Verses to Pray

15 Scripture Verses that can be used as prayers.

When the words won’t come, we can always turn to Scripture and find that which is resonating with our hearts. Psalms is one of the best books to open up during these times.

“Have mercy on me O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out all my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Psalm 51:1-2

“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground.” Psalm 143:10

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” Psalm 27:12

“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.” John 4:18

“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge.” Psalm 19:1-2

“They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb. By them your servant is warned; in keeping them there is great reward. But who can discern their own errors? Forgive my hidden faults. Keep your servant also from willful sins; may they not rule over me. Then I will be blameless, innocent of great transgression. May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:10-14

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” Galatians 5:22-23

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

“For though I fall, I will rise again. Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.” Micah 7:8

“You are my refuge and my shield; I have put my hope in your word.” Psalm 119:114

4 Benefits of Prayer Coloring

1. Talk with God

You can have good conversational time with God, coming to Him with prayers and requests, while using the right side of the brain. It opens up a time and space to allow yourself to listen. How often do we take a lengthy amount of quiet time to simply hear what God is putting on our hearts.

2. Quiet & Relaxing

This is a peaceful opportunity to allow your mind to wander. There is no pressure of drawing or creating. It is all right in front of you. Bring some creativity into your day, without the worry of “getting it right” or making something “perfect”. Rather, all you have to do is bring colors of your choice. 

3. Improved Focus

The act of coloring can actually improve your focus. Harvard Health Publishing published an article about doodling. Doodling is quite similar to adult coloring. In the article, it mentions that doodling can help improve attention. A 2009 study by psychologist Jackie Andrade had a group listen to a rambling voice message. Half the group doodled and the other half didn’t. The group that doodled while listening recalled 29% more information than the other group (Pillay 2016). Coloring, as with doodling, can also keep the brain attentive without strain. 

4. Stress Relief

What a calming relief coloring can be. Coloring can release emotions through creativity. This act can release the brain from other focuses, fears, and worries. It is quite difficult to “mess up” a coloring page. Therefore, it can be more of an escape than something else to add to the pile. 

A study showed that after twenty minutes of coloring, participants became more content, more energetic, and calmer than after spending time reading. The study, completed with first-year undergraduates, suggested that coloring could be a beneficial way to reduce stress (NeuroScienceNews 2018). 

The Time Away Prayer Journal includes 22 Illustrations that you can use for Prayer Coloring. There are also coloring pages for sale separately.

References:

Pillay, Srini MD. “The ‘Thinking’ Benefits of Doodling.” Harvard Health Publishing – Harvard Medical School. December 15, 2016. 
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/the-thinking-benefits-of-doodling-2016121510844

University of the West of England. “Coloring Reduces Stress and Boosts Creativity.” NeuroScienceNews.com . May 4, 2018.
https://neurosciencenews.com/coloring-stress-creativity-8969/

Why Journal?

The Time Away Prayer Journal will help you to learn the following:

Why do this?

• Slow down.
• Ask the question, “God what are you saying to me?”
• Reflect on how He speaks personally to you in His word.
• Focus better when you pray.
• Remember His answering prayer and cultivate thanksgiving.
• See how God is molding you into the likeness of Christ and discover what areas currently need attention.
• Become more intentional about your goals…both short-term goals and long-term goals.
• Feel confident at journaling because you can write just a little each day or a couple times a week.