joshua joined the elders as they prostrated themselves before the Lord and boldly questioned God in prayer before checking themselves out. Being emotional and in a hurry, they asked God a number of questions, searching for answers to their dilemma. Asking God “why” in your prayer language is a good thing, which Joshua demonstrated here. However, I love the last question, “What will you do for your great name?” Although in the end Joshua and the elders had to examine themselves, this last question really helps us to see how much they depended on God for all things. They knew that they were instruments of God’s glory; the problem though was that they had to learn that God’s glory would not come through folks’ sinful acts. God would do what he needed to do for his great name. The question is will we remove sin from our lives for his great name?

Staring Your Prayer Today: Why Lord did you help me yesterday and I see misery today? Why Lord would you give me victory and then let me see sin in …! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Gideon

"If I find favor with you, give me a sign that you are speaking with me. Do not depart from here, I pray you, until I come back to you and bring out my offering and set it before you." He answered, "I will await your return."
(Jg. 6:18)

The above prayer is extracted from a long prayer dialogue between God and Gideon which covers all of chapter six in the Book of Judges. God is calling the boy wonder who insists that he is not ready to answer God’s calling to judge the children of Israel. In the above quote, you see clearly the doubt that Gideon displays in discerning his relationship with God. Gideon cannot believe that he found favor with God as he notices the chaos in which the children of Israel are living. He doesn’t believe that he is equipped and experienced enough to represent God as a young lad. Gideon—don’t miss this—seeks to offer a sacrifice to God in the manner with which he is familiar, to make sure that this calling to represent God for Israel is “too legit to quit.” Here God’s response is so powerful, "I will await your return." Good God Almighty, here God speaks to Gideon giving him confidence by saying that he will wait on Gideon! When reflecting on our calling, we must recognize that God is waiting on us. With all the chaos surrounding us, we too may feel like we have not found favor with God. We, too, may want a sign. Maybe we are looking for our dog or cat to speak audible words. Here is a thought: why do we need a sign? Can we just walk by faith and not by sight? In our prayer today, let us offer our bodies to the Lord now. He is waiting for us.

Staring Your Prayer Today: Lord I am O.K., now, no longer do I need a sign that you are near me, just help me to understand more fully …! Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Deborah

“May all your enemies perish thus, O LORD, but your friends be as the sun rising in its might!” (Jdg. 5:31)

In the Book of Judges, we discover this Canticle (a song of praise) by Deborah and her servant, Barak. Deborah gives God the glory for her victory in this Canticle. The beginning praise is awesome, “O LORD, when you went out from Seir, when you marched from the land of Edom, the earth quaked and the heavens were shaken, while the clouds sent down showers. Mountains trembled in the presence of the LORD, the One of Sinai, in the presence of the LORD, the God of Israel.” (Jg, 5:4-5) Notice how this passage captures God moving. God even marched out to the battle ground. Then reflect on what happened in his presence: earth and heaven quaked. The clouds and mountains responded to God’s presence. Following this acknowledgement of God’s presence, the victorious story is retold in this Canticle leading us to this image of God’s friends mirroring the sun rising in might. A friend of God, like the sun, is an awesome thought when you consider the might of the sun. The mighty sun makes the plants and flowers grow. The sun sends rays to heal the land. Here we must see that our relationship should resemble the sun that helps others to grow in their relationship with God. We must lay hands on those who need healing because we are friends of God. Are you really God’s friend, growing in might and healing others?

Staring Your Prayer Today: “O Mighty God, as your sun shines and heals the lands, shine on me making me a friend of yours so that I will…” Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Samson

Samson cried out to the LORD and said, "O Lord GOD, remember me! Strengthen me, O God, this last time that for my two eyes I may avenge myself once and for all on the Philistines." (Jdg. 16:28)

Believe me, there is no way that I am advocating that the next time your enemy gets the best of you or life deals you a blow that disappoints you, get even. No way do I believe in a “dog eat dog world” or that we are in an “us against them world” even though our world seems to indicate that “if I get hit I must hit you.” There is no way I feel that this is our proper response like Samson. Samson prayed that God would remember him and give him the strength to avenge all the Philistines for what they did to him by removing his sight. However, I realize that I am not exempt from feeling that deep seated anger that causes me to want the strength of Samson. Yes, I know that I have wanted and still do at time the strength to pull down two pillars to avenge myself from some type of harm done to me or my family.

