Prayer Beads
Several months ago, some members of the Rabbit Room had a discussion about prayer beads. I volunteered to put some strands together, and below you will find a description of the end result of this endeavor. Though I’m done assembling these beads, I thought some of you might want to use this format to make strands of your own.
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Hello, friends. I’m hoping this post will provide you with a cut-paste format that can be tweaked according to your own personal needs. Whereas some denominations use prayer beads with standard prayers for all users, these strands allow for some personalization—depending on your situation. So, you may want to take a weekend to pray/think through this list and decide how you want to organize yours.
This probably goes without saying, but these beads are a tool—not an object that holds inherent holiness. While transposing The Faerie Queene, I’ve found different characters who use prayer beads in different ways—some with wicked and dishonest motives, some with shallow superstition, and some with sincerity. I think these three options are possible for every religious practice.
As a teacher, I was continually reminded that different students learn in different ways, and tactile learners often benefit by having something to hold. In a similar way, I hope these prayer beads will be meaningful to those tactile learners who use them—without becoming over-important. So many times through Christian history, a peripheral practice has become centralized and elevated, causing distraction first, then harm. In the more modern world, every five or ten years, a new systemized “thing” seems to emerge, promising the power to change lives.
In light of that, I hope these beads will not be flaunted as any sort of ideal methodology—Christ is the center of our faith, and routines are only able to enhance our spiritual lives when they are extensions of the living Vine worked in faith through the branches. (By the way, that’s part of the reason I left room to personalize here. It’s harder to be superstitious about something that isn’t standardized.)
Also, if you didn’t get in on this order, feel free to make your own using what I’ve provided here. Kelli Rowley has also mentioned the possibility of taking this over, which would be great. Everything the Rowleys make is gorgeous.
Alright, here we go.
SECTION ONE: Some Names of God
I’ve chosen the following names of God to remember as I’m praying through the beads. While I’ve tried to research these names responsibly, I’m not a Hebrew scholar. So, you may want to double check me with a source you trust.
On some of the names (like El Shaddai and Abba), scholars hold some pretty strong differences of interpretation. I’ve tried to combine reasonable suggestions to cover all possible bases, but it’s a serious thing to try to understand a holy God, so I hope you will consider this list a starting place and not an attempt on my part to comprehend the Almighty. Feel free to copy/paste/rewrite if you see any corrections that need to be made on your list.
1. (Crystal white) Adonai. You are sovereign over the earth. You are my master and my Lord. You have dominion over all that exists, and your love endures forever.
2. (Black) Ancient of Days. You exist beyond time, giving You a unique perspective on everything that happens inside of Creation. You see how all the pieces fit together, and You are orchestrating past, present, and future so that they harmonize eternally.
3. (Red) El Elyon. You are God Most High, more mighty than every other source of strength or power of safety. Of all that promises me security and provision today, nothing will be able to provide for me or protect me better than you.
4. (Blue) El Olam. You are my lodestar, my one constant point of reference in a chaotic world. You are a fixed anchor, an everlasting guide.
5. (Clear) El Roi. You are the God who sees me. In seasons of injustice, isolation, and loneliness—when my heart is too distraught and confused to know my own soul—You look inside all my tumult and know me better than anyone.
6. (Light brown) El Shaddai. You are enough. You are the one who draws me close to nourish me like a mother nursing her child. You are a mountain of strength and power, strong, able to accomplish all your purposes.
7. (Dark brown) Abba. You are the perfect father, kind and wise. You stand ready to embrace me, and you are always waiting for me to return home to You, no matter how far I’ve run.
8. (Gold) Jehovah Jireh. You will provide what I need. Your storehouses are full and your power is infinite. You love me and are able to take care of the needs of my body and soul.
9. (Purple) Jehovah Nissi. You are my banner. You give me hope, direction, significance, and strength to accomplish the tasks you give me. The power by which I overcome the challenges you grant me is not mine but yours.
