“May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere.” (Psalms 67:1-2 NLT).

PRAYING GOD’S WORD BACK TO HIM

The psalmist prayed that God would show them mercy, blessing and favor, so that they might display the way of salvation to the nations. This prayer aligned with God’s promise to Abraham that through his “offspring all nations would be blessed” (Gen. 22:18). It also borrowed words from the benediction of Aaron, “The Lord bless and keep you, the Lord make His face shine upon you…” (Num. 6:22-27).
 
Praying God’s Word back to Him helps us agree with the way the Lord Jesus taught us to pray. For He taught us to pray, “Thy Kingdom come” prayers. And what better way to pray as Jesus taught us than to pray His Word back to Him?
 
Quoting God’s Word and purpose back to Him in prayer is a great basis for bringing your heart into alignment with His. Asking Him to supply your need and show you favor, so that you might fulfill His purpose to bring salvation to the nations, is gospel-centered praying. It is a Great Commission prayer. Do you pray that you and your church will be blessed, so that it may carry the gospel to the nations?
 
PRAYER: Dear Father, we pray Your Word back to You today, asking You to “be merciful to us and bless us, and cause Your face to shine upon us, that Your way may be known on earth, Your salvation among all nations.” For there is much trouble in our world today and we have a sure answer, because we have Jesus. In His name we pray, amen.