Praying with Paul

Hebrews 12:3-11



Dear Father,
Help me to keep my eyes on Jesus. Despite the hostility poured on him by sinners, he obeyed you, even to the point of death.
Help me submit to your discipline, for I know that it assures me that I am your legitimate child, not just a slave.
Help me to respect your discipline, as from a heavenly Father, even more than discipline I received from my earthly father.
Help me bear up under the painful aspects of your discipline, understanding that...

 

Hebrews 11:20-12:2



Dear Father, my trustworthy God,
Give me faith like Moses, who loved your way more than the treasures of Egypt. Give me faith like the people of the Exodus, who were willing to walk through the sea at your bidding, but keep me from wavering and rebelling as they did. Give me faith like Rahab, who placed her loyalty with you and your people. Give me faith like Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who did mighty works in your...

 

Hebrews 11:8-19



Holy Father, in whom all faith is safe,
I cannot imagine what it would be like to be asked to do what you asked Abraham to do. He was willing to sacrifice the very son you had promised to him, the son through whom you promised to make a great nation. He believed that you could do what he had never seen done before-raise someone from the dead.
May I stay so close to you that I will never doubt your instructions to me. Like Abraham, I want to be willing to...

 

Hebrews 10:26-39



Holy God, who has promised to return,
How foolish I would be to keep on sinning after coming to the knowledge of your truth. Give me the strength to forsake whatever sin I become aware of in my life. I submit myself to your examination and ask to see myself as you see me.
In the face of suffering or ridicule, I want to stand strong in truth, always aware that confidence and perseverence will be richly rewarded in the life to come.
May I not be among...

 

Hebrews 11:1-7



Dear Father, trustworthy God,
You alone are worthy of faith, for you alone have the power to keep promises. Increase my faith, Lord. May I have the full assurance of what I hope for, the firm conviction of the reality of what I do not yet see.
Give me faith in your creation and ordering of the world, that what is here is made out of what does not appear.
Give me faith like Abel, who sought your approval and whose faith still speaks beyond his death.
Give...

 

Hebrews 10:19-25



Dear Father,
Thank you for the confidence I can have to enter your sanctuary. May I draw near to you in faith, full of assurance, with my heart cleansed from a guilty conscience and with my body washed with pure water.
Grant that I may hold fast to the confession of my faith, without wavering, since I know that you, the one who promised, is faithful. May my enthusiastic expression of faith stir up fellow Christians to good works.
Let me not neglect...

 

Hebrews 9:11-14



Dear Father,
Thank you that when Christ appeared as a High Priest, he entered into the Holy Place and took not the blood of bulls and goats, but his own blood, thus securing eternal redemption for us.
How much more perfect and pleasing to you was his sacrifice than that of animals, for he offered what was truly perfect-his sinless body.
Thank you, Father, that through this offering he has purified my conscience that I might serve you, the true and living...

 

Hebrews 8:1-13



Dear Father, the Majesty of heaven,
Thank you that in Jesus we have a totally understanding and merciful High Priest. He has your authority, seated at the right hand of the throne of your majesty in heaven, a minister in the sanctuary and true tabernacle which was set up by you, not men.
Thank you that the new covenant we have through him is superior to the old covenant in that it is written on our hearts and minds.
I want to know you, O God. I want to...

 

Hebrews 6:13-7:28



Dear Father, King above all rule and authority on earth,
Thank you for your holy and sure promises. Your oath is immutable. In these things in which it is impossible for you to prove false, we who have fled to you for refuge find strong encouragement to seize the hope set before us. Thank you for the sure and steadfast anchor you have given our lives, our hope that enters into the inner shrine behind the curtain.
There Jesus has gone as a forerunner on...

 

Hebrews 5:11-6:4, 9-12



Dear Father,
I am eager to be a good learner. I want to get beyond needing milk meant for babies. I want to digest the solid food of your word. I want to be skilled in righteousness, able to distinguish good from evil.
Let me move past the elementary teachings of Christ and go on to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance. Help me to lay hold of those "better things" that belong to salvation.
Thank you, God, for remembering the work...