10. (Green) Jehovah Raah. You are my shepherd. You train me and guide me through every dark valley. You protect me. You lead me to rest and nourishment. You are my closest and most faithful friend.
11. (Teal) Jehovah Rapha. You are the healer. You make the blind see. You make the lame walk. You raise the dead. You are able to restore me where I am broken, the Great Physician whose touch renews.
12. (Silver) Jehovah Sabaoth. You are the commander of heavenly armies. Unseen angels stand ready every moment to obey Your command. As I abide in You, You will fight for me, though I have no strength of my own. You are King of Kings. You are Lord of Lords. You are my King and my Lord.
13. (Soft blue) Jehovah Shalom. You are the God of peace. So hush my hot, anxious and conflicted soul. Show me the security of my identity, and help me rest upon the Lord who loves me.
14. (Stone) Jehovah Shammah. You are the God who is there. You have come to live inside me and other members of the true church, and even now, you are preparing a realm in which we will dwell with You eternally. No matter where I go, you will always be present with me.
15. (Crystal) Jehovah Tsidkenu. You are singularly upright. You are the origin and standard of all that is true. You alone judge all things perfectly. You have also shared yourself with us, marking us with your righteousness.
16. (White) Jehovah Mekoddishkem. You are the God who sanctifies me. In your great tenderness, love, and mercy, you have set me apart and made me holy.
17. (Black) YHWH. You are the mysterious, holy God. You are what you are. You have been, and you are, and you will be. You have brought into existence all that is. You are a wonder too great to comprehend.
SECTION TWO: The Promises of God
Again, you may want to replace some of these promises with other verses that mean a lot to you. This is just a starting place. Also, as different seasons of your life emerge, you may want to shift some of the promises to integrate new ones.
1. (Light Blue) To be with us constantly. I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)
2. (White/Clear) To make all things new. “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death, or mourning, or crying, or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Revelation 21:4)
3. (Purple) To make our lives matter. “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
4. (Green) To make us fruitful as we abide. “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)
5. (Gold) To welcome and restore us when we are broken. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16)
6. (Blue) To never abandon us. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
7. (Stone) To finish the work He has begun in us. “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6b)
8. (Red) To give us wisdom when we ask. “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)
9. (Light blue) (Add some of your own in the next four.)
10. (Black)
11. (Light brown)
12. (Blue)
SECTION THREE: Praying for Others/Trusting God for This
Do you have a regular prayer list? People and situations that you regularly bring before the Father can be added to this section. Again, these beads can shift over time, as needs/concerns rise and fall.
(Clear)
(Purple)
(Red)
(Stone)
(Green)
(Light blue)
(Black)
(Light brown)
(Dark Brown)
SECTION FOUR: Creeds/ Formal Prayers/Identity Verses
We have so many options here. I’m including some possibilities below, but other than the Doxology on the final bead, I’m going to let you personalize.
First, you will see Ron Block’s list of Identity Verses. These have been important to many of us for years. Maybe you could pick a couple that mean a lot to you and affiliate them with beads in this section, memorizing the concept and the verses as you repeat them daily.
Secondly, I’ve listed the Apostle’s Creed. This is one of many creeds you could incorporate into your daily prayers.
Thirdly, perhaps at a certain bead, you would want to integrate a daily reading from Every Moment Holy, The Book of Common Prayer, or John Baillie’s A Diary of Private Prayer? So many possibilities here.
Fourthly, I’m listing a few hymns that I’m going to rotate in and out of my prayers. These are just some examples, and so many other old songs of the faith would also work here. Perhaps you could sing through one new hymn per month during your prayer time?
If you want, we could have some discussions about what you are choosing for your seven beads here and how it’s been meaningful.
