Sample prayer

Jehovah Jirah, You are Lord, my provider. You provide us with plenty of food and fill our hearts with joy (Acts 14:17). Those who seek You will lack no good thing (Psalm 34:10). Thank you for generously providing for our physical needs, but more importantly, for satisfying us spiritually. I praise as David did, “I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You…. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods, with singing lips my mouth will praise You” (Psalm 63:2-3,5).

But Lord, too often I am so consumed by “things” in my life. I desire the things of this world and become so busy trying to maintain all the possessions You have allowed me to accumulate that I forget to take time to pray. I find myself running around “accomplishing much,” instead of focusing on the key to satisfaction in life, which is remaining in Your presence. Please forgive me. I need to learn the lesson You taught Solomon after he tried finding satisfaction chasing after worldly pleasures. As he concluded at the end of Ecclesiastes: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).

I pray that I would fear You and keep Your commandments. My heart‘s desire is to be consumed by my love for You, not the things of this world.

For my children, I pray that You would fill ________’s and ________’s hearts with the presence of Your Holy Spirit and allow them to taste the joy of knowing You. Bring about a desire in them to pursue godliness as opposed to riches. Give them an understanding that accumulated wealth will permit them no sleep and that riches can be hoarded to the harm of their owner (Ecclesiastes 5:3-14). I pray that they will experience the fullness and joy of Your Spirit and that they will seek Your presence to gain satisfaction and refreshing instead of fulfilling their needs through worldly goods. Please put healthy fear of You in their hearts, that they may live life to the full and rest content, untouched by trouble (Proverbs 19:23).

In Jesus’ name, I pray that You would disentangle us from the possessions we honour and cherish. I want to pray as David did: “Whom have I in heaven but You? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:25-26). We want to live with You as our priority so we can live with true contentment, joy and peace. Amen.

Scripture-guided prayer for parents

Read and pray through one or more of the selected Scriptures under each heading. Focus on listening to God and allowing His Spirit to direct you as you pray.

Character focus

Begin by letting God know how much you appreciate the way He cares for you and your family.

Psalm 63:1-5 | Psalm 65:9-13 | Psalm 84:10-12 | Philippians 4:19 | Matthew 6:25-27

Heart search

Acknowledge the areas where you lack contentedness.

Deuteronomy 8:2-5 | Isaiah 55:2-3 | 1 Timothy 6:6-10 | 1 Timothy 6:17-19 | 1 John 2:15‑17

Gratitude

Thank God for ways you have seen contentedness exhibited in your family.

Family requests

Ask God to help you and your family to be content in all circumstances.

Psalm 17:14-15 | Psalm 145:15-19 | Psalm 147:7-9, 12-14 | 1 Timothy 6:6 | Hebrews 13:5‑6