May-God Prayers

Last night I wanted to pray but was uncharacteristically at a loss for words. So I looked up some of the Apostle Paul’s prayers. The ones I am most acquainted with are quite long. I was tired, and I got lost in all the words. They’re great prayers, mind you, but I needed more emotional energy to pray them than was available to me last night.

However, I found some shorter, less familiar ones that really hit the spot. Interestingly, they all started the same way—“May God,” “May the Lord,” “May God Himself,” etc. So I decided to call them May-God Prayers.

As you read through them, you’ll notice that they are all prayers of blessing. They are appropriate to pray for any fellow believer, and many of them would be fitting prayers for nonbelievers as well. I hope you will enjoy praying them as much as I do—and that the people you pray these prayers for will experience God’s blessing. Here they are:

May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Romans 15:5-6

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones. 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.2 Thessalonians 3:16

Aren’t they good? Feel free to pray them for me, if you like—I would happily receive God’s help and blessing with any of them!