1. I am a child of God, John 1:12
2. I am a part of the true vine, a channel (branch) of His life, John 15:1, 5
3. I am Christ's friend, John 15:15
4. I am chosen and appointed by Christ to bear His fruit, John 15:16
5. I am a personal witness of Christ for Christ, Acts 1:8
6. I have been justified and redeemed, Rom 3:24
7. I have been justified (completely forgiven, made righteous) and am at peace with God, Rom 5:1
8. I died with Christ and died to the power of sin's rule in my life, Rom 6:1-6
9. I have been freed from sin's power over me, Rom 6:7
10. I am a slave of righteousness, Rom 6:18
11. I am enslaved to God, Rom 6:22
12. I am dead to the law, that is, I am dead to trying to be righteous by my own human will and effort. Rom 7:4
13. I do not have my own righteousness that comes from exerting my own human will and self-fueled effort (the Law). My righteousness comes from God and is by faith, trust, reliance, abiding in Christ. Php 3:9
14. I am righteous by faith; Christ’s righteousness flows through me by faith. I will not be a Pharisee, setting about to establish my own righteousness by exerting my human will and self-fueled effort to be righteous. Rom 10:3
15. I am forever free from condemnation, Rom 8:1
16. I am a son of God, God is literally my "Papa," Rom 8:14, 15, Gal 3:26, 4:6
17. I am an heir of God and fellow heir with Christ, Rom 8:17
18. I am holy, Rom 11:16
19. I have been sanctified, 1Co 1:2
20. I have been placed in Christ by God's doing, Christ is now my wisdom from God, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption, 1Co 1:30
21. I have received the Spirit of God into me that I might know the things freely given, 1Co 2:12
22. I have been given the mind of Christ, 1Co 2:16
23. I am a temple (home) of God; His Spirit (His life) dwells in me, 1Co 3:16, 6:19
24. I am joined to the Lord and am one spirit with Him, 1Co 6:17
25. I have been bought with a price; I am not my own; I belong to God, 1Co 6:19, 20
26. I am a member of Christ's body, 1Co 12:27, Eph 5:30
27. I have been established in Christ and anointed by God, 2Co 1:21
28. He always leads me in His triumph in Christ, 2Co 2:14
29. Since I have died, I no longer live for myself, but for Christ, 2Co 5:14, 15
30. I am a new creation, 2Co5:17
31. I am reconciled to God and am a minister of reconciliation, 2Co 5:18, 19
32. I am the righteousness of God in Christ, 2Co 5:21
33. I have liberty in Christ Jesus, Gal 2:4
34. I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; the life I am now living is Christ's life, Gal 2:20
35. I am a child of God and one in Christ, Gal 3:26, 28
36. I am a child of God and an heir through God, Gal 4:6, 7
37. I am a saint, Eph 1:1, 1Co 1:2, Php 1:1, Col 1:2
38. I am blessed with every spiritual blessing, Eph 1:3
39. I was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and without blame before Him, Eph 1:4
40. I have been redeemed, forgiven, and am a recipient of His lavish grace, Eph 1:7, 8
41. I have been made alive together with Christ, Eph 2:5
42. I have been raised up and seated with Christ in heaven, Eph 2:6
43. I am God's workmanship, created in Christ to do his work that He planned beforehand that I should do, Eph 2:10
44. I have been brought near to God, Eph 2:13
45. I have direct access to God through the Spirit, Eph 2:18
46. I am a fellow citizen with the saints and a member of God's household, Eph 2:19
47. I am a fellow heir, a fellow member of the body, and a fellow partaker of the promise in Christ Jesus, Eph 3:6
48. I may approach God with boldness and confidence, Eph 3:12
49. I am righteous and holy, Eph 4:24
50. I am a citizen of heaven, Php 3:20
51. His peace guards my heart and my mind as I commit my care to Him, Php 4:7
52. I have been delivered from the domain of darkness and transferred to the kingdom of Christ, Col 1:13
53. I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins; the debt against me has been canceled, Col 1:14, 2:13, 14
54. Christ Himself is in me, Col 1:27
55. I have been firmly rooted in Christ and am now being built up and established in him, Col 2:7
56. I have been spiritually circumcised; my old, unregenerate nature has been removed, Col 2:11
57. I have been buried, raised, and made alive with Christ, and totally forgiven, Col 2:12, 13
58. I have been raised up with Christ, Col 3:1
59. I have died, and my life is now hidden with Christ in God, Col 3:3
60. Christ is now my life, Col 3:4
61. I am chosen of God, holy and dearly loved, Col 3:12, 1Th 1:4
