Pocket Prayers for Friends: 40 Simple Prayers That Bring Joy and Serenity

by Max Lucado

Overview

Some friends are closer than family. They weave their way into our lives, there to celebrate the highs and comfort us through the lows. And for those special friends, Max Lucado offers forty scriptures and guided prayers that bring joy and serenity in Pocket Prayers for Friends.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780718078379
Publisher:	Nelson, Thomas, Inc.
Publication date:	03/08/2016
Sold by:	HarperCollins Publishing
Format:	eBook
Pages:	112
Sales rank:	619,268
File size:	448 KB

About the Author

Since entering the ministry in 1978, Max Lucado has served churches in Miami, Florida; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; and San Antonio, Texas. He currently serves as the teaching minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio. He is the recipient of the 2021 ECPA Pinnacle Award for his outstanding contribution to the publishing industry and society at large. He is America's bestselling inspirational author with more than 150 million products in print.

Visit his website at MaxLucado.com

Facebook.com/MaxLucado

Instagram.com/MaxLucado

Twitter.com/MaxLucado

Youtube.com/MaxLucadoOfficial

The Max Lucado Encouraging Word Podcast

Read an Excerpt

Pocket Prayers for Friends

40 Simple Prayers that Bring Joy and Serenity

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By Max Lucado, Betsy St. Amant

Thomas Nelson

Copyright © 2016 Max Lucado
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-0-7180-7837-9

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CHAPTER 1

Prayers for Grace and Wisdom

1

Plans go wrong for lack of advice, many advisers bring success. Proverbs 15:22 NLT

Father God, I praise you for who you are and what you mean to me. You are so good in all your ways, and your Word tells me that you are my wonderful Counselor.

I ask you for wisdom today. Let it flow out of me and into my friendships. Help me not only to seek wise counsel but also to heed it.

Please guide my friends on their journeys today. Help them seek you always. Let their paths be made straight and sure.

Thank you for being a constant presence in my life. Your advice is trustworthy, and I can rest in it, realizing you want the best for me. I am grateful for friends who encourage me with your wisdom and truth.

In your Son's name I pray, amen.

2

He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed. Proverbs 13:20

Almighty God, you sent your Son as an example of love, holiness, and wisdom. I praise you for that.

Help me reflect your love and embrace the wisdom you offer. I ask you to bring healthy friendships into my life and to protect me from relationships that would pull me away from you.

Bring positive influences into the lives of my friends. Equip them to sharpen each other to become more like you every day.

Thank you for caring about every aspect of my life, especially the people in it. And thank you for continuing to open doors to relationships that honor you.

In the name of Jesus, amen.

3

Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." 1 Corinthians 15:33

Heavenly Father, I praise you for your constant involvement in my life. You never fail to meet all my needs and to lead me in truth.

I need discernment today regarding the friendships I allow in my life. Give me wisdom to know which relationships to embrace and which ones to pass by.

I ask you to guide my friends in this too. Protect them from negative influences that might draw them away from your presence.

Thank you for being a constant friend. Even in temporary seasons of loneliness, you're with me. I'm so grateful for your presence when other relationships are in transition.

In Jesus' name, amen.

4

He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV

Dear Lord, you alone are worthy. You're the only one who can meet me exactly where I am. Your grace is all I truly need.

Some days I struggle to embrace that truth even though I believe it. I need help holding on to you when circumstances try to convince me otherwise. Give me wisdom to understand your power, grace, and provision in the days they feel out of reach.

Help my friends recognize your provision even in the hard times. Let them always sense your presence, support, and love. Pour your grace into their lives, and make them strong.

Thank you for always meeting my needs, just as your Word promises. On the days when my patience runs thin and my heart breaks, your grace is still enough to cover all the messes of life.

In the name of your powerful Son, Jesus, amen.

5

I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. Acts 20:32

Dear Father God, I praise you for who you are. You are generous and compassionate to your children.

Some days I feel lost and unsure. Help me go to your Word and understand its truth. Use your Word to build me up and strengthen me every day.

Prompt my friends to read your Word and to commit it to memory so they will always have access to your promises. Give them a desire to study the Bible together and to strengthen each other with your instructions.

Thank you for the Bible. Thank you for the friendships that encourage me to be a student of the Word and to be committed to you.

