The Word is full of prayers that we can read and use to help us express our heartfelt states. They have a special power to open our minds to influx from heaven and to give us strength against evils and falsities.

"The Word in its literal sense, or the natural, is in its fullness, and also in its power; and by means of it man is in conjunction with the heavens" (The Word 5)

This power becomes effective when the Word is read or recited reverently by people on earth (Divine Providence 256, Apocalypse Explained 1066[4]).

Through prayers from the Word the Lord literally can "give His angels charge over you, to keep you in all your ways" (Psalm 91:11).

Here are some examples from the Word, of prayers for personal strength:

"Direct my steps by Your word, And let no iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, that I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes." (Psalm 119:133-135)

"Lord, help me stop worrying anxiously about tomorrow, and give me strength to face the troubles of this day." (Adapted from Matthew 6:3-4)

"I am a little child O Lord; I do not know how to go out or come in.... Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil." (1 Kings 3:7, 9)

Of course, there are many more. Here are just a few more references that you can look up:

Prayers for troubled states: Psalm 4:1, Psalm 7:1, Psalm 42:1, Psalm 86:6-7.

Prayers for mercy and forgiveness: 2 Samuel 24:10, Psalm 25:7, 11, Psalm 130:1-5, Luke 18:13.

Prayers of personal commitment: Mark 12:30, Psalm 37:5.

Prayers of comfort: Psalm 90:1-2.

In so many instances, these prayers have great spiritual power and beauty - not just because of their natural language, but also because, when we read them, we open our minds to the Lord's influx. He says,

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock; if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3:20)

When we pray, we are hearing His voice, and opening the door.

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For you, Lord, are with me; Your rod and your staff, they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

(References: The Word 15)

Blasphemy is treating the Bible - the Word of the Lord - badly - by joking about it, despising it or considering it worthless or even harmful to rational thought.

A second form of blasphemy is to deny that there was or is anything Divine in Jesus.

If we develop a habit of blasphemy we end up turning away from the Lord, not believing that we need him or His ways, and finally not believing that He even exists.

In the Word, in the Book of Revelation 3:20, the Lord says:

"Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me."

When we get into the habit of blaspheming, it's like we're locking the door, turning our backs to it, and walking away so we can't any knocking. The Lord doesn’t punish us for our blasphemy, but if we do it, we end up punishing ourselves. We not only turn from His help, but finally deny that He is even there to give help.

An important New Christian idea is that of "affirmative doubt": "I’d like this to be true but I don’t yet understand." It's a state of mind that is fertile; good loves and true ideas can grow in it. Blasphemy isn't affirmative doubt; instead it is a fixed idea that what the Bible teaches is not true, and is even deserving of contempt or mockery.

(References: Apocalypse Revealed 571, 584; Arcana Coelestia 9222; Revelation 3:20)