Before you use these prayers for strength you should know two things:
Therefore, the prayers you will see below are prayers based on the Bible. These are prayers for strength both sourced in and directed to the One in whom exists all power and truth. This truth and lasting power is declared in the Psalms: “The entirety of Your word is truth, and all Your righteous judgments endure forever.”1
The power of this word and its use in prayer is modeled by Jesus. Consider His prayer to the Father on behalf of the disciples, who had become his friends: “Sanctify them by the truth; Your word is truth.” (John 17:17).
We’ve chosen this method because we believe that authentic prayer based on the Bible is pleasing to God. The first prayer you’ll see here is an example of how we pray Scripture back to God. First, you’ll see the prayer; next, we provide the Bible reference if you want to meditate on the verse(s) as you pray. (We also hope that providing the prayer for strength with accompanying verse(s) serves as guide for you to pray with other verses of your choosing). You may choose to pray after considering just one verse or part of a verse. Or, you may choose to pray based on what you read from several verses across different passages.
Father, the word that goes forth from Your mouth will not return to You empty but will accomplish what You desire and achieve the purpose for which You sent it. I offer to You these prayers for strength, based on Your word. Your word teaches that I am like the grass that withers and my glory like the flower that fades, but Your word, my God, stands forever. Even when heaven and earth pass away, the words of the Jesus will never pass away. How blessed is the person whose strength is in You. As they pass through the valley, they go from strength to strength. God of Armies,2 hear my prayers for strength. Amen.
Isaiah 55:11:
My word that proceeds from My mouth
will not return to Me empty,
but it will accomplish what I please,
and it will prosper where I send it.
Isaiah 40:6–8:
6 A voice says, “Cry out!”
And I asked, “What should I cry out?”
“All flesh is like grass,
and all its glory like the flowers of the field.
7 The grass withers and the flowers fall
when the breath of the LORD blows on them;
indeed, the people are grass.
8 The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God stands forever.”
Matthew 24:35:
Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.
Psalm 84:5–8:
5 Blessed are those whose strength is in You,
whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
6 As they pass through the Valley of Baca,
they make it a place of springs;
even the autumn rain covers it with pools.
7 They go from strength to strength,
until each appears before God in Zion.
8 O LORD God of Hosts, hear my prayer;
give ear, O God of Jacob.
When we pray for strength, it is often in times of acute weakness and pain. And the pain often permeates multiple areas. When the areas of your life in which you’re desperate for strength are growing beyond your control, the prayer for strength might sound like this:
Hear me, God… don’t hide.
I look around, and I can’t see anything of lasting value.
My pain is physical and emotional … and feels like it won’t stop.
The pain is compounded … I can’t sleep or eat, I’m lonely, and it seems like even you are against me.
I feel like I’m at the end.
This is a summary of a prayer actually found in the Bible. It’s Psalm 102, which is called “a prayer of one who is afflicted, when he grows faint and pours out his lament” before God. Read it for yourself:
A Prayer of Lament (Psalm 102)
1 Hear my prayer, O LORD;
let my cry for help come before You.
2 Do not hide Your face from me
in my day of distress.
Incline Your ear to me;
answer me quickly when I call.
3 For my days vanish like smoke,
and my bones burn like glowing embers.
4 My heart is afflicted, and withered like grass;
I even forget to eat my bread.
5 Through my loud groaning
my flesh clings to my bones.
6 I am like a desert owl,
like an owl among the ruins.
7 I lie awake;
I am like a lone bird on a housetop.
8 All day long my enemies taunt me;
they ridicule me and curse me.
9 For I have eaten ashes like bread
and mixed my drink with tears
10 because of Your indignation and wrath,
for You have picked me up and cast me aside.
11 My days are like lengthening shadows,
and I wither away like grass.
In his desperation, the psalmist concludes that the only answer to our weak condition is this: If there is hope, it can only be found in the One who endures forever. We must bury our years into His.
12 But You, O LORD, sit enthroned forever;
Your renown endures to all generations….
17 He will turn toward the prayer of the destitute
He will not despise their prayer.
18 Let this be written for the generation to come,
so that a people not yet created may praise the LORD.
19 For He looked down from the heights of His sanctuary;
the LORD gazed out from heaven to earth
20 to hear a prisoner’s groaning,
to release those condemned to death,
21 that they may proclaim the name of the LORD in Zion
and praise Him in Jerusalem,
22 when peoples and kingdoms assemble
to serve the LORD.
