The way God connects His Word with prayers amazes me. That’s why I can’t come to the Word without praying. And that’s why I rarely pray without the Word—either by reading it, praying a verse I’ve memorized, or making some reference to it in my prayer time. One of my favorite quiet time practices is to read five Psalms and one Proverb a day. I do this in addition to whatever other Bible study or books I’m working through. Sometimes, I read them in different translations to enrich the meaning. The fruit of this repetition comes in many ways. Over time, many of the verses have become familiar enough that God bring them to mind often. And often, God gives me His words to pray for someone else. That’s what happened as I read Psalm 91 today. I’ve prayed it often for others—but again today, His Spirit brought it to life in fresh ways. And what did I see? It’s a prayer for someone—like those I’m praying for today—who needs a refuge. Father God, my dear ones do need You to hide them under the shelter of Your wing. They do need a safe place. They do need protection. They don’t know what to do, but their eyes are on You. Oh Father, keep them there, ever there, fixed on You. And Lord, I praise You that You do not worry. You do not fear. You do not stumble. You do not get upset. Take away my concern for these loved ones and replace it with the faith that You can move mountains, the hope that You can bring life from death, and the trust that You are watching over Your Word to perform it. I ask that by the mercy of Your Spirit and the strength of Your righteous right hand, You would reach down and be a living refuge for these I hold before You today. When they run, may it be only to You. When they stumble, may Your angels lift them up. I ask You to guard them in all their ways, to deepen their love for You, and to show Yourself strong before them in every way. Protect them, oh Jesus, from the one lies and steals and destroys. Since they are fully Yours, he has no place in their lives. May his power be dissolved like the snow in the hot noonday sun. And may You rule and reign in such a way that, even before You return, we catch a glimpse of Your glory. Thank You that You are a refuge. You are a dwelling place. And no matter how hurt, how desperate, how far away You are, we can always turn...

“That applies to everyone!” “I think we all need that prayer.” “You do realize you’re praying for the whole world, right?” These are some of the responses I receive when I share what have become my daily #PrayerKeeper Facebook status posts and tweets. As I’m sure I’ve mentioned before, I’ve continued them only because they seem to minister to people. I’m wary of “praying to [myself]” like the proud Pharisee in Luke 18. If I ever sense the posts are becoming less than authentic, I’ve promised myself to stop posting. But I digress. I do realize that often the prayers apply to everyone. To be honest, that’s how they end up online. Most of the time, I’m praying for a friend, family member, or for myself and realize a particular prayer could apply to many. Those tend to be the ones I post.  So, to those who have commented to that effect, thanks for the affirmation. I’m grateful they apply to everyone. And today, I have an important question. More than a few of you have written to tell me these posts should be a book. As much as people may like them, no one would publish a book consisting only of “I’m praying for . . .” I don’t want to write what won’t sell. But I’d love your help in an informal survey. What type of prayer book would you like? Brief (but expanded) prayers like the ones I sometimes post (check out some favorites here and here)? A devotional-type book with the “praying for” and then a brief explanation of who might need that prayer and why, along with a one-or two-sentence prayer? Something else? Or nothing at all? I’m busy writing other books right now, and another author and I hope to share a how-to book to help demystify prayer. But as I look ahead, I’m thinking about how many people of all ages, shapes, and genders tell me God uses those daily PrayerKeeper posts. In the words of the wise Henry Blackaby, I want to watch where God is working and join Him. So—let me know what you think. Leave a comment below or feel free to email me through the contact link on the right. Thank you, as always, for your kind and affirming words. I hope when you see the words, “Praying for. . .” or the #PrayerKeeper hashtag, you know I am praying, often multiple times throughout the day for that same request. I appreciate the trust you place in me when you share your prayer needs. And, as always, I’m honored to lift you before...

 The words stared out at me from the opening of my daily Bible study: “Lord, help me be willing to erase the list I have made for myself today.” Talk about instant conviction. I’m traveling near the end of the week, so I have to compress many of my duties into a shorter time span. Yesterday, I made a long to-do list and proudly completed several items on it. Every time I remembered my list, I felt satisfied. After all, I was organized. I was on top of things. And I had failed to remember the things of God. The items on my list weren’t horrible or harmful. But I had scribbled them down without prayer, without conscious thought of eternal rather than temporal values. As I work to reshape my list today, I’m praying. First and last. Do you tend to plan before you pray? Then I’m praying for you, too. Lord of all creation, You are above all, over all, in all and through all. I know You care about my daily activities. I know Your Spirit fills me so nothing I do is without You. But I also know when I’ve been wrong, when I’ve failed to consider You or what You say is important. I know when I haven’t sought Your kingdom first. Forgive me, Lord, for taking my own way rather than Yours. And be with others whose proper planning and step-by-step organization can take the place of the gentle whisper of Your Spirit or the not-so-quiet nudge of Your holy Word. Help us listen to You, Lord. Help us walk with You. You—not work, not family, not pressures, not priorities—are our top priority and highest goal. Help me, help us, demonstrate this by the lives we live before You today and each of the days You graciously give us. In Jesus’ name I pray—AMEN. If you have a particular prayer need or a story that fits with today’s PRAY post, feel free to email me or leave a comment below. I’d love to hear your story, and I’d love the privilege of praying for you. (The winner of last week’s gift book, Dear God, He’s Home! by Janet Thompson plus one bonus book is my far-flung friend, Angie Attaguile, whose husband lost his job back in June. Angie, I’ll message you with options for your other book choice, and I’ll keep praying for you and your family in this time of waiting. Congratulations!)...

