My wife and I have often lived paycheck-to-paycheck. We’ve also lived no-paycheck-to-no-paycheck. Many times over the years, we’ve faced financial setbacks and shortages that threatened our sense of security and challenged our faith. At such times, I’ve turned to prayer, of course.
Times of financial stress have often given urgent meaning to my daily prayer to “Give us this day our daily bread.” I’ve also prayed Philippians 4:19 at such times (“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus,” as the King James Version puts it).
But times of financial stress have taught me to pray what I call “Zarephath Prayers,” remembering the account in 1 Kings 17 of the prophet Elijah’s visit to the widow of Zarephath, whose meager resources were miraculously replenished while he remained a guest in her home. Here are five “Zarephath Prayers” that I prayed and recorded in my journal during times of financial stress:
1.
Lord God Adonai, let it be to me as it was to the widow of Zarephath.
Let the jar of flour not be used up
and the jug of oil not run dry
until the day you send
showers of blessing on me,
on my home,
on my land,
on my life.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
2.
Abba, Father,
Yahweh Yireh,
my Provider,
I know that what looks to me
like severe cash flow challenges
in the weeks and months to come
are no different to you than
a handful of flour in a jar
and a little olive oil in a jug.
What you did for the widow of Zarephath
through your servant Elijah,
please do for me and,
more importantly,
for my household,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
3.
Lord God Adonai,
my defender and provider,
I pray once more
as I have prayed before:
let it be to me
as it was to the widow
of Zarephath.
You know my need of the moment;
you know my need in the future.
You know what is yet to come in,
and what is yet to go out.
You know the state of my jars,
the condition of my pantry.
I lean on you still,
I depend on you
to make much of little
and enough of not enough,
in Jesus’ name, amen.
4.
Lord God, you have provided,
you are providing,
and you will provide:
I believe,
help my unbelief!
From unexpected places,
in unmistakable ways,
with gracious generosity
and gratifying regularity
you have provided for the needs
of me and my family,
and graciously kept our stores
of oil and flour
from running out.
I thank you, Sovereign Lord,
with my whole heart,
and ask you to please
continue.
Amen.
5.
Lord God Adonai, you have been to me
as you were to the widow of Zarephath.
You have supplied
and sustained
and showered
your blessing on me,
my home,
my work,
my life.
Please let your faithfulness to me
through these scary times
of need
and adjustment
and faith
be remembered in the future
whenever I am tempted
to doubt your provision,
In Jesus’ name, amen.
You may pray these just as they are, perhaps in succession, one day after another, as I did. Or you might adopt just one to carry you through a time of financial stress. You may even use these simply as inspiration to pray your own “Zarephath Prayers.” In any case, if they’re helpful, count it as yet another way that God provides in a time of need.