23 He has broken my strength on the way;
He has cut short my days.
24 I say: “O my God, do not take me in the midst of my days!
Your years go on through all generations.
25 In the beginning You laid the foundations of the earth,
and the heavens are the work of Your hands.
26 They will perish, but You remain;
they will all wear out like a garment.
Like clothing You will change them,
and they will be passed on.
27 But You remain the same,
and Your years will never end.
28 The children of Your servants will dwell securely,
and their descendants will be established before You.”
Many feel as if they don’t know how to pray, concerned whether they are praying “the right way.” We caution that prayers for strength aren’t magic formulas. The intensity of your sincerity isn’t the key to manipulating God. But we do encourage you to be honest with God in your prayers for strength, just like the examples you will see below, taken from various passage of the Bible. We encourage you to pray for strength in these following areas. Each prayer for strength is accompanied by its corresponding passage from the Bible.
The prayers proclaiming the power of God can be used by themselves, or they can be used as introductions to begin any of the other prayers for strength you see here. Again, we follow the example of Jesus who begins prayer with adoration of His Father: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed by Your name” (Matthew 6:9).
Father, nothing is too difficult for You. Nothing I ask for today is beyond Your reach or Your power. Thank You that my needs and desires are known to You before I ask them. You see my weakness, and You alone can provide me with strength and joy. You are my strength and song. You are my salvation, my God that I will praise. Fill my heart to overflowing with Your praises when I see Your strength. Amen.
Genesis 18:13–14:
13 “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Can I really bear a child when I am old?’ 14 Is anything too difficult for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you—in about a year—and Sarah will have a son.”
Exodus 15:2:
The LORD is my strength and my song,
and He has become my salvation.
He is my God, and I will praise Him,
my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.
Heavenly Father, You are great and greatly to be praised; You are to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the world are manmade ideas, but You made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before You; strength and joy are in Your place, and so I will credit to You the glory and strength due Your name. Amen.
1 Chronicles 16:25–29:
25 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
He is to be feared above all gods.
26 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but it is the LORD who made the heavens.
27 Splendor and majesty are before Him;
strength and joy fill His dwelling.
28 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the nations,
ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
29 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due His name;
bring an offering and come before Him.
Worship the LORD in the splendor of His holiness.
Father, I rejoice that You, my King, reign; You are clothed with majesty and girded with strength. What You create is firmly established and cannot be moved. Your throne is established from ancient times—You have actually always been king. Your word will be heard above the noise of this world. Your word stands firm. Your dwelling is forever holy. Amen.
Psalm 93:1–5:
1 The LORD reigns! He is robed in majesty;
the LORD has clothed and armed Himself with strength.
The world indeed is firmly established;
it cannot be moved.
2 Your throne was established long ago;
You are from all eternity.
3 The floodwaters have risen, O LORD;
the rivers have raised their voice;
the seas lift up their pounding waves.
4 Above the roar of many waters—
the mighty breakers of the sea—
the LORD on high is majestic.
5 Your testimonies are fully confirmed;
holiness adorns Your house, O LORD,
for all the days to come.
There is none like You, my King; You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. How could I not revere You, King of the nations? It is Your rightful due. For among all the wise men of the nations and in all their kingdoms, there is no one like You. You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You. You are the great and mighty God, whose name is the Ruler of Armies. You are great in counsel and mighty in deed, and Your eyes see all the ways of everyone upon the earth. You reign over all mankind. Nothing is too difficult for You. Amen.
Jeremiah 10:6–7:
6 There is none like You, O LORD.
You are great, and Your name is mighty in power.
7 Who would not fear You, O King of nations?
This is Your due.
For among all the wise men of the nations,
and in all their kingdoms,
there is none like You.
Jeremiah 32:17–19:
17 “Oh, Lord GOD! You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. Nothing is too difficult for You! 18 You show loving devotion to thousands but lay the iniquity of the fathers into the laps of their children after them, O great and mighty God whose name is the LORD of Hosts, 19 the One great in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are on all the ways of the sons of men, to reward each one according to his ways and according to the fruit of his deeds.
It is good for me to declare the signs and wonders of the Most High. How great are Your signs. How mighty are Your wonders! Your kingdom is an eternal kingdom; Your dominion endures from generation to generation. Amen.
