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)

(Mga Sanggunian: The Word 15)

2037. That 'this is My covenant which you shall keep between Me and you' means a token of the conjunction of all with the Lord is clear from the meaning of 'a covenant' as conjunction, dealt with already. That a token of conjunction is meant here is clear from the next verse where it is called 'a sign of the covenant' in the statement, 'You shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin, and it will be a sign of the covenant between Me and you'. All the external religious ceremonies of the Church were signs of the covenant, ceremonies which were to be held sacred since they were signs meaning things of an internal nature. The circumcision referred to here was nothing else than a religious ceremony that was representative and carried a spiritual meaning, as will be explained in the paragraphs following this. All the same, such religious ceremonies in the Word are frequently called a covenant for the reason that external things represented and thereby meant internal things. The internal things are what make it a covenant because it is these that are conjunctive, not external things except through internal. External things were simply the signs of the covenant, or tokens of conjunction, by which the internal things might be called to mind and so by which conjunction might take place. Concerning signs of the covenant, see 1038. All the internal aspects of the covenant, that is, those which bring about conjunction, have reference to love and charity and stem from love and charity, for on these two, that is to say, on loving the Lord more than oneself and the neighbour as oneself, depend all the Law and all the Prophets, that is, the doctrine of faith in its entirety, Matthew 22:35-40; Mark 12:28-35.