Category: ESV First Person

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for Grace to Govern your Tongue

Petition 3.26 | ESV

We must pray for grace to enable us both to govern our tongues well and to use them well.

Lord, enable me to guard my ways, that I may not sin with my tongue, and to guard my mouth, as if with a muzzle, Psalm 39:1(ESV) that it may not be hasty to utter a word. Ecclesiastes 5:2(ESV)

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips, Psalm 141:3(ESV) that I may not stumble in what I say. James 3:2(ESV)

Let my speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, Colossians 4:6(ESV) and enable me always, out of the good treasure of my heart, to bring forth good. Matthew 12:35(KJV) Let my mouth utter wisdom, and my tongue speak justice; Psalm 37:30(ESV) and let not your words depart out of my mouth, or any of your people’s mouth, or out of the mouth of our offspring, or our children’s offspring, from this time forth and forevermore. Isaiah 59:21(ESV)

Enable me always to open my mouth with wisdom, and let the teaching of kindness be on my tongue. Proverbs 31:26(ESV) Give me to know what is acceptable, Proverbs 10:32(ESV) that my tongue may be as choice silver, and my lips may feed many. Proverbs 10:20-21(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for Grace to Preserve you from Sin

Petition 3.25 | ESV

We must pray for grace to preserve us from sin and all appearances of it and approaches towards it.

I pray to God that I may not do wrong, 2 Corinthians 13:7(ESV) but may be blameless and innocent, as a child of God, without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation. Philippians 2:15(ESV)

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. Psalm 119:37(ESV) Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law! Psalm 119:29(ESV)

Do not let my heart incline to any evil, to busy myself with wicked deeds in company with men who work iniquity, and let me not eat of their delicacies! Psalm 141:4(ESV)

O declare me innocent from hidden faults; keep back your servant also from presumptuous sins: Let them not have dominion over me, but let me be blameless and innocent of great transgression; Psalm 19:12-13(ESV) and grant that hereby  I may prove myself blameless before you, by keeping myself from my own guilt. Psalm 18:23(ESV)

Let your word be stored up in my heart, that I might not sin against you; Psalm 119:11(ESV) and your grace be at all times sufficient for me, 2 Corinthians 12:9(ESV) ready to me, and mighty in me; and never give me up to my own heart’s lust, to walk in my own counsel. Jeremiah 7:24(ESV)

Enable me to walk carefully, not as unwise but as wise, Ephesians 5:15(ESV) so carefully, that I may cut off occasion from those who desire occasion to blaspheme that honorable name by which I am called; James 2:7(ESV) and by doing good may I put to silence the ignorance of foolish people, 1 Peter 2:15(ESV) and may I adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in everything. Titus 2:10(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Grace of Hope

Petition 3.24 | ESV

We must pray for the grace of hope; a hope in God and Christ, and a hope of eternal life.

Let endurance produce character in me, and character produce hope – such a hope that does not put me to shame. Romans 5:4-5(ESV) Through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures, let me have hope, Romans 15:4(ESV) and be saved by hope. Romans 8:24(ESV)

Let the God of Jacob be my help, and my hope always be in the LORD my God. Psalm 146:5(ESV)

Let me be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 1 Peter 1:3(ESV) and let that hope be to me as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, entering into the inner place behind the curtain, where the Forerunner has gone on my behalf. Hebrews 6:19-20(ESV)

Let me have Christ in me, the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27(ESV) and never be shifting from the hope of the gospel; Colossians 1:23(ESV) but enable me to show earnestness to have the full assurance of hope until the end. Hebrews 6:11(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Graces of Contentment and Patience

Petition 3.23 | ESV

I must pray for the graces of contentment and patience, and a holy indifference to all the things of sense and time.

Lord, teach me in whatever situation I am to be content; let me know how to be brought low and how to abound; in any and every circumstance, let me learn the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Philippians 4:11-12(ESV) And let godliness with contentment be great gain to me, 1 Timothy 6:6(ESV) and a little with the fear of the LORD and quietness, be better than great treasure and trouble with it. Proverbs 15:16(ESV)

Lord, grant that my life may be free from the love of money, and I may always be content with what I have, Hebrews 13:5(ESV) ever saying, “Let the will of the Lord be done.” Acts 21:14(ESV)

Enable me in my endurance to possess my own soul; Luke 21:19(KJV) and let steadfastness always have its full effect, that I may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:4(ESV)

Lord, give me grace to mourn as though I was not mourning, and to rejoice as though I was not rejoicing, and to buy as though I had no goods, and to deal with the world as though I had no dealings with it, because the appointed time has grown very short, and the present form of this world is passing away. 1 Corinthians 7:29-31(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Grace of Self-Denial and Humility

Petition 3.22 | ESV

We must pray for the grace of self-denial.

