Parable
Parable Of The Lamp Under A Bushel Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped parable prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Lord, You said not to hide a lit lamp under a basket. You said to put it on a stand so the whole room can see. I have been quiet about You in places where speaking up would have helped someone walking in the dark. I called it humility. But sometimes it was fear. I covered the lamp because I was nervous about the glare and bothered about who might see. Uncover it. The lamp is Yours, not mine. The light is Yours, not mine. I do not need to apologize for the brightness of a gift You gave me to set on a stand. Put me where the light reaches the corners. Let the people around me see by it. Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
Neither do you light a lamp and put it under a measuring basket, but on a stand; and it shines to all who are in the house.
Matthew 5:15
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray parable of the lamp under a bushel prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in Matthew 5:15. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.