How many attributes of God could you name if pressed?  To know the attributes of God and claim them in our prayers for those we love is a mighty tool. When we implore God, on our loved one’s behalf, for their reliance on and awareness or understanding of God’s character and nature, we do not pray amiss.  I believe I could recognize the attributes of the Lord, but I’m sorry to say that I could not recite very many off the top of my head.

My son-in-law, Andrew, shared this prayer guide from Moms-in-Touch International.  It is titled “Praying God’s Attributes for Your Children,” but I think it is a useful list for any intercessory prayer, including prayers for ourself.  It is arranged alphabetically which is nice.  I don’t think I would pray down the list as much as keep the list in my Bible and refer to it according to the need of the one for whom I’m praying; praying back the Scripture texts to the Lord (see “God is able” below).

God is able – has sufficient ability or resources
[2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 3:20-21; Hebrews 7:25]

May __________ know that You are able to make all grace abound to him/her, so that in all things at all times, having all that __________ needs, he/she will abound in every good work. (2 Cor. 9:8)

God is our comforter – who consoles, reassures helps and assists
[Psalm 23:4; Matthew 5:4; 2 Corinthians 1:3-5]

God is compassionate – caring, loving, empathetic
[Psalm 116:5; Psalm 145:8-9; Lamentations 3:22-23]

God is our confidence – the One in whom we believe; have assurance; trust and rely
[Psalm 71:5; Proverbs 3:26 ;1 John 5:14-15]

God is our counselor – who gives us advice, guidance, and direction
[Psalm 119:24; John 14:16-17; John 14:25-26]

God is our defender – who protects from danger, attack, or harm; who guards and shields
[Deuteronomy 10:17-18; Psalm 68:5; Psalm 72:4]

God is everlasting – eternal; the same yesterday, today, and forever
[Psalm 90:2; Psalm 145:13; Isaiah 40:28]

God is faithful – reliable, constant, loyal, unwavering, steadfast, dependable
[Psalm 33:4; Psalm 145:13; Lamentations 3:22-24]

God is our Father – a parent and protector and adviser
[1 Corinthians 8:6; 2 Corinthians 6:18; 1 John 3:1]

God is our fortress – a fortified place, a stronghold, a place of security
[Psalm 18:1-3; Psalm 59:16-17; Psalm 62:6]

God is our friend – attached to us by affection or regard; a supporter and confident
[John 15:13-15; James 2:23; Luke 5:20]

God is glorious – who has and deserves glory; famous, beautiful, splendorous, magnificent
[Nehemiah 9:5b-6; Psalm 72:18-19; Psalm 145:5]

God is good – virtuous, excellent, upright
[Psalm 25:8; Nahum 1:7; John 10:11]

God is gracious – full of grace, kindness, mercy, compassion
[Nehemiah 9:31; Psalm 86:15; Psalm 145:8]

God guards – protects from harm or danger; keeps watch over us and keeps us secure
[Psalm 91:11; Psalm 97:10; Isaiah 52:12]

God is our guide – who shows the way by leading, directing, or advising
[Nehemiah 9:19; Psalm 23:1-3; Psalm 48:14]

God heals – restores us to an original purity, integrity, or health
[Psalm 30:2; Psalm 103:1-5; Isaiah 53:5]

God is our helper – who assists, aids, eases or relieves
[Deuteronomy 33:26; Psalm 18:6; Psalm 121:2]

God is holy– spiritually perfect or pure; sinless, deserving adoration
[Isaiah 5:16; Isaiah 6:3; Revelation 15:4]

God is our hope – our confidence and trust, our expectation, our desire
[Isaiah 40:28-31; Lamentations 3:21-25; Romans 15:4]

God is just – who is right or fair, impartial, correct, true, upright
[Psalm 9:7-8; Romans 3:23-26; Revelation 15:13]

God is the King of Glory – powerful; deserving great honor and praise
[Psalm 24:7-10; Luke 19:38; 1 Timothy 1:17]

God is life – who constitutes our very existence—our physical, mental and spiritual experiences
[Nehemiah 9:6; John 5:21; John 6:47-51]

God is light – our spiritual illumination, enlightenment, and our truth
[John 8:12; Psalm 119:105, 130; 2 Samuel 22:29]

God is love – who is strong and has intense affection, benevolence, kindness, and tenderness
[Psalm 136:1-9; Ephesians 3:16-19; 1 John 3:1]

God is the master planner – who has the perfect program or method worked out before hand
[Isaiah 25:1; Isaiah 46:10-11; Jeremiah 29:11]

God is merciful – full of mercy, kindness, and compassion
[Deuteronomy 4:31; Daniel 9:9; 1 Peter 1:3-5]

God is mighty – who has and shows great power, skill, strength or force
[Psalm 62:7-8; Psalm 147:5; Jeremiah 32:19]