“____________ isn’t treating me with respect.” “____________ borrowed something of mine—again—without asking.” “____________ doesn’t see things from my perspective.” This morning, all these thoughts ran through my head before it left my pillow. I wish I could say I responded in prayer. I start my day that way (almost) every day. But today, I brooded and stewed. I fretted and fussed—all in stony silence. Outwardly calm (as long as no one made a close inspection), I was inwardly upset. And it was everyone else’s fault. At least in my head. But some time in the Word and a prayerwalk later, and I realized the source of the problem. She stared back at me from the bathroom mirror. Once again, I’d allowed myself to listen to wrong voices, focus on wrong things, and ended up with a wrong attitude. So today, I’m praying for you. Because I know you. And I know that–today or another day–you’re just like me. God, today I bring to You my bad attitude. No one else gave it to me. Nobody else caused it. Although it often seems contagious, I know it doesn’t spread like a virus. The true problem with my attitude bears my name. I can’t fix this myself, Lord. I’m grumpy. I’m crabby. I’m touchy—and no one had better touch me, because those bitter bubbles simmering under the surface might explode. Father, today I need You to fix my attitude. I need You to help me take the form of a servant. I need You to help me consider others more important than myself. I need You to replace my haughtiness with humility, my pouting with praise. I need You to change me, because I can’t change myself. Jesus, You gave us the perfect example of someone who put Himself last. When  scorned, mocked, and lied about, You remained silent. When reviled, You did not revile in return. You had every chance to spew words of hatred but spoke words of healing and forgiveness instead. Today, my Master, move me to lay myself down on Your altar. I acknowledge my inability to do even that much on my own. Live, move, and breathe through me. Help me to die as You live Your life through me. I can’t get it right—but You can. In Your holy name I pray, AMEN. Because of website updates (HUGE shoutout to Tekeme Studios for the new look), I’ve been away from Read. Write. Pray for a whole month. And I didn’t want to return with a bad attitude (hence today’s prayer). If you have a bad attitude, you don’t have to tell us about it. But if you’d like prayer, feel free to share in the...

Photo © Andrew Pieper, 2012 “But that’s not what I meant!” Whether or not we say them aloud, our hearts scream these words. Someone has taken what we’ve said or done the wrong way. They misread or misinterpreted us, and we don’t like it. They should know better. They should talk to us before assuming the wrong thing. Shouldn’t they? The other day, someone misunderstood me. The familiar emotions surged and the tears stood in my eyes. After the conversation, I felt betrayed. Hurt. How could someone who knew me well, who cared about me think the worst? And then I remembered. They misunderstood Jesus, too. Of course, my motives are never as pure as His, and both my words and actions more prone to misinterpretation. But somehow, it helped to remember His repeated attempts to communicate the necessity of the cross to His closest friends and followers. The fact that they never received His message fails to comfort me. The fact that He loved them anyway does. Father, I thank You that I have in some small way the opportunity to share in Christ’s suffering. I praise You that in this way and others, He identifies with me in my weakness, yet without sin. Help me to walk away from wrongdoing and to embrace the truth. Help me not to prove myself right or someone else wrong, but to seek to live a life of integrity. Help me to care more about others than myself and to willingly allow myself to be misunderstood that Your glory might shine through me. God, I confess to pride in my communication abilities. I confess to sometimes-selfish motives in saying and doing just the right thing. When You expose my wrong, Father, help me seek Your right. May I desire not to look good but to be good because You live Your life through me. May I desire not to appear righteous but to embrace the righteousness You’ve achieved for me. And may I willingly follow in Your pattern as despised and rejected when to do so serves Your kingdom purposes. In Your holy name I pray, AMEN. Have you experienced a time when you felt misunderstood? Has misunderstanding strained relationships between you and a friend or family member? Feel free to share your prayer need in the comments below, or email me to share your concerns. I’d be honored to lift you before the Father. And I’ll do my best not to...

Photograph © Andrew Pieper, 2012 “Desperate times call for desperate measures.” Although no one can pinpoint the source of that quote, at various times in our lives, we all acknowledge its truth. The disagreement comes when we discuss the desperate measures we need to take. I think you’ll know my desperate measure of choice. Today, I face a spiritual battle on others’ behalf. Several situations have arisen where none of us has the control we long to have. We can’t wave a wand and fix it (for more on that idea, check out this prayer). Today in my quiet time, God highlighted Psalm 130 as words to pray back to Him on behalf of my friends. Today, I share my personalization in hopes you’ll join your prayers with mine.  After all, desperate times call for the One who’s desperately in love with us. Dear God, I’ve hit bottom. I need your help. Lord, I beg You: Listen to me. Please, please don’t stop listening no matter how much or how often I ask  If you, God, kept a list of our wrongdoing, we’d sink lower than low. In fact, if You treated us according to all the ways we’ve messed up, no one could survive. But you’re an expert on forgiving, so we live to worship You. I wait for You, Lord. I wait in confident expectation, my hope in Your hand of power and mercy. I’m hanging on. I’m waiting for You to come through, Lord. More than a child looks forward to Christmas morning, I’m waiting. I’m waiting for You. Oh people of God, hope in Him, for His mercy, love, and compassion overflow. He offers redemption for everyone who seeks Him. And He’ll exchange all our sin—His people’s many offenses against Him—as no one else can. We pray in the name of Jesus—AMEN.  Do you know someone who needs this prayer? Pray it first and please share it. If you’d like more specific prayer, feel free to leave a comment below or email me here. I’ll continue praying. Because we’re all desperate. P.S. Check out last Saturday’s review for a contest and the opportunity to win my review copy. Until Friday, it’s not too late.          ...