Lord, give me grace to deny myself, to take up my cross daily, and to follow Christ; Matthew 16:24(ESV) to discipline my body and keep it under control. 1 Corinthians 9:27(ESV)

Lord, keep me from being a lover of my own self, 2 Timothy 3:2(ESV) from being wise in my own eyes and leaning to my own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-7(ESV)

Lord, give me to seek, not my own good only, but also the good of my neighbor. 1 Corinthians 10:24(ESV)

And grant that I may not live to myself or die to myself, but whether I live or die, may I be the Lord’s, and live and die to him. Romans 14:7-8(ESV)

We must pray for humility and meekness.

Lord, give me to learn from Christ to be gentle and lowly in heart, that I may find rest for my soul; Matthew 11:29(ESV) and that herein the same mind may be in me that was also in Christ Jesus. Philippians 2:5(ESV)

Lord, conceal pride from me, Job 33:17(ESV) and clothe me with humility; 1 Peter 5:5(ESV) and put upon me the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in your sight is very precious. 1 Peter 3:4-5(ESV)

Lord, give me grace to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which I have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with others in love. Ephesians 4:1-2(ESV)

Let anger never lodge in my bosom, Ecclesiastes 7:9(ESV) nor the sun ever go down on my anger; Ephesians 4:26(ESV) but enable me to show perfect courtesy toward all people, because I myself was once foolish and disobedient. Titus 3:2-3(ESV)

Let me be clothed as becomes an elect child of God, holy and beloved, with a compassionate heart, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, Colossians 3:12(ESV) that being merciful, even as my heavenly Father is merciful, Luke 6:36(ESV) I may be perfect as he is perfect. Matthew 5:48(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for a Tender Conscience and God-Wrought Love

Petition 3.21 | ESV

We must pray that our consciences may be always tender and that we may live a life of repentance.

Lord, put upon me that love which binds everything together in perfect harmony, Colossians 3:14(ESV) that I may maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Ephesians 4:3(ESV) and may live in love of peace, that the God of love and peace may be with me. 2 Corinthians 13:11(ESV)

Lord, give me to love my neighbor as myself with that love which is the fulfilling of the law; Romans 13:9-10(ESV) to love others earnestly from a pure heart, 1 Peter 1:22(ESV) that by this all men may know that I am Christ’s disciple. John 13:35(ESV)

And as your people are taught by God to love one another, give me to abound therein more and more; 1 Thessalonians 4:9-10(ESV) and as I have opportunity, let me do good to everyone; Galatians 6:10(ESV) and so far as it depends on me, let me live peaceably with all men, Romans 12:18(ESV) always pursuing what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Romans 14:19(ESV)

Lord, make me able to love my enemies, to bless those who curse me, to pray for those who despitefully use me, and to do good to those who hate me; Matthew 5:44(KJV) bearing with others and forgiving others in love, as Christ has forgiven me. Colossians 3:13(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for the Fear of God and for the Love of God to be Rooted in you

Petition 3.20 | ESV

We must pray for the fear of God.

Lord, work in me that fear of you, which is the beginning of wisdom, Psalm 111:10(ESV) which is instruction in wisdom, Proverbs 15:33(ESV) and which is a fountain of life, that one may turn away from the snares of death. Proverbs 14:27(ESV)

Unite my heart to fear your name, Psalm 86:11(ESV) that I may keep your commandments, which is the whole duty of man. Ecclesiastes 12:13(ESV)

O put the fear of you in my heart, that I may not turn from you. Jeremiah 32:40(ESV) Let me be devoted to your fear; Psalm 119:38(KJV) and let me continue in the fear of the LORD everyday and all the day. Proverbs 23:17(ESV)

We must pray that the love of God and Christ may be rooted in us and, in order to that end, that the love of the world may be rooted out of us.

