Day 3: 7 Days of Prayer with Jane Austen

Welcome to Day 3 of 7 Days of Prayer with Jane Austen! If you’re following along in your book, today’s reading selection is taken from Chapter 11.

Below you’ll find excerpts from the chapter, plus my own additional reflections, the encouragement God has put on my heart to share with you today, a special prayer for you to pray, and a worship song.

Day 3 Reflection: 7 Days of Prayer with Jane Austen

Almighty God! Look down with Mercy on thy Servants here assembled & accept the petitions now offered up unto thee.

Jane Austen, Prayers

In this opening line of her second prayer, Jane asks God to “look down with mercy” and favor as she and her family gather to pray. Her words and tone convey a strong belief in a loving, personal God who “sits above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22) and yet is close at hand.

“For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer.” (1 Peter 3:12)

When we pray, God sees us and hears us. The world is not so big, nor the people in it so numerous, that he does not know each one of us personally. He not only calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1), he knows the number of hairs on our heads (Luke 12:7).

This is the wonder of God the Father: While he watches over all of creation, he simultaneously cares for each of us personally. When we “draw near to God,” he draws near to us (James 4:8). When we call on God, he hears, he works, he moves. He “look[s] down with Mercy” when we come to him in prayer.

“But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!” (Psalm 66:19–20)

Invitation to Pray:

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that You hear me when I pray. Thank You for Your attentiveness to my prayers. I bring before You all of today’s burdens and worries. I lay them at Your feet, one by one.

Lord, please grant me Your mercy today in the areas that are the most difficult for me to understand or bear: [your specific prayer].

Please accept my prayers and petitions as I bring before You my friends and family members who need a reminder of Your love today: [specific names].

Thank You that you’ve promised You will never reject my prayer or remove Your love from me!

In Jesus’ powerful name, Amen.

God Hears You

When you pray, you can be sure that God hears you. The Bible tells us this: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you” (James 4:8).

Many people are in need of extra prayer right now. Some people are scared about the health crisis and how it will affect their health or the health of a loved one. Others are worried about their finances and job security. Still others are prone to anxiety or depression, especially during stressful or isolating circumstances.

If you sense the Lord stirring your heart, reach out to someone today and offer to pray with him/her. Ask God to show you who it is. Chances are, someone will come to mind right away!

Grace and peace,
Rachel

READ DAY FOUR HERE

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