Daniel 4:1-3:
1 King Nebuchadnezzar,
To the people of every nation and language who dwell in all the earth: May your prosperity be multiplied. 2 I am pleased to declare the signs and wonders that the Most High God has performed for me.
3 How great are His signs,
how mighty His wonders!
His kingdom is an eternal kingdom;
His dominion endures from generation to generation.
All things are possible with You, God. Nothing is impossible with You. Amen.
Mark 10:27:
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God. For all things are possible with God.”
Having acknowledged the unsurpassed strength of the One to whom we pray, the next step is to appropriate that strength for your life. Believers in Jesus have been granted access to that strength, but it is up to each believer to make use of the strength. It is wise, therefore, to ask for the courage you need to act from that position of strength each day.
Mighty Creator, help me to serve You in Your strength today—to be strong and courageous according to Your word, being careful to obey Your word. Help me to not turn from it to the right or to the left. I want to act in the strength of wisdom wherever I go. Grant me the strength that comes from knowing Your word. May it be the source of wisdom and success in my life each day. Encouraged by Your strength, I will not be afraid or discouraged. Thank You for being with me wherever I go. Amen.
Joshua 1:6–9:
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give these people the inheritance of the land that I swore to their fathers I would give them. 7 Above all, be strong and very courageous. Be careful to observe all the law that My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may prosper wherever you go. 8 This Book of the Law must not depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
Father, impart to me courage in my moments of despair, and especially when I begin to fear that You are not there. I thank You that You do hear when I place before You my prayers for strength. Make me strong and courageous as I hope in You. Amen.
Psalm 31:21–24:
21 Blessed be the LORD,
for He has shown me His loving devotion
in a city under siege.
22 In my alarm I said,
“I am cut off from Your sight!”
But You heard my plea for mercy
when I called to You for help.
23 Love the LORD, all His saints.
The LORD preserves the faithful,
but fully repays the arrogant.
24 Be strong and courageous,
all you who hope in the LORD.
Jesus, I acknowledge Your presence. Speak quickly to my heart to take courage. Remind me that I do not need to fear. Assure me that You, Jesus, are with me. Amen.
Mark 6:50:
For they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”
Strong and loving Father, I need the resolve to be on my guard, to stand firm in the faith, to act with courage, and to be strong. Strengthen me to do these things in love. Amen.
1 Corinthians 16:13–14:
13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong. 14 Do everything in love.
It’s hard to be strong on our own. We need the help of friends, and it is our Christian duty to be a friend. Praying for those we call friends is following in Christ’s footsteps (John 15–17). As you pray, we encourage to use the name of your friend or family member. Consider sharing with you friends or family that you prayed these prayers for strength on their behalf.
Great Shepherd, hear this prayer for strength for my friend. Prove Yourself to be both strength and shield. May the heart of my friend trust in You and find help. Let “thank You” be my friend’s rejoicing song. Let us rejoice together that You are our strength. Save my friend; bless my friend. Shepherd us, and carry us forever. Amen.
Psalm 28:6–9:
6 Blessed be the LORD,
for He has heard my cry for mercy.
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield;
my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped.
Therefore my heart rejoices,
and I give thanks to Him with my song.
8 The LORD is the strength of His people,
a stronghold of salvation for His anointed.
9 Save Your people and bless Your inheritance;
shepherd them and carry them forever.
Father, make known Your way to my friend. Protect my friend’s path from those who seek harm. Do not let the lies or hurtful plans of any enemy succeed. Fill my friend with hope and certainty that Your goodness will prevail. Teach my friend to wait for You. Encourage my friend to be strong. Let the heart of my friend take courage—courage, even, to wait for You. Amen.
Psalm 27:11–14:
11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,
and lead me on a level path,
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not hand me over to the will of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
breathing out violence.
13 Still I am certain to see
the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait patiently for the LORD;
be strong and courageous.
Wait patiently for the LORD!
Father, thank You for my friends, who through common faith have become family. According to Your abundance, give them strength in the Spirit. May Your strength fill them from their inner being, and may we, together experience the fellowship of faith that comes from Christ’s dwelling in our hearts. May we be rooted and grounded together in love. May we share in the joy of mutually comprehending the full extent of Your love. Grant us knowledge—and that which exceeds knowledge—having been filled by You. Amen.
