Seek comfort and encouragement from the Lord’s never-ending supply of mercy, grace, and love. In this section from her book of prayers, Kate Motaung provides words for you to pray when you don’t have any. God will always surround you with his love no matter what you are going through. Christian Art Gifts USA
Day 1
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Look to God for true comfort and encouragement amidst your pain and discouragement. May Kate Motaung’s prayers be words you can use in your darkest times to remind you that the Lord loves you and sustains you.
The God of All Comfort
Blessed be the…God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Lord, You are the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort. It’s who You are. You can’t help Yourself. Thank You for comforting me in all my affliction—not only for my own benefit, but for the benefit of others as well.
Help me, Lord, to pay it forward. Keep me from holding an inward gaze that is focused only on myself. Open my eyes to see the needy and brokenhearted around me. Give me opportunities to use the grace and divine consolation I have received from You and pour it out on others who are hurting.
Grant me the boldness and generosity to give freely from what I have been given. Show me how to be Your hands and feet in this desperate world, for Your glory alone.
Amen
Day 2
Scripture: Psalms 121:3
Safe in His Constant Care
He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
Psalm 121:3
Lord, thank You for being my security guard around the clock. Thank You for watching over me every moment of every day—even through the darkest watches of the night.
When I am struggling to sleep because of the sheer volume of cares and concerns swimming through my mind, remind me that You have it all taken care of already. You have a perfect plan and resolution, and my worry accomplishes nothing.
You are my faithful, capable shepherd who cares for Your sheep and would lay down Your life for my sake.
I do not deserve You.
Thank You for ensuring that I will not slip and fall from Your grace. You promise that none can be snatched from Your hand (John 10:28-29). Comfort me with the realization that I cannot be harmed when I belong to You. You are my great protector.
Amen
Day 3
Scripture: Psalms 57:1
My Safe Hiding Place
In the shadow of Your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.
Psalm 57:1
Lord, You are my hiding place. Thank You for offering a safe refuge where I can tuck myself away for protection from this storm. Thank You for promising to care for me at all times. I praise You for Your persistent faithfulness, kindness, mercy, and grace.
When the world lets me down, I know I can run to You. When I feel attacked on every side, I know You are there for me, spreading out Your wings as a shield and shelter.
Help me to squash any fears that remain in my mind and heart. Teach me how to trust fully in Your perfect security. Give me the confidence and perspective of the psalmist who wrote, “The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6). Thank You for being my strong defender.
Amen
Day 4
Scripture: Deuteronomy 33:25
Sufficient Strength
The bolts of your gates will be iron and bronze, and your strength will equal your days.
Deuteronomy 33:25
Lord, help me to cling to the truths and promises of Your Word. Thank You for promising that You will supply sufficient strength for each day that You give me. With You, I will always have enough energy to accomplish the tasks You set before me to do.
Not only do you provide physical strength, but also mental, emotional, and spiritual stamina. You care about every aspect of my being.
Your reserves of grace never run out; the well of Your mercy constantly overflows. I praise You for being Jehovah Jireh, the God who will provide.
Lord, thank You for protecting me from my enemies—even those I cannot see. You never stop watching over me, and You will not allow darkness to prevail.
As You give me the endurance to persevere, help me to testify to the source of my strength—You and You alone.
Amen
Day 5
Scripture: Psalms 56:3
Fighting Fear
When I am afraid, I will trust in You.
Psalm 56:3
Lord, help me to commit this verse to memory and recite it whenever I am tempted to fear: “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.” At night, in the morning, and throughout the day, help me to replace fear with faith. Cause my trust in You to prevail over the frequent urges to worry.
You are my constant rock, my faithful friend, my firm foundation. You are my refuge and my strength, my ever-present help in trouble (see Psalm 46:1). You will never let me down.
Thank You for being a safe place that I can always turn to in times of need. Wash the worries away with the cleansing power of Your truth. Remind me of my position as Your beloved child. You wrap Your loving arms around me and shield me from the enemy. The victory is already Yours in Christ. I have no reason to be afraid.
Amen
Day 6
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 10:13
A Way of Escape
The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience.
1 Corinthians 10:13
Lord, I feel as if I’m under attack. I know that my “struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12).
Give me the strength to resist the devil. Cause him to flee from me, in Jesus’ name (see James 4:7).
Thank You for the comforting assurance that this trial is not new or exclusive to me. Thank You for promising not to let me be tempted beyond my ability in Christ. Thank You for always providing a way of escape and for enabling me to endure it (see 1 Corinthians 10:13).
Deliver me from this temptation. Empower me to use the escape route and not avoid it. Keep me from sinning against You. Protect my testimony for Your name’s sake.
Amen
Day 7
Scripture: Psalms 34:18
The Depths of Sorrow
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 34:18
Lord, my heart is broken and bleeding. I am filled with grief. I hardly have words to adequately express my sorrow. My spirit is crushed; I feel utterly deflated and defeated.
Your Word says You will never leave or forsake me, but I confess I’m struggling to sense Your presence with me. Help me to see glimpses of Your grace and feel the nearness of Your love.
In the midst of this dark, lonely valley, show me evidence of Your footprints next to mine. Bind up my wounds, I pray. I can’t imagine healing from this pain, but I have to believe that it’s possible for You to accomplish. Give me the stamina I need to endure this heartache.
In Your mercy, I am struck down but not destroyed. Thank You for being both powerful and compassionate enough to carry my hurting soul.
Amen
Day 8
Scripture: Genesis 16:13
The God Who Sees
You are the God who sees me.
Genesis 16:13
Lord, there is so much injustice in this world. When I dwell on it, I feel despondent. Will it ever end? Wicked people seem to get away with immeasurable evil, most often at the expense of the innocent and oppressed.
I think about the story of Hagar in the Bible, the servant who was mistreated by her masters Abram and Sarai. After Sarai dealt harshly with her, Hagar fled (see Genesis 16:6). Then You appeared to Hagar in the wilderness and addressed her. “So she called the name of the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are a God of seeing,’ for she said, ‘Truly here I have seen Him who looks after me’” (Genesis 16:13 ESV).
Lord, thank You for being the God who sees me, who sees the injustices in this world. I praise You for being a just and holy God who cares for His people.
Amen
Day 9
Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-2
Run the Race
Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:1-2
Lord, this trial has me so worn out; the thought of running a race seems daunting and entirely undesirable. And yet, I know that this whole life is a marathon, and I desire to run it well. Help me to find comfort in the truth that You have already marked out the course You planned for me. Show me how to pace myself for the long haul. Grant me the perseverance I need to press on until I reach the finish line.
Teach me how to focus not on reaching the end for the sake of relief, but to fix my eyes on Christ alone as my true hope and reward. Inspire me with His example. Lord, You gave me this gift of faith, and You alone can bring it to completion. I’m relying on You to carry me through.
Amen
Day 10
Scripture: John 16:33
Hope in Times of Trouble
‘In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.’
John 16:33
Lord, I’ve heard people say that those who trust in You should not have trials in this life if their faith is strong enough. But in Your Word, You say the opposite. You say that I should expect trouble in this world. It’s guaranteed. But that’s not where the message ends.
Thank You for encouraging me to take heart. Even more, thank You for the work You did on the cross to defeat sin and overcome the world. In You I know I already have the victory because of Your sacrificial death and resurrection.
Keep my eyes focused on the end game. Lift my sight beyond these present challenges to eagerly anticipate what lies ahead when You return—eternity in Your presence. Help me to keep a right perspective of my current circumstances, knowing that they will soon end in exchange for glory with You.
Amen