In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

6

Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works. Hebrews 10:24

Almighty God, I praise you for your good heart toward your children. Even when I fail, your love never does. You are worthy to be praised.

Help me to be mindful of my motives. When I serve others, let it be out of genuine kindness and not selfishness, giving you all the glory. I want to set an example and encourage others toward good works. Help me show my friends true love and humility.

Please be with my friends as they strive to live for you. Help them stir one another toward good things. Let their hearts be focused on you alone.

Thank you that your love for me doesn't depend on my works but on your grace alone. Thank you for my friends, who remind me with their wisdom and joy of your many blessings. I'm so grateful we can work together and bring you glory.

In your holy and precious Son's name, amen.

CHAPTER 2

Prayers for Joy and Companionship

7

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble. Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 NLT

Gracious Father, every good and perfect gift comes from you, especially the friendships you've given me. I praise you for your attention to every detail of my life, including relationships.

I want to be strong for my friends when they go through trials and storms. Help me pick them up and point them toward you in every situation. Enable me to laugh with them as they rejoice and cry beside them as they struggle.

My friends have been such blessings to me. I ask that you give them strength for their days, whatever season they're in, and guard their steps. If they falter, don't let them fall.

Thank you for the gift of friendship. I'm so grateful for the joy and companionship my friends bring. You never fail to provide just what I need — like people who draw me closer to you.

In your gracious name, amen.

8

Ointment and perfume delight the heart, and the sweetness of a man's friend gives delight by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9

Dear Lord, your presence is like a sweet perfume drifting over my life. I praise you for your goodness and provision! You are worthy to be praised.

I ask you to prepare me today so I might be a sweet aroma for my friends. I want to bless them as they continually bless me. Help me to be aware of their needs and to focus on them, putting my own agenda aside.

Equip my friends today to rest in your presence, lingering there and being refreshed in you. Let them find their full delight in your love today.

Thank you for the sweetness of friendship. Laughter and late-night talks refresh my spirit and fill me with joy.

In Jesus' name, amen.

9

Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Romans 12:15

Father God, you know every hair on my head and every word before it leaves my mouth. My days were written out before I was born. I praise you for your deep knowledge of me. You know what makes me happy, what makes me sad, and what hurts me. You bottle my tears.

Help me not to be selfishly caught up in my own joys and sorrows but to be a friend who cries when my friends cry and laughs when they laugh. Bonds are created through shared tears and laughter, and I want to be a good friend to my friends.

Be with them as they experience both joy and sorrow. When they're full of joy, let that passion bubble over and strengthen our friendship. When they hurt, let them feel your presence, and let them know I am here for them.

Thank you for the friends who laugh with me, celebrate with me, and encourage me. Thank you for those heart-to-heart talks that draw us closer to each other and to you.

In your Son's holy name, amen.

10

A person finds joy in giving an apt reply — and how good is a timely word! Proverbs 15:23 NIV

Dear Lord God, you are the giver of words. I praise you for that gift. You blessed me with the ability to speak to my friends' hearts.

May I always remember that a kind word spoken at the right time can bring hope to a friend with a broken heart. Tame my tongue so I will speak only encouraging words.

Help my friends use their words wisely and carefully. When they're tempted to spout off in fear, doubt, or anger, remind them to be gentle. Guide their words so they will spread joy.

Thank you for friends who lift me up, encourage me, and speak your truth into my life. Thank you for providing me with so many loved ones who use their words to heal and not to hurt. I'm very grateful for them.

In the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

11

We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng. Psalm 55:14

Heavenly Father, I love going to church to worship you, to learn more about your character, and to fellowship with other believers. You have provided me a community of believers where I can grow in your grace.

Let me be a sweet encouragement to my friends at church to draw closer to you. Help me be free with my worship and not hold back so they might also have the courage to express themselves freely.

Help my friends attend church faithfully and grow alongside me as we worship you together. Stretch and develop their faith as they learn more about you.

I love learning about you through fellowship with my friends. Thank you for that opportunity and for the friendships you've given me in my church. It's such a gift to worship beside them.

In your sweet name, amen.

12

When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me. Psalm 27:10

Almighty God, you are a constant in my life. I praise you for your faithfulness. Even if everyone around me fails, you never do. I can always count on your presence.