Ephesians 3:14–19:
14 … for this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth 19 of the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
The Bible is full of reminders that we need the strength not only to start—we also (and perhaps even more so) need the strength to finish. Whether it’s the trials of life, fear, enemies, or time slipping away—we find ourselves often in need of the strength to persevere.
Father, I desire the strength and courage to act in the areas where You lead and then to see the job through. Drive away any fear, discouragement, and doubt. Show me that You are with me. You will not fail me or forsake me until Your work is accomplished. Bless me with strong and willing friends to work alongside me in Your service. Amen.
1 Chronicles 28:20–21:
20 David also said to Solomon his son, “Be strong and courageous, and do it. Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you before all the work for the service of the house of the LORD is finished. 21 The divisions of the priests and Levites are ready for all the service of the house of God, and every willing man of every skill will be at your disposal for the work. The officials and all the people are fully at your command.”
Father over all, I thank You for giving me the victory in Jesus Christ over the power of sin. By Your strength, make me steadfast and immovable. Strengthen me to excel in Your work and to know that my labor today is not in vain. Amen.
1 Corinthians 15:56–58:
56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! 58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Help me, my Redeemer, so that I will not become weary in doing good. Day by day, remind me that at the proper time I will reap a harvest if I do not grow weary and give up. Amen.
Galatians 6:9:
Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
2 Thessalonians 3:13:
But as for you, brothers, do not grow weary in well-doing.
Father, help me to persevere like Paul. I want to pursue life with confidence. I want to fight the good fight. I want to finish the race. I want to keep the faith. Grant me the strength to pursue the crown of righteousness, Righteous Judge. Help me, Jesus, to long for Your appearing. Amen.
2 Timothy 4:6–8:
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 From now on there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but to all who crave His appearing.
Faithful Father, give me the desire to be diligent to realize the full assurance of hope. I do not want to become sluggish. I want to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Thank You for their example. I take refuge in You. Give me the strong encouragement to grasp the hope set before me. Anchor it in my soul. Make it sure and steadfast. Amen.
Hebrews 6:11–20:
11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, in order to make your hope sure. 12 Then you will not be sluggish, but will imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. 13 When God made His promise to Abraham, since He had no one greater to swear by, He swore by Himself, 14 saying, “I will surely bless you and multiply your descendants.” 15 And so Abraham, after waiting patiently, obtained the promise. 16 Men swear by someone greater than themselves, and their oath serves as a confirmation to end all argument. 17 So when God wanted to make the unchanging nature of His purpose very clear to the heirs of the promise, He guaranteed it with an oath. 18 Thus by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope set before us may be strongly encouraged. 19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus our forerunner has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.
Great Sustainer, if I face a trial today, help me to consider it all joy. “Thank you,” is not my first response when facing hardship, so remind me that the testing of my faith produces endurance. Help me to let endurance finish its work, so that I may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing. Bless me, Father, if I persevere under trial. Remind me of your promise when I feel like giving up. Approve me, and give to me the crown of life according to your promise. Amen.
James 1:2–4, 12:
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. . . . 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.
Protect me by Your strength, Jesus, through faith. I greatly rejoice in my salvation, though now for a little while, if necessary, I have been grieved by various trials. May the proof of my faith be more valuable to me than wealth that perishes. May it be a reason for praise, glory, and honor when I see You, Jesus. Help me to abide in faith even though I cannot see You now. Amen.
1 Peter 1:6–7:
6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials 7 so that the proven character of your faith—more precious than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Paul was called to preach. He was the apostle who reminded the Ephesians of their boldness and confident access to God Himself through Jesus (Ephesians 3:8–12). Yet even with his gifting and proven practice, he still asked those same Ephesians to pray for his bold proclamation of the gospel. Additionally, as you’ll see in Psalm 145, praying that God would display His strength gives further opportunity to testify to His goodness.
Father, I pray in the strength of the Spirit that I would stay alert in prayer on behalf of my fellow believers. I pray especially for those, including myself, to witness with words that convey Your truth. Give me the strength to speak without fear. Amen.
Ephesians 6:19–20:
18 Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition. To this end, stay alert with all perseverance in your prayers for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will boldly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may proclaim it fearlessly, as I should.
Almighty One, display Your strength so that I might praise Your works to the next generation. I want to declare Your mighty acts. I want Your strength to be something others speak of. I want to tell of its greatness. Make the fame of your works flood our memories with abundant joy. Give us great reason to thank You for Your goodness today and all the days of our lives. Amen.
