Part 2: 8 Powerful Head-to-toe Prayers in Scripture
Ever wondered how to pray over yourself and your loved ones from head to toe? In this 2-part series, we use Scripture to address some of the issues we face as believers.
Part 1 covered 1-4, prayers for our mind, eyes, ears, and mouth.
This week we discuss 5-8; shoulders, heart, hands, and feet.
(5.) Shoulders
Often, we bear weight on our shoulders we were never meant to carry—only our heavenly Father. But Scripture also calls us to help lighten the load of others.
Scripture:
In Isaiah 10, the Assyrians oppressed God’s people. The Lord promises judgment and to remove the burdens. “In that day their burden will be lifted from your shoulders, their yoke from your neck; the yoke will be broken” (verse 27a NIV).
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me…and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30 ESV.
“Then Jesus told them this parable: ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home’” Luke 15:3-5 NIV.
“Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” Galatians 6:2 NIV.
Prayer: Lord, I carry burdens only meant for You. Please lift any worry and anxiety. Your burden is light and frees me to rest from the heaviness of life’s struggles. Grant me compassion to help carry the burdens of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord, I carry burdens only meant for You. Please lift any worry and anxiety. Your burden is light and frees me to rest from the heaviness of life’s struggles. Grant me compassion to help carry the burdens of others. #Prayer Share on X(6.) Heart
Scripture:
“People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV.
“Create in me a pure heart, O God…” Psalm 51:10a NIV.
“I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” Psalm 119:11 NIV.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding” Proverbs 3:5 NIV.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” Proverbs 4:23 NIV.
“Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart’” Matthew 22:37a NIV.
Prayer: Father, since You look at the heart, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Give me the desire to trust and love You with ALL my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Father, since You look at the heart, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Give me the desire to trust and love You with ALL my heart. #Prayer Share on X(7.) Hands
Scripture:
“Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god” Psalm 24:3-4 NIV.
“May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands” Psalm 90:17a NIV.
“Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” Psalm 134:2 NIV.
“If your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” Matthew 5:30 ESV.
Appointing spiritual leaders, “and they prayed and laid their hands on them” Acts 6:6b. (Laying on of hands for prayer and commissioning is still practiced by God’s people.)
Prayer: God, give me clean hands for righteous acts, not for evil. Hands I lift to praise Your holy name and not the false gods of this world. Establish the work of my hands in my job and in ministry for Your kingdom and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God, give me clean hands for righteous acts, not for evil. Hands I lift to praise Your holy name and not the false gods of this world. Establish the work of my hands in my job and in ministry for Your kingdom and glory. #Prayer Share on X(8.) Feet
Scripture:
“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns” Isaiah 52:7 ESV. (Ultimately, this entire passage points to the coming Messiah. But we can also have beautiful feet by publishing peace, good news, and salvation, and proclaim Our God reigns.)
“My steps have held fast to your paths; my feet have not slipped” Psalm 17:5 ESV.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand” Psalm 40:2 NIV.
“Your word is a lamp to my feet” Psalm 119:105a ESV.
Armor of God. “And, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace” Ephesians 6:15 ESV.
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin” 1 John 1:7 ESV.
Prayer: Lord, I desire beautiful feet that bring good news and how You reign over all the earth. Keep my feet on Your paths and on the rock. Let me walk in the light of You and Your Word to avoid the darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Lord, I desire beautiful feet that bring good news and how You reign over all the earth. Keep my feet on Your paths and on the rock. Let me walk in the light of You and Your Word to avoid the darkness. #Prayer Share on XHead to Toe
Remember to pray these 8 head-to-toe prayers: mind, eyes, ears, mouth, shoulders, heart, hands, and feet.
*All Scripture in bold, my emphasis.
*Read Part 1.
*Sometimes I participate in these link-ups:
Legacy Linkup/Inspire Me Monday/Kingdom Bloggers/Literacy Musings/Tell His Story/Purposeful Faith/Abounding Grace/Welcome Heart/Recharge Wednesday/Porch Stories/Worth Beyond Rubies/Tune in Thursday/Heart Encouragement/Embracing the Unexpected/Fresh Market Friday/Faith On Fire/Dance With Jesus and Faith and Friends.
© 2020 by Karen Friday, All rights reserved
Good morning Karen, what wonderful prayer resources these two blogs are! Thank you for your work of gathering Scripture. Isaiah 52:7 is a verse that speaks encouragement to me to keep going in the race of faith. The older I get, the more my feet ache, but they have purpose says God! Have a blessed day, my Jesus sister.
Thanks so much, Julie. Yes, I love want you said about feet. “Lord, I desire beautiful feet that bring good news and how You reign over all the earth. Keep my feet on Your paths and on the rock. Let me walk in the light of You and Your Word to avoid the darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
These specific prayers help us to slow down and truly feel the presence of God. Thank you. Have a blessed day! 🙂
Glad this series has encouraged you, Melissa. “May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands” Psalm 90:17a NIV.
These are such great prayers that can be used at any time!
Thanks, Julie. “Father, since You look at the heart, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Give me the desire to trust and love You with ALL my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Karen, I loved part one, and also love part two equally.
I read those Scriptures aloud. So comforting!
Thanks, Beckie, so grateful this series has spoken to you and brought you comfort. “Lord, I carry burdens only meant for You. Please lift any worry and anxiety. Your burden is light and frees me to rest from the heaviness of life’s struggles. Grant me compassion to help carry the burdens of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
I so loved reading the passages from Scripture, and praying along with you, Karen. What a beautiful, inspiring post!
