---
title: Prayers from Scripture | Week 5
description: Explore the futility of worldly pursuits in Ecclesiastes 2 and discover true meaning through a heartfelt prayer and connection with God.
---

[the Formed.life Blog ](https://theformed.life/blog)

# [Prayers from Scripture | Week 5](https://theformed.life/blog/prayers-from-scripture-week-5)

 Written by [Christ Community KC](https://theformed.life/blog/author/christ-community-kc) | Tuesday, June 16, 2026

## Read | Ecclesiastes 2:1–11

> *I said to myself, “Go ahead, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy what is good.” But it turned out to be futile. I said about laughter, “It is madness,” and about pleasure, “What does this accomplish?” I explored with my mind the pull of wine on my body—my mind still guiding me with wisdom—and how to grasp folly, until I could see what is good for people to do under heaven during the few days of their lives.*
> 
> *I increased my achievements. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. I made gardens and parks for myself and planted every kind of fruit tree in them. I constructed reservoirs for myself from which to irrigate a grove of flourishing trees. I acquired male and female servants and had slaves who were born in my house. I also owned livestock—large herds and flocks—more than all who were before me in Jerusalem. I also amassed silver and gold for myself, and the treasure of kings and provinces. I gathered male and female singers for myself, and many concubines, the delights of men. So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem; my wisdom also remained with me. All that my eyes desired, I did not deny them. I did not refuse myself any pleasure, for I took pleasure in all my struggles. This was my reward for all my struggles. When I considered all that I had accomplished and what I had labored to achieve, I found everything to be futile and a pursuit of the wind. There was nothing to be gained under the sun.*

[Click here to listen to the Scripture in ESV. ](https://www.esv.org/audio-player/Ecclesiastes+2%3A1%E2%80%9311)

## Focus

[Watch this video from BibleProject ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrsQ1tc-2wk)that gives an overview of this book of the Bible. What is one thing you learned from the video?

## Pray

Pray out loud using this prewritten prayer based on today’s Scripture. Use it as a model for using Scripture in your own prayers.

Based on Ecclesiastes 2   
A Prayer For Meaningfulness by Esther M. Huhn – Leawood Campus congregant

*Father,*  
*Help us not grow cynical in the meaninglessness of worldly pursuits.*  
*Let us not succumb to the temptation to quit the pursuit of meaning,*  
*or believe it does not exist.*  
*But help us come to You, and to the pleasure Your presence brings.*  
*Give us experiential meaning as we participate with You.*  
*Receive all our accomplishments and projects and treasures,*  
*let them slide from our hands and melt off our hearts*  
*as we set them free unto You with great rejoicing.*  
*We want too much to hold onto our pursuits*  
*to guarantee our life meaning.*  
*Cheer our hearts, O Lord, with You as all goodness and wisdom.*  
*When we give into temptation to find significance somewhere else,*  
*forgive us and protect us from ourselves. Help us start and finish*  
*all things in partnership with You. You are good. Bring us home.*  
*You are our worthwhile pleasure.*  
*You are the meaning in all meaningfulness.*  
*May all we say and do flow from this beginning.*

*We belong to You through Jesus Your Son,*  
*and in His name, we pray,*  
*Amen.*

## Going Deeper

If you are also following the BibleProject’s [One Story That Leads to Jesus reading plan](https://d1bsmz3sdihplr.cloudfront.net/media/reading-plans/BibleProject_Reading_Plan_2025.pdf), complete today’s reading.

[View full post](https://theformed.life/blog/prayers-from-scripture-week-5)

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