4 May those who seek their lives be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot their ruin be turned back in dismay.
5 May they be like chaff before the wind,
with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
6 may their path be dark and slippery,
with the angel of the Lord pursuing them. Psalm 35:4-6

David is praying honest prayers about real situations. His enemies were out to kill him. Rather than just asking God to take their lives, he becomes creative in how he thinks they should be punished!

So, the questions I have is this:

1. How creative are you in your prayers?
2. Do you get in ruts and say the same things over and over again, or do you find more interesting ways of expressing similar truth?

The Bible is full of creative prayers. Most of the New Testament letters contain some very interesting ways of expressing the truth. A site called Scripture Zealot published this list of all of Paul’s prayers. In those passages contain rich nuggets of truth about who God is and how we are to live. When you begin to pray some of these prayers over someone else’s life, you begin to see God work in YOUR life as well as those you are praying for. How is that possible? Well, it’s the Bible you’re praying.

Rom 1:8-10
Rom 10:1
Rom 12:12
Rom 15:5-6
Rom 15:13
Rom 15:30-33
1 Cor 1:4-9
1 Cor 16:23
2 Cor 1:3-7
2 Cor 2:14-16
2 Cor 9:12-15
2 Cor 12:7-9a
2 Cor 13:7-9
Gal 6:18
Eph 1:3ff
Eph 1:15-23
Eph 3:14-21
Eph 6:19-20
Phil 1:3-6
Phil 1:9-11
Phil 4:6-7
Phil 4:23
Col 1:3-14
Col 4:2-4
1 Thess 1:2-3
1 Thess 2:13-16
1 Thess 3:9-13
1 Thess 5:23-24
1 Thess 5:28
2 Thess 1:3ff
2 Thess 1:11-12
2 Thess 2:16-17
2 Thess 3:2-5
2 Thess 3:16
1 Tim 1:12
1 Tim 2:1ff
2 Tim 1:3-7
2 Tim 1:16-18
2 Tim 4:22
Titus 3:15b
Philemon 1:4-7
Philemon 1:25

Rom 1:8-10 ESV
Rom 10:1 ESV
Rom 12:12 ESV
Rom 15:5-6 ESV
Rom 15:13 ESV
Rom 15:30-33 ESV
1 Cor 1:4-9 ESV
1 Cor 16:23 ESV
2 Cor 1:3-7 ESV
2 Cor 2:14-16 ESV
2 Cor 9:12-15 ESV
2 Cor 12:7-9a ESV
2 Cor 13:7-9 ESV
Gal 6:18 ESV
Eph 1:3ff ESV
Eph 1:15-23 ESV
Eph 3:14-21 ESV
Eph 6:19-20 ESV
Phil 1:3-6 ESV
Phil 1:9-11 ESV
Phil 4:6-7 ESV
Phil 4:23 ESV
Col 1:3-14 ESV
Col 4:2-4 ESV
1 Thess 1:2-3 ESV
1 Thess 2:13-16 ESV
1 Thess 3:9-13 ESV
1 Thess 5:23-24 ESV
1 Thess 5:28 ESV
2 Thess 1:3ff ESV
2 Thess 1:11-12 ESV
2 Thess 2:16-17 ESV
2 Thess 3:2-5 ESV
2 Thess 3:16 ESV
1 Tim 1:12 ESV
1 Tim 2:1ff ESV
2 Tim 1:3-7 ESV
2 Tim 1:16-18 ESV
2 Tim 4:22 ESV
Titus 3:15b ESV
Philemon 1:4-7 ESV
Philemon 1:25 ESV