Do you ever feel unsure of how to pray for someone you love? Have you ever gotten tired of praying the same things day in and day out? Maybe you feel like your prayer life isn’t getting anywhere because your mind wanders while you’re trying to talk to God.
Friend, you’re not alone. I’m the queen of distraction, so I’ve experienced all of these. I want to grow closer to God and see lives changed through prayer, yet my mind can travel to the moon and back when I try to pray. That’s why I want to learn more about using God’s Word to fuel and focus my conversation with Him.
Scripture works like a springboard for prayer. As we read it, the Holy Spirit sparks our thoughts and leads us into closer communion with Him.
Praying God’s Word has several benefits for our prayer life:
It gives direction to our prayer. When we don’t know how to pray for a person or situation, scripture shows us. We know we’re praying in line with God’s will when we pray His very words back to Him. And when we’re left speechless at the end of our rope, it gives us the words we need.
God’s Word has power. Scripture has authority. It’s alive and active. It’s a mighty weapon of spiritual warfare that fuels our faith and breaks down strongholds. We find power when we pray God’s inspired Word.
God’s Word is an anchor. When your mind wanders, you can always go back to the scripture that sparked your prayer. When your faith flounders, the Bible gives you words to declare and something to stand on.
Here are Three Ways to Pray Using Scripture:
1. Pray God’s Word in Your Quiet Time
In your devotional reading, respond to God’s words by praying them back to Him. After you read a passage, go back and read it again, pausing to respond to God when you see a verse that sparks prayer. Look for the following
- A quality or action you can praise God for.
- A blessing to thank Him for.
- Something you want to ask God for.
2. Use memory verses as prayer prompts.
If you’re using a scripture memory program, spend a few minutes praying through a verse after you review it. Lift up to God whatever thoughts come to mind. Perhaps you’ll want to pray for yourself or for a loved one, asking for grace to obey a command, or faith to believe a promise.
3. Pray Along with the prayers of the Bible
God’s Word contains the most beautiful and powerful prayers ever written. Pray along with the people of the Bible as they wrestle with God, praise Him, and bring their petitions before Him. Here are several prayers from scripture you can make your own:
- 1 Chronicles 29:10-13
- Psalm 51
- Luke 1:46-55
- Ephesians 1:15-23
- Ephesians 3: 14-21
- Colossians 1: 9-12
As you pray more of God’s Word, your faith will grow. When your words echo His, you grow closer to Him. Here’s something you can try right now before you go:
Take a moment to read this verse:
Do you know someone who needs to know this right now? Stop to pray for that person and praise God for His faithfulness.
Now it’s your turn: How has the Bible been an encouragement to your prayer life?
This post is the last one in the series “God’s Word: Your Best Love Letter and Greatest Treasure.” If you missed the other posts, you may want to check them out for more tips and inspiration to dig deeper into scripture:
Your Best Love Letter and Greatest Treasure
When You Want the Bible to Change Your Life
How to Get More out of the Bible
A Creative Way to Unlock More of the Bible
Are you facing the challenges of life on an empty tank? Need help renewing your relationship with God?
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Linking up with Kelly Balarie’s #RaRa Linkup, Mary Geisen’s #TellHisStory, Crystal Storms’ #HeartEncouragement, and Lyli Dunbar’s #FaithonFire. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
This post originally appeared on my friend Jana Kennedy-Spicer’s site SweettotheSoul.com.Snowbell Photo Credit: Melika
Betsy, this has been such a helpful series. And this post — I know that the Word has been my anchor when it comes to praying for my kids. I trust the lists of things that God wants for my boys much more than I trust my own heart, at times.
Blessings!
You are so right, Michele. I trust God’s heart INFINITELY more than I trust my own. My prayers can be skewed by my own heart…But I guess God understands that too!
Betsy, I love praying Gods’ word over my family and others. I liked your explanation as to why we need to. I have prayers from all over the Bible written in my prayer journals. Thanks for the encouragement on this subject!
xoxo
Thanks for sharing your word of testimony about praying God’s Word here, Christy!
Loved this series and how it has further cultivated our love of God’s word and equipped us to grow deeper with Him. Off to read more…
Thank you, Tiffany!
Thanks for sharing. My mind can definitely wander…so I’m working on that. I just started a book that reads through the New Testament in a year. It has “thoughts for prayer” at the end based on the daily readings and I think I’m going to like that. So instead of just reading the written prayer, I can pray my own words. But it gives a little guidance on where to start.
Hi Betsy,
This post speaks to me as I’ve begun to pray God’s word when I don’t have words and when I want to speak his words to my soul. It’s something I have to practice at but it’s so peaceful and speaks powerfully when I pray God’s words back to him. Love this post!
It’s funny, Betsy … I thought I was the queen of distraction! 🙂 No wonder, then, that I also find praying scripture to be so very helpful. I type my prayers during my morning quiet time and that helps the verses get in my mind and heart even more. Thank you for a wonderful post!
Ha ha! Oh Lois, let me tell you how wrong you are! I am the Queen of Distraction! (Or you think there could really be two of us?) You’re making me smile today. Great idea to type prayer…never tried that.
Aw, the last one? I loved this series, Betsy! So practical and grounded. Thank you for sharing all this wisdom. Every nudge deeper into the Word is a blessing : ) Every morning I do my best to choose a verse to reflect on and pray throughout the day- and since my memory isn’t the best, I often end up looking it up again and again! Haha. : ) Blessings to you!
Thanks, Bethany. I’m glad you liked the series. My memory’s not the best either! More blessing when we go back and look up that verse again!
This is just what I needed, Betsy! “Scripture works like a springboard for prayer. As we read it, the Holy Spirit sparks our thoughts and leads us into closer communion with Him.” << My favorite quote. Thanks so much for sharing!
You’re welcome Stefani. I hope you have a good week.
I love using scripture as my prayer to the Lord! Thank you so much for sharing this Betsy!!! I can;t wait to hop over and read the rest!
Thank you so much, Betsy. I love that you’ve been calling us back to the fundamentals (prayer with this post and previously study of God’s word). I pray that many will be blessed through your words and encouragement. Hugs!
This was so awesome Betsy! I can’t thank you enough… and I’m so very thankful for the printable.
Blessings to you. <3