How to Pray

Dull Prayer Life?

Our prayers can seem repetitive or empty at times. They are like the dry dust of the desert and we have trouble reviving our words or putting our true feelings into words that we feel are worthy of God's ears. Our prayers can seem lifeless and even be boring. What can we do at times like these?

I have a suggestion for you. (Try this. It really works). Pick a Psalm, any one of your favorites will do. Read a few verses and then pause, think. Let your mind ponder the words of the Psalm. Then use the words of those lines as a springboard to pray.

Then read a few other verses in that same Psalm. Think quietly on those. Then pray using those words and thoughts as seed for your own words and prayer to the LORD.

Here is an example. Let us take Psalm 91. The text of the Psalm is aligned to the left hand side of the page. Possible ideas for prayers are indented.

91:1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High, who abides in the shadow of the Almighty, 2 will say to the LORD, "My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust."

Dear Father, Thank You for being my shelter and allowing me to abide in Your shadow. You are indeed my refuge and my fortress I can trust in you at all times.

3 For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence; 4 he will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.

Daily you deliver me from the snare of my addictions and dysfunctional behaviors. You protect me under your wings and shield me from all temptation.

5 You will not fear the terror of the night, nor the arrow that flies by day, 6 nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

Father, I need not fear in the dead of night nor during the day. You are always with me. Thank You Father.

7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you. 8 You will only look with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. 9 Because you have made the LORD your refuge, the Most High your habitation, 10 no evil shall befall you, no scourge come near your tent.

There are so many around me who fall victim to addictive behavior but I know if I come to You for my strength and refuge you will keep me safe.

11 For he will give his angels charge of you to guard you in all your ways. 12 On their hands they will bear you up, lest you dash your foot against a stone.

Thank You for giving your angels charge over me to guard me in all of my ways.

13 You will tread on the lion and the adder, the young lion and the serpent you will trample under foot. 14 Because he cleaves to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.

LORD, I come to You in love each day you know me by name. You respond to my cries for help by delivering me and protecting me.

15 When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will rescue him and honor him. 16 With long life I will satisfy him, and show him my salvation.

I praise You and thank You for keeping me from trouble and temptation. Thank you for saving me dear Father. In the name of Jesus I pray. Amen.