Give me grace, I beg you, to love you, the Lord my God, with all my heart and soul and mind and strength, Mark 12:30(ESV) which is the great and first commandment; Matthew 22:37-38(ESV) to hold fast to you in love; Psalm 91:14(ESV) and to delight myself always in you; and therein I shall have the desires of my heart. Psalm 37:4(ESV)

Circumcise my heart to love you, the LORD my God, with all my heart and with all my soul, that I may live. Deuteronomy 30:6(ESV)

O that God’s love may be poured into my heart through the Holy Spirit. Romans 5:5(ESV)

O that Jesus Christ may be very precious to me, as he is to all who believe; 1 Peter 2:7(KJV) that he may be in my account distinguished among ten thousand, Song of Solomon 5:10(ESV) and altogether desirable; and that he may be my beloved and my friend: Song of Solomon 5:16(ESV) That though I have not seen him, yet I may love him; and though I do not now see him, yet I may believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. 1 Peter 1:8(ESV)

Let the love of Christ to me control me to live, not to myself, but to him who for my sake died and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15(ESV)

And, Lord, grant that I may not love the world or the things in the world, because if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; 1 John 2:15(ESV) that I may set my mind on things above, and not on things that are on earth. Colossians 3:2(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for Faith

Petition 3.19 | ESV

I must pray for faith.

Lord, let it be granted to me to believe; Philippians 1:29(ESV) for the faith by which I am saved is not my own doing, it is the gift of God. Ephesians 2:8(ESV)

Lord, increase my faith, Luke 17:5(ESV) and supply what is lacking in it, 1 Thessalonians 3:10(ESV) that I may grow strong in faith, as I give glory to God. Romans 4:20(ESV)

Lord, give me so to be crucified with Christ, as that the life I may now live in the flesh, I may live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me; Galatians 2:20(ESV) and so to carry in me continually the death of Jesus, as that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in my mortal body. 2 Corinthians 4:10(ESV)

As I have received Christ Jesus the Lord, enable me so also to walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as I was taught, abounding in thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7(ESV)

Let every word of yours benefit me, being united by faith, Hebrews 4:2(ESV) by which I receive your testimony and set my seal to this: that God is true. John 3:33(ESV)

I beg you, work in me that faith which is the assurance of things hoped for and the conviction of things not seen, Hebrews 11:1(ESV) by which I may look above the things that are seen, that are transient, and may look at the things that are unseen, that are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:18(ESV)

Enable me by faith to set the LORD always before me, Psalm 16:8(ESV) and to have my eyes ever towards him, Psalm 25:15(ESV) that I may act in everything, as seeing him who is invisible, and may look to the reward. Hebrews 11:26-27(ESV)

Let my heart be cleansed by faith, Acts 15:9(ESV) and let it be my victory to overcome the world; 1 John 5:4(ESV) and let me be kept from fainting by believing that I shall look upon the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Psalm 27:13(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for Grace to Sanctify your Nature

Petition 3.18 | ESV

To sanctify our nature, to plant in us all holy principles and dispositions, and to increase every grace in us.

Now may the God of peace himself sanctify me completely, and may my whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of my Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls me is faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24(ESV)

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence, and take not your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit. Psalm 51:10-12(ESV)

Write your law on my heart and put it within me, Jeremiah 31:33(ESV) that I may be a letter from Christ, written by the Spirit of the living God, not on a tablet of stone but on a tablet of human heart; 2 Corinthians 3:3(ESV) that the law of my God being in my heart, none of my steps may slip; Psalm 37:31(ESV) and that I may delight to do your will, O God; Psalm 40:8(ESV) may delight in the law of God in my inner being. Romans 7:22(ESV)

O that I may become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which I desire to be committed, as into a mold, Romans 6:17(ESV) that my whole soul may be leavened by it; Matthew 13:33(ESV) and that I may not be conformed to this world, but transformed by the renewal of my mind; Romans 12:2(ESV) may not be conformed to the passions of my former ignorance, but as an obedient child, may be holy in all my conduct, as he who called me is holy. 1 Peter 1:14-15(ESV)

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ESV First Person Method for Prayer

Pray for Grace to Direct your Conscience and Make you Wise

Petition 3.17 | ESV

To direct our consciences, to show us the way of our duty, and to make us wise, knowing, judicious Christians.

Lord, give me a wise and understanding mind, 1 Kings 3:9(ESV) that wisdom which in all cases helps one to succeed; Ecclesiastes 10:10(ESV) that wisdom of the prudent which is to discern his way. Proverbs 14:8(ESV)

This I pray, that my love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment, so that I may discern things that differ and may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11(ESV)

O that I may be filled with the knowledge of your will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of God, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Colossians 1:9-10(ESV)

Teach me your way, O God, and lead me on a level path because of my observers. Psalm 27:11(ESV)

When I do not know what to do, my eyes are on you; 2 Chronicles 20:12(ESV) then let me hear the Lord behind me, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when I turn to the right or when I turn to the left. Isaiah 30:21(ESV)

Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Psalm 119:133(ESV)