Psalm 145:4–7:
4 One generation will commend Your works to the next,
and will proclaim Your mighty acts—
5 the glorious splendor of Your majesty.
And I will meditate on Your wondrous works.
6 They will proclaim the power of Your awesome deeds,
and I will declare Your greatness.
7 They will extol the fame of Your abundant goodness
and sing joyfully of Your righteousness.
Giver of mercy and grace, who is slow to anger and quick to kindness. You are good to all, and You have been good to me. Your mercy is over all of Your works—including me, whom You have created. You word declares that Your works shall give thanks, and so I thank You. Count me, gracious Father, among the family of saints who bless You. Give me strength to give witness to the glory of Your kingdom and testify to Your strength so that all people may know of Your mighty acts and the glorious majesty of Your kingdom. Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and Your dominion endures through all generations. Amen.
Psalm 145:8–13:
8 The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and abounding in loving devotion.
9 The LORD is good to all;
His compassion rests on all He has made.
10 All You have made will give You thanks, O LORD,
and Your saints will bless You.
11 They will tell of the glory of Your kingdom
and speak of Your might,
12 to make known to men Your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of Your kingdom.
13 Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and Your dominion endures through all generations.
If these prayers for strength in witnessing encourage you to reconsider your role in evangelism, we encourage you to explore this series, A Philosophy of Evangelism.
The people of Israel once faced an army whose strength appeared greater than theirs. They were honest before God: “We don’t know what to do.” But they acknowledged His strength and focused their eyes upon Him in their time of need.
You are the God who is in heaven. You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in Your hand, and no one is able to withstand You. Go before me as my strong friend, so that I may praise You where I stand. I feel powerless and uncertain. I don’t know what to do. Help me fix me eyes on You. Amen.
2 Chronicles 20:5-12:
5 Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem in the house of the LORD in front of the new courtyard 6 and said, “O LORD, God of our fathers, are You not the God who is in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations? Power and might are in Your hand, and no one can stand against You. 7 Our God, did You not drive out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel and give it forever to the descendants of Abraham Your friend? 8 They have lived in the land and have built in it a sanctuary for Your Name, saying, 9 ‘If disaster comes upon us—whether sword or judgment, plague or famine—we will stand before this temple and before You, for Your Name is in this temple. We will cry out to You in our distress, and You will hear us and save us.’ 10 And now, here are the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, whom You did not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt; but Israel turned away from them and did not destroy them. 11 See how they are repaying us by coming to drive us out of the possession that You gave us as an inheritance. 12 Our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this vast army that comes against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Prayer can simultaneously be healing and hard, especially if you find yourself grieving or in despair. But the Bible promises us that our Father sees and that He is near. We learn, too, that praise is even possible in the midst of such pain. Your pain is seen and prayers for strength are heard by the God whose understanding is infinite.
Father, You have shared Your righteousness with me. I cry out to You because You listen to the righteous and their troubles. I need Your strength to deliver me today. I need Your nearness to save Me. Amen.
Psalm 34:15–18:
15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous,
and His ears are inclined to their cry.
16 But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil,
to wipe out all memory of them from the earth.
17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears;
He delivers them from all their troubles.
18 The LORD is near to the brokenhearted;
He saves the contrite in spirit.
Though I am brokenhearted, I praise You, my God, for it is good to sing Your praise. Even in pain, I know it is pleasant and good to praise my Creator. Thank You for that reminder. You build up those You care for. You seek the outcast and exile. Heal my broken heart. Bind up my wounds. If You can number the stars and call out each of their names, surely all of my griefs are before You. You know their number and can call them all out individually. Support me in my affliction, God of abundant strength and infinite wisdom. Lift me up, and suppress all evil. Amen.
Psalm 147:1-6:
1 Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God,
how pleasant and lovely to praise Him!
2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;
He gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted
and binds up their wounds.
4 He determines the number of the stars;
He calls them each by name.
5 Great is our Lord, and mighty in power;
His understanding has no limit.
6 The LORD sustains the humble,
but casts the wicked to the ground.
God in heaven, You are the high and lofty One who inhabits eternity. Your name is holy. Though You live in a high and holy place You also dwell with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit. Infuse my spirit with Your strength. Bring cheer to my heart. Amen.
Isaiah 57:15:
For thus says the One who is high and lifted up,
who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy:
“I dwell in a high and holy place,
and with the oppressed and humble in spirit,
to restore the spirit of the lowly
and revive the heart of the contrite.
