9 Inspirational Poem Prayers

A poem prayer reawakens the sense of importance and awe inspired by words, particularly those directed to God.

Prayer is the lifeline of Christians. Throughout my faith journey, I discovered different ways to pray. I realized that prayers can result from creativity, like praying through a poem. A poem prayer conveys deep feelings and the desires of our hearts openly and expressively to God. Through the creative verses of a poem prayer, we speak through the depth of our heart, speaking to and calling on our Lord. 

What is a Poem Prayer?

In prayer, we express ourselves through the physical movement of our lips, tongue, and perhaps even our hands and other parts of our body. Whenever we feel the need to talk to God, we say a prayer. But sometimes, we feel so many deep emotions that simple words cannot do them justice. Such is where a poem prayer is the most effective. 

A poem prayer is a powerful expression of powerful emotions we feel and need to tell God. With the use of rhymes, figures of speech, descriptive language, and rhythm, we can convey the deepest parts of our souls to the Lord.

The Books of Psalms and Proverbs, among others, show that the Word of God is also poetic. Here, we resonate with the words of David and Solomon, igniting beauty, profound emotion, and worship.

Why Say a Poem Prayer?

Poetry is one powerful way we use language. When combined with prayer, poetry becomes a language in itself. Poetry, as an art form, also connects people. It is these innate characteristics that make poetry prayer impactful. 

When we say a poem prayer and share it with others, our heartstrings are pulled, and a layer of deep veneration surfaces. We are able to speak to the Lord, pouring out our deepest emotions and thoughts in a language that imitates His own creativity and beauty. 

Bible Verses that are Poem Prayer

Habakkuk 3:1-5

This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk[a]:

I have heard all about you, Lord.
I am filled with awe by your amazing works.
In this time of our deep need,
help us again as you did in years gone by.
And in your anger,
remember your mercy.

I see God moving across the deserts from Edom,[b]
the Holy One coming from Mount Paran.[c]
His brilliant splendor fills the heavens,
and the earth is filled with his praise.
His coming is as brilliant as the sunrise.
Rays of light flash from his hands,
where his awesome power is hidden.
Pestilence marches before him;
plague follows close behind.

Proverbs 1:1-7

These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel.

Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline,
to help them understand the insights of the wise.
Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives,
to help them do what is right, just, and fair.
These proverbs will give insight to the simple,
knowledge and discernment to the young.

Let the wise listen to these proverbs and become even wiser.
Let those with understanding receive guidance
by exploring the meaning in these proverbs and parables,
the words of the wise, and their riddles.

Fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and discipline.

Psalm 90:1-4

A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place
  in all generations.
Before the mountains were brought forth,
  or ever you had formed the earth and the world,
  from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

You return man to dust
  and say, “Return, O children of man!”
For a thousand years in your sight
  are but as yesterday when it is past
  or as a watch in the night.

Psalm 112: 1-6

The Righteous Will Never Be Moved

Praise the Lord!
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
  who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
  the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
  and his righteousness endures forever.
Light dawns in the darkness for the upright;
  he is gracious, merciful, and righteous.
It is well with the man who deals generously and lends;
  who conducts his affairs with justice.
For the righteous will never be moved;
  he will be remembered forever.

Psalm 25: 1-5

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
O my God, in you I trust;
  let me not be put to shame;
  let not my enemies exult over me.
Indeed, none who wait for you shall be put to shame;
  they shall be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
  teach me your paths.
Lead me in your truth and teach me,
  for you are the God of my salvation;
  for you, I wait all the day long.

Some Examples of Poem Prayer

Prayer  by George Herbert 

Prayer the church’s banquet, angel’s age,
God’s breath in man returning to his birth,
The soul, in paraphrase, heart in pilgrimage,
The Christian plummet sounding heav’n and earth

Engine against th’ Almighty, sinner’s tow’r,
Reversed thunder, Christ-side-piercing spear,
The six-days world transposing in an hour,
A kind of tune which all things hear and fear;

Softness, and peace, and joy, and love, and bliss,
Exalted manna, gladness of the best,
Heaven in ordinary, man well drest,
The Milky Way, the bird of Paradise,

Church bells beyond the stars heard, the soul’s blood,
The land of spices; something understood.

Praying by Mary Oliver

It doesn’t have to blue
the blue iris, it could be      
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones, just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together, and don’t try
to make them elaborate, this isn’t
a contest, but the doorway
into thanks and a silence in which
another voice may speak.

On Prayer by Khalil Gibran

Then the priestess said, Speak to us of Prayer.
And he answered, saying:
You pray in your distress and in your need; would that you might pray also in the fullness of your joy and in your days of abundance.

For what is prayer but the expansion of yourself into the living ether?
And if it is for your comfort to pour your darkness into space, it is also for your delight to pour forth the dawning of your heart.
And if you cannot but weep when your soul summons you to prayer, she should spur you again and yet again, though weeping, until you shall come laughing.
When you pray, you rise to meet in the air those who are praying at that very hour, and whom save in prayer you may not meet.
Therefore, let your visit to that temple invisible be for naught but ecstasy and sweet communion.
For if you should enter the temple for no other purpose than asking, you shall not receive:
And if you should enter into it to humble yourself, you shall not be lifted:
Or even if you should enter into it to beg for the good of others, you shall not be heard.
It is enough that you enter the temple invisible.

I cannot teach you how to pray in words.
God listens not to your words save when He Himself utters them through your lips.
And I cannot teach you the prayer of the seas and the forests and the mountains.
But you who are born of the mountains and the forests and the seas can find their prayer in your heart,
And if you but listen in the stillness of the night, your shall hear them saying in silence,
“Our God, who are our winged self, it is thy will in us that willeth.
It is thy desire in us that desireth.
It is thy urge in us that would turn our nights, which are thine, into days which are thine also.
We cannot ask thee for aught, for thou knowest our needs before they are born in us:
Thou art our need; and in giving us more of thyself thou givest us all.”

My Personal Poem Prayer

Heavenly Father, 

I come to you unsure of what I deserve
I have done so many wrong things along the way.
My goodness, my promises, my word, I failed to preserve
And I chose to be a sinner at the end of the day.

Despite all the blessings you have showered upon me
And the multitude of times I was forgiven
I still failed you continuously
And compromised my rewards in heaven.

But no matter how many times I failed
You have always been faithful and good to me.
Your love and light, I have always felt
And your Spirit surrounds me endlessly.

You know my heart, O Lord.
You know what it desires.
Hear me, O Lord.
Be with me in these times.

You are the one true God, the Almighty
Deserving of all praise, worship, and glory
You are forever and always the truth I pursue
Jesus, my Savior and Lord, only You.

Amen.

Final Thoughts

A poem prayer reawakens the sense of importance and awe inspired by words, particularly those directed to God. Just as our prayers speak of our worship and praise to the Lord, a poem prayer is a unique and beautiful language of faith. As in singing praises, painting Jesus, or dancing for God, a poem prayer is another way to express our faith and call on God whenever we need Him!