62. I am a child of light and not of darkness, 1Th 5:5
63. I have been given a spirit of power, love, discipline (a sound mind), 2Ti 1:7
64. I have been saved and called (set apart) according to God's purpose and grace, 2Ti 1:9, Titus 3:5
65. Because I am sanctified and am one with Christ, He is not ashamed to call me His, Heb 2:11
66. I am a holy partaker of an heavenly calling, Heb 3:1
67. I am a partaker of Christ, Heb 3:14
68. I may come boldly before the throne of God to receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need, Heb 4:16
69. I am one of God's living stones and am being built up as a spiritual house, 1Pe 2:5
70. I am part of a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of God's own possession, 1Pe 2:9, 10
71. I am an alien and stranger to this world I temporarily live in, 1Pe 2:11
72. I am an enemy of the devil; he is my adversary, 1Pe 5:8
73. I have been given God's precious and magnificent promises by which I am a partaker of the divine nature, 2Pe 1:4 (Partaker of the divine nature – wow!)
74. God has bestowed a great love on me and called me his child, 1Jo 3:1
75. God will supply all my needs, Php 4:19
76. Christ has accepted me, Rom 15:7
THE APOSTLE’s CREED
I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth. I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to hell. The third day he rose again from the dead. He ascended to heaven and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty. From there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic church, The communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
HYMNS:
(A Mighty Fortress is Our God)
A mighty fortress is our God,
A bulwark never failing:
Our helper He, amid the flood
Of mortal ills prevailing.
For still our ancient foe
Doth seek to work his woe;
His craft and power are great,
And armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.
Did we in our own strength confide,
Our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side,
The Man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be?
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth is his name,
From age to age the same.
And He must win the battle.
And though this world, with devils filled,
Should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed
His truth to triumph through us.
The Prince of Darkness grim,—
We tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure,
For lo! His doom is sure,—
One little word shall fell him.
That word above all earthly powers—
No thanks to them—abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours
Through him who with us sideth.
Let goods and kindred go,
This mortal life also:
The body they may kill:
God's truth abideth still,
His kingdom is for ever.
(Take My Life and Let it Be)
Take my life, and let it be
Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;
Take my moments and my days,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise,
Let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move
At the impulse of Thy love;
Take my feet and let them be
Swift and beautiful for Thee,
Swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing
Always, only, for my King;
Take my lips, and let them be
Filled with messages from Thee,
Filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold;
Not a mite would I withhold;
Take my intellect, and use
Every power as Thou shalt choose,
Every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart; it is Thine own;
It shall be Thy royal throne,
It shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love; my Lord, I pour
At Thy feet its treasure-store.
Take myself, and I will be
Ever, only, all for Thee,
Ever, only, all for Thee.
(O, For a Thousand Tongues to Sing)
O for a thousand tongues to sing
my great Redeemer's praise,
the glories of my God and King,
the triumphs of his grace!
My gracious Master and my God,
assist me to proclaim,
to spread thro' all the earth abroad
the honors of your name.
Jesus! the name that charms our fears,
that bids our sorrows cease,
'tis music in the sinner's ears,
'tis life and health and peace.
He breaks the power of cancelled sin,
he sets the prisoner free;
his blood can make the foulest clean;
his blood availed for me.
To God all glory, praise, and love
be now and ever given
by saints below and saints above,
the Church in earth and heaven.
(Crystal)
(Blue)
(Green)
(Purple)
(Gold)
(Red)
(Blue) Doxology
Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