Too often we attempt to battle our flesh in the strength of the flesh instead of using the power of prayer. The believer outfitted with the armor of God for spiritual warfare is characterized by prayer, and the purpose of that armor is to resist the devil. Pray in the spirt to fight temptation.
God, grant me strength and courage to battle against the flesh today. You are greater than my flesh and stronger than any number of attacks that come against me. Fight for me and win. Amen.
2 Chronicles 32:7-8:
7 “Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged before the king of Assyria and the vast army with him, for there is a greater One with us than with him. 8 With him is only the arm of flesh, but with us is the LORD our God to help us and to fight our battles.”
Almighty God, if I am to be strong, it will be because I am strong in Your strength. Give me full strength to stand firm because of Your armor. Thank You for reminding me of the true enemy. Through Your strength I stand against wicked attacks. Give me the strength found in truth, righteousness, peace, and faith. Guard my mind with Your salvation. Show me Your strength in Your word and train me to wield it like a sword. Amen.
Ephesians 6:10–18:
10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this world’s darkness, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness arrayed, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness of the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Jesus, like Your disciples, I find myself falling asleep, and disobeying Your call. My spirit is willing, but my flesh is weak. Give me the strength of Your near salvation today. Drive away the darkness in my life. Grant me the strength to let it pass. Brighten my eyes to put on the strong armor of light. I am of the day. Clothe me in light. Amen.
Matthew 26:40–41:
40 Then Jesus returned to the disciples and found them sleeping. “Were you not able to keep watch with Me for one hour?” He asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not enter into temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”
Romans 13:11–14:
11 And do this, understanding the occasion. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. 12 The night is nearly over; the day has drawn near. So let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. 13 Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. 14 Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.
Jesus, I ask You to help me as I guard my heart against covetousness. I determine to be thankful for all that You have done for me. Thank You, especially, for the inheritance You have provided for all who believe in Christ. Teach me to be content and give thanks in all the circumstances of my life, especially when I feel slighted or feel that I deserve more. Whether I am abased or in abundance, whether I am filled or hungry, I want to learn the secret of being content in any and every situation. I can do all things through You who strengthens me. Amen.
Philippians 3:11–13:
11 I am not saying this out of need, for I have learned to be content regardless of my circumstances. 12 I know how to live humbly, and I know how to abound. I am accustomed to any and every situation—to being filled and being hungry, to having plenty and having need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength
Faithful God, give me strength and protection against the evil one. I want to continue in Your commands, so I need You to direct my heart toward Your love. Keep me in the steadfastness of Christ. I pray, too, for my friends and family, that their actions will bring You glory and that they will be protected from the evil one. Give me friends who will strengthen my faith. Help us live disciplined lives by Your strength. Amen.
2 Thessalonians 3:1–6:
1 Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may spread quickly and be held in honor, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men; for not everyone holds to the faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do what we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. 6 Now we command you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, to keep away from any brother who leads an undisciplined life
Father, I take notice of those who have faithfully served You. I want to be like them. Help me lay aside the things I get caught up in and the sin that easily entangles me. Give me strength to run with endurance the race in front of me. Help me fix my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of my faith. Share with me His joy in which He endured the cross. Christ, be before my mind as the One who despised shame and sat down next to God after enduring the hostility of sin against Yourself, so that I will not grow weary and lose heart. Amen.
Hebrews 12:1–3:
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us. 2 Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
If your prayer to fight temptation is in the area of lust, we invite you to read the article Pornography Addiction: Is There Hope?, in which this Hebrews passage above is featured. Because sin does so easily entangle, we find ourselves often in need for forgiveness. We’ve also created a page of bible-based prayers for forgiveness.
To serve ourselves requires little effort—that’s our default position. To serve others well requires strength supplied by God for the purposes of His glory.
God, may Your foremost command be foremost in mind: I am to love You with all my strength. Only then can I fulfill the second great command to love others. Father, give me the strength to love You completely, to love myself correctly, and to love others compassionately. Loving You with all my strength means serving my neighbor. Increase my love for You so that I can love myself the right way and that I can serve my friends, my family, and those with whom you want me to share Your love. Amen.
Mark 12:30–31:
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ No other commandment is greater than these.”
Father, I am a steward of Your grace. May my service be done from Your strength. Turn my eyes toward You so that I might turn my eyes toward others. May all see the glory that belongs to Jesus Christ. In His strength there is glory. Amen.