Blessings!
Martha, thank you. I hope we are inspired to pray Scripture more and more and from head to toe. God bless!
Karen, I loved this whole series! I never considered praying over my whole self in such a way, but these scriptures point out, how easily we can wander from the Lord in any number of ways. May Jesus’ blood, truth, Word and Spirit cover us head to toe, that we may live for Him and love Him more. Thank you for this scripture-based powerful set of prayers!
Amen, Melissa! And thank you! “Lord, I desire beautiful feet that bring good news and how You reign over all the earth. Keep my feet on Your paths and on the rock. Let me walk in the light of You and Your Word to avoid the darkness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Wonderful series; eight wonderful prayers we can cling to in times of need. Thank you so much for sharing your gentle heart with us ma’am. Praying God’s rich blessings upon you Ms. Karen.
Appreciate your kind words, J.D. “Father, since You look at the heart, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Give me the desire to trust and love You with ALL my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
I am loving these articles on prayer, Karen! It’s easy to pray the same things over and over or not really even know what to pray. I’ve enjoyed using these prayers to guide me these weeks. 🙂
Thanks so much, Emily. May it remind us how prayer can be specific and intentional and cover more areas of our lives than we first realize or often forget.
I remember when a priest became ordained in the Anglican Church. At the end of the service many people went up and kissed his hands in a prayerful gesture. It really impressed me so praying for our hands really is important and all our parts. Thanks
I love that memory, Yvonne.
“God, give me clean hands for righteous acts, not for evil. Hands I lift to praise Your holy name and not the false gods of this world. Establish the work of my hands in my job and in ministry for Your kingdom and glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Drawing our focus to specific prayers has been a wonderful reminder to be mindful of our heads to our toes. For example, when you mentioned praying for our shoulders I immediately thought of how, when I am tense, my shoulders lift and when I am calm they relax and drop down. We carry so much on our shoulders and backs and in our bodies. But being mindful and turning the burdens over to God lightens our loads, brings peace to our souls and relaxes our shoulders.
So true, Anne. I go to a chiropractor mainly for back issues, but I have a neck issue too. My very first consultation 4-5 years ago, not only did they do X-rays, but they also took pictures of me standing against a wall with my back and then with my side, shoulder. I then found out one of my shoulders is slightly lower than the other one. Just from a few narrowing gaps between discs and from spine misalignment. Even women carrying pursues and bags that weigh a lot, is bad for our spine even though the straps are on our shoulders.
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me…and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” Matthew 11:28-30 ESV.
These are so comforting, Karen!! Thank you so much!
Thanks, Jessica. “People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” 1 Samuel 16:7 NIV.
What a helpful list, Karen! Thank you so much for sharing this. I tend to take too much on my shoulders, carrying more than a human can/should ever carry. I blame this on my pioneer-family upbringing. We work until we drop. That’s one reason I ended up with an autoimmune disease – the inability to say “No,” or “I have to stop.” Too many years of that. I forget to ask Jesus for help. I forget that he doesn’t expect this of me. I am too self reliant. One blessing of the autoimmune disease is that I can see this now, and I am learning so much about my prideful tendency to rely upon myself. Thank you for listing these. I still have to be aware of this creeping in.
Melinda, you bring up such a valid point. Many of us are doers and we absolutely let that affect carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders, even spiritual burdens and life’s struggles never meant for us.
“Lord, I carry burdens only meant for You. Please lift any worry and anxiety. Your burden is light and frees me to rest from the heaviness of life’s struggles. Grant me compassion to help carry the burdens of others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Hi Karen, I love love love this. Such a practical application for God’s gift to us or prayer. I will be saving this post, and part 1 on my blog under the tag “Favourite Blog Posts”. Its where I post “posts” that resonate, and hope and trust others will read them there too. Visiting from Grace and truth linkup, but I will be adding your blog to my “following list”. Keep up the encouraging work.
God bless
Tracy
Thank you, Tracy. Appreciate your kind words, for saving this post on your favorites list, and how much this post resonated with you. Glad to be your neighbor!
“Above all else, guard your heart…” Words to live by. Great post. Meditative.
Thanks, Nancy. “Father, since You look at the heart, create in me a pure heart that hides Your Word there, so I don’t sin against You. Give me the desire to trust and love You with ALL my heart. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Loads of great verses to ponder in this great post! I love the analogy of scripture from head to toe!
Lisa, thank you. “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god” Psalm 24:3-4 NIV.
Thank you for these verses and prayers.
Loved Part ! and love Part 2 equally as much!
Thanks, Ava. “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” Psalm 119:11 NIV.
You quoted some of my favorite verses here. I love praying right from God’s Word like this. Thanks for sharing. Blessings!
Thanks, Donna. I pray we hide God’s Word in our heart and pray more intentionally.
Karen,
I’ve loved your head to toe prayers. I find myself singing, “Head and shoulders knees and toes.” LOL Yes our shoulders are not intended to carry the burden of the old yoke of the Old Covenant. The new yoke that is light is the new yoke of grace of the New Covenant. Jesus has carried the burden for us. Loved this!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Ha! Bev, now that song is in my head. Loved how you reminded us our shoulders were never intended to carry the burden of the Old Covenant. So true. Thankful the New Covenant of grace is light and brings freedom!
[…] here to read our featured […]
What a wonderful pattern for prayer, and a reminder to consecrate every part of ourselves to Him.
So grateful this spoke to you, Barbara. I’ve always used Scripture to pray. But I really liked researching and coming up with specific prayers to cover our entire body from head to toe.