For this reason, we must ask for strength not to avenge our selves but for strength to show a radical love that will trust God. We don’t have to avenge those who have hurt us because St. Paul said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19). Yes, we need strength to let go of our grudges and animosity. Gandhi said it this way, “Hatred ever kills, love never dies.” We need strength from God to show a radical love that never dies. Hatred turns our stomachs upside down with pain or maybe gives us sleepless nights. We can only conquer this anger by trusting in God’s love for us. We pray for strength to have a radical love as we walk with Jesus who is always with us, for the battle is not ours but the Lord.

Staring Your Prayer Today: “God let your radical love for me show a radical love for …" Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of Hannah

“O LORD of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid,
if you remember me and do not forget me…” (1 Sam. 1:11)

Hannah places us directly before God’s throne with a profound prayer to which I am sure we would respond with “I have been there and got the T-shirt.” Chills run down my spine when I think about the times when tears flooded my face, as I wondered if God had forgotten me. I too asked God for his mercy. When you feel forgotten, you feel unwanted, you feel lonely, you question your own self-worth. And with Hannah’s husband thinking he was all she needed; Lord, help me. Her husband, Elkanah, said to her, "Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?" (1 Sm. 1:8) Every time I read this passage I want to slap Hannah’s husband. He thinks that he is all that she needs, failing to ask her, “How can I help?” or get this, “Can I partner with you in your prayer request to the Lord?” No one likes being left out! And for Hannah to watch Peninnah, the chick on the side, acting like a “Diva” that knows and has everything, don’t tell me Hannah only needs her husband. Although God does acknowledge her prayers and allows her to see her sons, I can’t help but wonder why her husband did not pray with her. Where are the other women in the court? Why are they not storming heaven with Hannah for a son? Join a praying community to avoid feeling alone in prayer. Pray at home in your prayer closet and then pray with your community. We should always see prayer as communal even if only one other person joins us.

Staring Your Prayer Today: “Most loving God, see me when I pray, unit my heart with others as I seek your
grace for …” Return to the top of page.

The Prayer of David

“David said to Abiathar, the priest, son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod!" When Abiathar brought him the ephod, David inquired of the LORD, "Shall I pursue these raiders? Can I overtake them?" The LORD answered him, "Go in pursuit, for you shall surely overtake them and effect a rescue.” (1 Samuel 30:7-8)

Perhaps this prayer by David is one of those prayers that we never read because we usually recite the psalms or read stories that we are familiar with. Let me introduce you to this powerful prayer by David. This prayer, spoken by David to God, came from deep within, because David “… found himself in great difficulty, for the men spoke of stoning him…” The Amalekites had just raided his community. When David saw the men “so bitter” and ready to stone him, the scriptures say that “…with renewed trust in the LORD” David prayed. Now to really appreciate this prayer you must understand this self-motivated prayer. David is not the King of Israel at this point in his life, since Saul is still alive. Nor is David a “High Priest!” And let me add this thought, David is a young man. Now in his urgency, David does the unthinkable, he asks for the ephod, which is traditionally reserved for the “High Priest.” Church, there will be times when God desires that you pray the prayer and not your mother, your father, your priest or minister or anyone else for that matter. For David, caught between a rock and a hard place, there was no time to dial a priest or send a text. David, alone, had to ask God for direction, because his boys were in a different frame of mind. They were not thinking rationally. They wanted their family back home with them. You must praise God here because David prayed before acting. Yes we have acted and then asked God why He wasn’t there. Pray to God first and wait for his direction, for with God all things are possible.

Staring Your Prayer Today: You God, the God of the Universe, sit me down, hold me still until you give me direction to go to my right or to my left or just …! Return to the top of page.

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