Prayers from Studying the book of Ezra

Prayer from Ezra 1

O Lord God of heaven, God of Israel, King of all kings, sovereign Lord.  You are seated in heaven, enthroned on high.  We proclaim that You are a faithful and steadfast God! We ask that You stir our hearts as we proclaim and read about You in Your written word.

Allow us to go up to new heights into Jerusalem of your presence. 

We thank you for your timing, assistance, and intentional staging in the rebuilding of our lives as a dwelling place for You.

Rebuild us as your living temples, dedicated to Your service, being used as vessels of honor to be receptacles of Your Spirit to accomplish Your will on the earth for Your glory and honor, forever and ever Amen.

Prayer from Ezra 2

Father, I thank you that you know us each by name and our deeds and you have ordained our roles in Your service.  Thank you for bringing Your people together to do the hard work of restoring a place where Your word is of primary importance to our lives.  Thank you for being our resting place.

We praise You that although we are currently exiles awaiting our Great benevolent king, King Jesus, to free us from our captivity so that we can reside with You in Your holy temple heaven.

We take joy in the fact that you led captivity captive and gave gifts to men for the multiplication of your kingdom here on earth, not just for the people of Israel but also for the Gentiles, of which we are recipients. 

Help us never lose sight that branches were broken off that we might be grafted into your presence.  Let us not be prideful in this reality but revel in Your compassionate heart toward a captive people bound for destruction.

In You we shout and rejoice in high praises to our King!

Prayer from Ezra 3

Father, we are so thankful for Your word and Your commands.  Pour out Your grace upon us in order that we would be faithful in our daily sacrifices of praise, offering them continually before You. 

We understand that prayer and thanksgiving establish the work of our hands and are necessary in preparing the ground of our hearts to build a solid foundation necessary to erect a resting place for the Living God to tabernacle with us.

You show us clearly the pattern of the first church as prayer- offering of money and resources- assigning leaders – building the church that we would worship You and bring You glory.

It is our desire that our worship would proceed as one voice as a fragrant offering to You through our joy and weeping.

As the incense of our prayers ascends to You as we shout in one accord of your good, steadfast and enduring love may we show all nations that You alone are God.

Ezra 4 Prayer

Father,

I thank you that as you have commissioned us to rebuild a temple designated for You in our hearts, that You will see it through to completion.  

Help us to have discernment as we join arms with others in doing your work, that we would not succumb to wolves in sheep’s clothing. 

Lord, pour out Your grace upon us and protect us from being discouraged that we would not be fearful as the enemy come to frustrate our purpose.  We remind ourselves of the truth of your word that says You have not given us a spirit of fear but of love, power and a sound mind.  Help us recognize the accusations that the enemy tries to drop off in our minds.  

Thank you, Jesus, that You are the King of all kings and you allowed yourself to be dishonored for the sake of the world.  We thank you that as we build the kingdom of God here on Earth.  

We pray that we would be a threat to the kingdom of darkness.  Help us Lord to not become sidetracked in our purpose for You in our lives.

Ezra 5 Prayer

O Father- You are the God of Israel- It is You that sent the prophets of old for the sake of our encouragement!  Thank you!  

Thank you for the wellspring of Your word that brings great refreshing and encouragement to Your people.  We thank You that Your eye is on us, the Gentile nation- we thank you for extending Your house to include us! 

We are living stones being built as the temple of God.  Help us to build Your kingdom here on Earth, speedily, carefully, and diligently so that we would prosper as we go along.  O’ God of heaven, we are Your servants.  

Forgive us Lord for erecting alters of worship in our hearts to the idols we so readily submit to.  Cause us to see the ground work of these idols before they are erected.  Help us to be mindful of our firm foundation in Christ that is our sole (soul) strength and life.  

Pour out Your pleasure and favor on us we ask! O that you would rend the heavens and pour out Your presence!

Ezra 6 Prayer

Father, we thank you that you direct the streams of the ruler’s hearts in Your hand.  Not matter who the rulers of the day are, You are Sovereign Lord and You will accomplish Your will.  

Thank you that you have placed vessels of honor in high places.  Thank you that You tell our adversaries to keep away from Your work.  We thank you that the high price of Christ has paid our debt in-full from Your royal treasury and it was done without delay so that we could be the temple of the Most High God. 

Thank you for fulfilling the law and giving us all that we needed to be reconciled to God through the perfect offering of yourself so that we could be a pleasing offering to the God of heaven.  Thank you that you caused Your name and presence to dwell in our hearts and that you have overthrown any other king in our hearts. 

Thank you for making us Your temple where Your Spirit dwells, that we are in covenant with You and we can celebrate that we are dedicated to You with joy!  

We dedicate our lives anew to You, declaring to the generations to come how faithful You were to bring us out of bondage into the promised land and although we are currently exiles in a foreign land, You have separated us and consecrated us as clean in Your sight through the work of Christ. 

You have made us a joyful people and we will feast on Your goodness all the days of our lives.