prayers

For Truth and Blessing

Father, I thank You for *______'s faith in the Lord Jesus and his love for all the saints. I will not stop giving thanks for him and praying for him. I ask in the name of Jesus, glorious Father, that You give him a spirit of wisdom and of revelation and a deep knowledge of You.

I pray that the eyes of his understanding be filled with light so he will know the hope of his calling, the richness of his glorious inheritance among the saints. I pray that he may know just how immeasurably great Your power is for those who have faith. I pray, Father, that he will recognize how effectively Your power works, just the way it did when You raised Christ from the dead.

I praise You, Father, that Jesus now sits at Your right hand in heavenly places, Father, above every power and authority and force of power and lordship and everyone's fame that can be mentioned not only in this world but in the world to come. All things have been subjected under the feet of Jesus, and He has become the head of his body, the church in all matters. He fills the universe everywhere!
- adapted from Ephesians 1:15-23
*fill in a name from your prayer list for each blank line or italicized pronoun.

That Each will Stand Firm

With the powerful grace of God in mind I kneel before You, Father. You are the One from Whom every family in heaven and on the earth gets its name. All fame belongs to You. I ask, Father, that You give _____ the power to reach into the inner man by the Spirit. I ask that Christ will dwell in his understanding through faith. I ask that with all the saints he be rooted deeply and grounded firmly in love, and be able to grasp just how wide and long and high and deep Your love is. May he know it, even though it is too great to really understand, so he may be filled with Your fullness.

Father, I give You the glory. May You receive praise from generation to generation forever, because You are the One Who works among us so powerfully that You are able to do more than we can ask or even imagine.
- adapted from Ephesians 3:14-21

For God's Armor

Father, I ask that ______'s strength come from being in Your mighty grasp. I ask that he be equipped with all Your armor, God, so that he can stand firm against the devil's schemes. I know, Lord, that we are not fighting against people, but rather against authorities, rulers in the darkness of this world, and against highly placed evil spiritual forces. So I pray that he put on all the armor that You provide. Then he will be able to stand firm when that evil day comes. I pray that he be able to stand all the way through the battle.

May he Stand ready!

Belt of Truth

Wrap truth around his waist as a belt

Breastplate of Righteousness

Let God's righteousness fully protect his torso as a breastplate

Shoes of Peace

May he be prepared with God's good news of peace

Shield of Faith

May he take up faith as a shield

Helmet of Salvation

Wrap God's salvation around his head like a helmet

Sword of the Spirit

And let him take up God's word as a sword.

Father, I lift up before You now prayers and petitions continually in the Spirit. [This is a good time to pray in the Spirit.] I intercede for _______ and petition You for him. I pray that he may have the right message to speak when he opens his mouth, to make known boldly the mystery of the gospel, even in chains. Let him be as bold as he ought to.
- adapted from Ephesians 6:10-20

For Protection

Lord, I live in Your hiding place, and I stay under Your shelter. Lord, You are my fortress and my refuge. I place my trust in You.

Lord, I ask that You keep me safe from hidden traps and deadly diseases. Spread Your wings over me so that I can find security. May your truth and faithfulness be my shield and defense.

I praise You Lord, that I don't need to worry about night terrors, nor about arrows flying during the day. I don't have to fear plagues striking in the darkness or sudden disaster at noon. Even though a thousand fall at my right side, or even ten thousand, I will be completely safe. I will see their destruction, but I won't be touched by it.

That's because You, Lord, are my place of refuge. You, Lord Most High are my fortress. No disaster will strike me anywhere, nor will I be wounded at home.

Father God, command your angels to guard me wherever I go. Let them grab me and lift me to safety if I stumble. In Your strength Lord, I can tread on lions young and old; on deadly serpents and adders.

The Lord responds:

"Because you cling to me, I will rescue you. Because you acknowledge my reputation, I will lift you high above your trouble.

"Call Me, and I will answer you. I will be with you in trouble. I will deliver you and show you honor. I will satisfy you fully with long life, and you will see My salvation."
- adapted from Psalm 91

I lift up my eyes to the hills-
from where will my help come?
My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.
He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
He who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade
at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you
from all evil;
he will keep your life.
The LORD will keep your going out
and your coming in
from this time on and forevermore.

- Psalm 121