Equip me to trust you in new ways and to greater depths. Help me release any fears I'm carrying, and remind me that you have never left me and will never forsake me. In turn, I want to be someone my friends can trust and depend on at all times.

Bless my friends with your presence when they struggle with loneliness. Be the companion they seek. Pursue their hearts, and reassure them that they are never alone, because you are always there.

Thank you for the gift of your constant presence. Thank you for the joy of friendship and the companionship it brings.

In the powerful name of Jesus, amen.

13

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Matthew 28:18–20

Heavenly Father, I praise you for the opportunities we have to spread the good news of the gospel. You are so loving, and you desire that everyone in the world would hear about your Son, Jesus.

Help me to partner with my friends in spreading the word about salvation and to speak about my faith plainly and simply. Prompt me to follow through when I hesitate to share your love with those I meet.

Give my friends courage as they seek to share your love with those who haven't heard of you. Provide them clarity as they talk about you, and inspire them to be strong witnesses motivated by love for your children.

Thank you for the opportunity to stand alongside my friends as we tell others about your grace. It's a joy to serve your kingdom together.

In Jesus' name, amen.

CHAPTER 3

Prayers for Help and Protection

14

A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. Proverbs 17:17

Heavenly Father, you are the very definition of love. I praise you for the many ways you show your love for me — through music, through your creation, and through the people you've placed in my life.

Help me reflect that love to others, especially my friends. Provide opportunities for me to be there for them in good times and bad and to encourage them through hugs, small gestures of kindness, and messages of hope, as they have done for me.

Strengthen my friends for whatever they're facing. Help them shine your love into all circumstances — even when it's hard or messy. Give them everything they need today, and provide them with an extra measure of grace.

Thank you for the blessing of friendships saturated in your love. I'm so grateful we don't have to navigate life on our own.

In Jesus' name, amen.

15

Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40:31

God of wonders, I praise you for who you are and how you take care of me. You always provide me with strength when I'm weak and perseverance when I feel as if I can't continue. You are so good to me.

Give me strong legs and determination as I run this race. Keep me moving forward even when the trail is bumpy and unsure. Lengthen my strides of faith, and prepare me to carry on when I'm scared or when all seems lost.

Help my friends find their strength in you during their rocky times. Let them spread their wings and fly despite adversity. Renew their energy daily, and give them your peace and comfort when they're struggling to keep going.

Thank you for always giving me what I need. I am so grateful for the friends who run beside me and help me persevere.

In the precious name of Jesus, amen.

16

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Heavenly Father, I praise you for your protection. Fear is a real battle, yet you tell me that perfect love casts out fear. It is easy for me to fall into the trap of fear. Teach me to trust in you. You are my strength and my portion, and I have no reason to be afraid. But in those moments when fear seems inevitable, equip me with a clear perspective, and remind me that I won't have to face it alone.

Be with my friends and help them find courage in the midst of their fears. Enable them to fight depression and discouragement through your strength.

Thank you for being my hero and my protector. You're my safety net in an unsafe world, and I am so grateful you are always for me. Thank you for friends who encourage me to trust you.

In the name of Jesus, amen.

17

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore. Psalm 121:7–8

Dear Lord, this world is so uncertain. Yet you are good in the midst of the evil. I praise you for your love and protection.

When the world gets especially dark, help me trust you and look for your light and not be afraid of the shadows. I want always to remember how close you are to me. You're my refuge. Help me encourage my friends and those around me with that truth.

When my friends face trials — sickness, broken relationships, or financial struggles — remind them you are in control. Please protect my friends and keep them safe. Guard their steps and all their ways.

Thank you for your protection, for being a strong tower when we feel like everything is crumbling around us.

In the name of Jesus, amen.

18

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Psalm 46:1

Lord Jesus, I praise you for your strength and protection. When I think about how strong you are compared to how weak I am, I'm overwhelmed. You alone are worthy of praise.

Remind me to focus on how big you are instead of how big my problems are. Remind me that you are my strong fortress and are always there for me to run to when life gets hard. I want to rest in your protection and not stress over things I can't control.

(Continues...)

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Excerpted from Pocket Prayers for Friends by Max Lucado, Betsy St. Amant. Copyright © 2016 Max Lucado. Excerpted by permission of Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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