PRAYERS OF THE OLD TESTAMENT --- PART 1

We give You thanks, most gracious YAHVEH, for the beauty of earth and sky and sea; for the richness of mountains, plains, and rivers; for the songs of birds and the loveliness of flowers. We praise You for these good gifts and pray that we may safeguard them for our posterity. Grant that we may continue to grow in our grateful enjoyment of Your abundant creation, to the honour and glory of Your Name, now and for ever. (Genesis 2).

Teach me, Adonai: Not to murmur at the multitude of business and the shortness of time. Not to magnify undertaken duties by seeming to suffer under them, but to treat them all as liberties. Not to call attention to crowded work or petty fatigues. Not to gather encouragement from appreciation by others, lest this should interfere with the purity of my motives. Not to seek praise, respect, gratitude or regard from others. Not to let myself be placed in favourable contrast with another. (Genesis 4).

The rainbow bending in the sky bedecked with sundry hues. Is like the seat of YAHVEH on high and seems to tell this news; that as thereby He promised to drown the world no more. So by the blood which HaMashiach has shed He will our health restore… Unto such joys for to attain YAHVEH grants us all His grace. And send us after worldly pain in Heaven to have a place, where we may still enjoy the light which never shall decay. Adonai, for this mercy lends us might to see that joyful day. (Genesis 9).

Almighty YAHVEH, who has given us the privilege of making our common requests to You and has promised through Your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in His name You will be in the midst of them: Fulfil now, O Adonai, the desires and petitions of Your servants as may be best for us; granting us in this world a knowledge of Your truth and life everlasting in the world to come. (Genesis 18).

Shall I despair of Your mercy, O ELOHIM? Far is that from me. I am Your workmanship, created in Yeshua HaMashiach. Give me grace therefore, to await Your leisure and patiently to bear what You require. Most assuredly I know that You will deliver me when it pleases You, for I do not doubt or mistrust You. You know what is good for me better than I do. Hear me, O merciful Father! For the sake of Your Son, whom You willed to be a sacrifice for my sins; to whom, with You and Ruach HaKodesh be all honour and glory. (Genesis 22).

Adonai Elohim, You are with me and You can help me. You were with me when I was taken and You are with me now. You strengthen me. The King Most High I serve is everywhere; in heaven and earth and the sea, but He is above them all, for all live in Him: All were created by Him and by Him only do they remain. I will worship only the true YAHVEH; You will I carry in my heart; no one on earth shall be able to separate me from You. (Genesis 32).

Adonai, by Your dealings with us, whether of joy or pain, of light or darkness, let us be brought to You. Let us value no treatment of Your grace simply because it makes us happy or because it makes us sad, because it gives us or denies us what we want; but may all that You send us bring us to You; that knowing Your perfectness, we may be sure in every disappointment You are still loving us, in every darkness You are still enlightening us and in every enforced idleness You are giving us life, as in his death You gave life to Your Son, our Saviour, Yeshua HaMashiach. (Genesis 39).

Our hope is in YAHVEH, who gives help. Let us call upon Him, and say: Look kindly on your children, Adonai. Adonai, our Elohim, You made an eternal covenant with Your people. Keep us ever mindful of Your mighty deeds. Let Your ordained ministers grow toward perfect love and preserve Your faithful people in unity by the bond of peace. Be with us in our work of building the earthly city, that in building we may not labour in vain. Send workers into Your vineyard, and glorify Your Name among the nations. (Exodus 3).