God is the miracle worker – who performs unexplainable and supernatural acts
[1 Corinthians 16:8-12; Psalm 77:11-14; Jeremiah 32:20]

God is a mountain mover – who can do the impossible
[Isaiah 40:3-5; Matthew 17:20-21; Mark 11:22-24]

God is patient – long-suffering, understanding, persevering, constant
[Galatians 5:22-23; 1 Timothy 1:16; 2 Peter 3:9]

God is pure – without blemish or fault; holy, sinless, perfect
[Psalm 19:9; James 3:17; 1 John 3:2-3]

God is our purpose – our goal and intended outcome; the reason for which we exist
[Proverbs 19:21; Ephesians 1:11-12; Philippians 2:13]

God reigns – who exercises sovereign power and rule
[Exodus 15:18; 1 Chronicles 16:31; Psalm 47:8]

God rescues – saves and delivers
[Psalm 91:14-16; Proverbs 11:8; Galatians 1:3-4]

God is a revealer – who makes known or brings to view; discloses
[Daniel 2:19-23; 1 Corinthians 2:9-10; Revelation 15:4]

God is righteous – just, true, honorable, blameless, and upright
[Psalm 71:14-19; Psalm 116:5; Psalm 129:4]

God is our rock – which protects from harm or danger and who keeps watch over us, keeps us secure
[Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:2; Matthew 7:24-25]

God is our Savior – who saves, rescues, preserves from harm or danger and keeps us safe
[2 Samuel 22:3; Psalm 68:19; 1 John 4:14]

Jesus is a servant – who serves
[Matthew 20:25-28; John 13:14-17; Philippians 2:5-8]

God is our shepherd – who cares for, guards, guides and tends sheep
[Isaiah 40: 11; Ezekiel 34:14-16; Revelation 7:17]

God is our shield – our means of defense and protection
[2 Samuel 22:1-3; Psalm 84:11; Proverbs 2:7-8]

God is sovereign – above or superior to all others; who controls everything and can do anything
[2 Samuel 7:22; Psalm 71:5; Jeremiah 32:17]

God is our strength – a firmness of will, character, mind or purpose and is our power to resist force
[2 Samuel 22:33; Nehemiah 8:10; Philippians 4:13]

God sustains – protects from harm or danger, keeps watch over us and keeps us secure
[Psalm 18:35; Psalm 54:4; Psalm 147:6]

God is our teacher – who guides, instructs or imparts knowledge
[Job 36:22; Psalm 32:8; Isaiah 48:17]

God is trustworthy – worthy of confidence; reliable, faithful, dependable
[2 Samuel 7:28; Psalm 19:7; Psalm 111:7-8]

God is truth – who is real, actual, fact, full of integrity, honest
[Psalm 119:160; Isaiah 45:19; John 14:6]

God is understanding – who is empathetic and recognizes with tolerance our nature and/or situation
[1 Chronicles 28:9; Psalm 147:5; Ephesians 1:7-8]

God is wise – who has discernment, understanding, and knowledge
[Job 12:13; Jeremiah 10:12; Romans 11:33]

God is worthy – who has worth and value; honorable, admirable
[1 Chronicles 16:25; Psalm 18:3; Revelation 4:11]

_____     _____     _____

In times of specific need, several attributes can inform our particular situation with Truth from God’s Word.   The following groupings are not exhaustive, but are given as examples.  I would love to hear if anyone has other themes they see running through the list of attributes.

Assurance of God’s Reliability

God is able
God is our confidence
God is everlasting
God is faithful
God is our hope
God is life
God is the master planner
God is our purpose
God reigns
God is sovereign
God is trustworthy
God is truth
God is wise

God Tends Our Wounded Spirits and Troubled Minds

God is our comforter
God is compassionate
God is our confidence
God is our counselor
God is light
God is merciful
God is patient
God is a revealer
God is our Savior
God is our strength
God is trustworthy
God is understanding

God is Personal

God is our Father
God is our friend
God is our guide
God is our helper
God is our shepherd
God is our teacher

We Flee to Jesus for Peace and Protection

God is able
God is our confidence
God is our defender
God is our fortress
God guards
God is just
God is the master planner
God is mighty
God is the miracle worker
God is a mountain mover
God reigns
God rescues
God is a revealer
God is our rock
God is our Savior
God is our shepherd
God is our shield
God is sovereign
God is our strength
God sustains

Praising God’s Attributes

God is glorious
God is good
God is gracious
God is holy
God is the King of Glory
God is love
God is pure
God is righteous
Jesus is a servant
God is sovereign
God is worthy

God Created and Keeps Our Physical Lives

God is able
God is our confidence
God heals
God is the master planner
God is mighty
God is the miracle worker
God is a mountain mover
God reigns
God rescues
God is a revealer
God is our rock
God is our Savior
God is our shepherd
God is our shield
God is sovereign
God is our strength
God sustains
God is trustworthy

 

[Painting: “A Mother’s Love” by Ron DiCianni]