1 Peter 4:10–11:
10 As good stewards of the manifold grace of God, each of you should use whatever gift he has received to serve one another. 11 If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the words of God. If anyone serves, he should serve with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.
The reality of our fallen nature and repercussion of sin rest in our bodies in the form of sickness and old age. Hope leverages this harsh truth with the redemptive promise that we were made for another home.
Father, help me to be like Paul, who recognized that great power comes from You and not from within ourselves. Give me the strength to see the treasure within my fragile being. If I find myself to suffer affliction, may I not be left crushed or despairing, forsaken or destroyed. May my circumstances and responses reflect Your Son, Jesus. May it be a testimony of His death and life. May it be manifest to me and my friends. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:7–12:
7 Now we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this surpassingly great power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11 For we who are alive are always consigned to death for Jesus’ sake, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our mortal body. 12 So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
God, strengthen my heart. Even if this outer man is decaying, renew the inner man today. Please do it again the next day, and every day that You give me on this earth. Help me realize that all affliction is momentary and light in comparison to the eternal weight of glory. Help me to feel the weight of glory and not the weight of this world. Give me eyes to see that which is unseen. Take my focus from the temporal and shift it to the eternal. Amen.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18:
16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, yet our inner self is being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory that is far beyond comparison. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
You have made for me an eternal dwelling with You, my Father. Hear my groans and longing to be stronger than what this life will allow. Through the promise of Your Spirit, sustain me with courage, even when I can’t be in Your heavenly presence. Strengthen me to walk by faith and not by sight. Give me the ambition to please You in this life and the next. Amen.
2 Corinthians 5:1–10:
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is dismantled, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 So while we are in this tent, we groan under our burdens, because we do not wish to be unclothed but clothed, so that our mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 And God has prepared us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a pledge of what is to come. 6 Therefore we are always confident, although we know that while we are at home in the body, we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, then, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we aspire to please Him, whether we are here in this body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive his due for the things done in the body, whether good or bad.
For more encouragement through the stories of those who are strong in faith even though their bodies are weak, we invite you to watch the videos, like the one below, in our Shaped by Suffering series.
God in Heaven, You exerted Your mighty strength when You raised Christ Jesus from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand in the heavenly places. You exalted Him far above all rule and authority and above all earthly and heavenly powers to a glorious dominion that will never end. I praise You that it is this same power that is working in my life because of my identification with Jesus in His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. I thank You that I am secure with Christ in the heavenly places in this present and in the future. Amen.
Ephesians 1:18–21:
18 I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, 19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, 20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.
My Strong Ruler, Jesus Christ, and God, My Father, You have loved me and have given me eternal consolation and good hope by grace. Make me strong in that grace. Comfort my heart and strengthen me in every good work and word. Amen.
2 Timothy 2:1:
You therefore, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Thessalonians 2:16–17:
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who by grace has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope, 17 encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good word and deed.
We pray that these prayers for strength based on the Bible encourage you, your friends, and your family in times of weakness or strength, courage or fear, joy or disappointment. If these prayers for strength have been a help to you, reach out to us and let us know.
1Psalm 119:160. Unless otherwise indicated, all Bible quotations appearing here are from The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible, BSB; Copyright ©2016, 2020 by Bible Hub; Used by Permission. All Rights Reserved Worldwide. See https://berean.bible/.
2It’s often the case that Bible translations retain the traditional title, “Lord of Hosts.” We’ve chosen in these prayers for strength to make the reference clearer by using “God of Armies” to convey the strength in this title. Some translations render this “God Almighty.”
These are the last recorded statements of Jesus Christ before His death on the cross. Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34) When they came to the place called the Skull, there they crucified Him and the criminals, one on the right and
Mortality and the purpose of life are prominent themes in Thomas Cole’s paintings. Through his paintings, he vividly brings out the human dilemma of mortality, a dilemma we ourselves must wrestle with. Given the inevitability of death, what are we to do with our days? We can try to stave
In the article below, Dr. Boa synthesizes material from several teaching sessions from his series Biblical Principles for Marriage and from portions of his spiritual formation text Conformed to His Image (primarily from chapter 18, “Holistic Spirituality”). Dr. Boa focuses on agape love as one of the five forms of loves (based on the different Greek words). After reviewing all forms, he gives reasons for why agape is the greatest.
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