Have you loved digging into prayer as much as I have?
I must confess, this is an area in which I consider myself very weak. When it comes to Bible study and digging into the Word – I get hyped up and ready to go. But prayer just doesn’t come as naturally to me.
I shared my struggle with an older believer several years ago and she encouraged me to pray Scripture. Also, through reading the Power of a Praying … books by Stormie Omartian, I learned of the great power of praying God’s Word back to Him. What could be more useful in developing a prayer life than using the very Word of God as a foundation for our conversations? It’s sort of a “double whammy” in our prayers.
I was encouraging our senior adults at church to use Scripture in their prayers and one gentlemen said to me, “We aren’t all Bible scholars like you!” Let me assure you – I’m no Bible scholar! In fact, as I responded to this dear man, “I wasn’t born with this knowledge of Scripture.” I’ve been investing in it for many years. It’s not so much about how much Scripture you know, rather praying Scripture is realizing the truth of God’s Word and claiming it in your life.
Tomorrow, during Your Turn, we’ll be going through a passage and praying through it. But for today, I’d like to share with you some of the ways using Scripture can build your prayer life.
Understanding God’s Character
As we study Scripture we grow in our understanding of God’s character and how that relates to our lives. By recognizing that He is love (1 John 4:8), we can come to Him acknowledging that He loves us and desires the best for us … even when we don’t understand His ways (Isaiah 55:9).
Trusting God’s Promises
Throughout Scripture we find the promises of God and as we pray we have confidence that He will save us (John 3:16), that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), that He will forgive us (1 John 1:9), that His plan is for our good (Jeremiah 29:11) and so many more. Knowing God’s promises gives us confidence in our relationship with Him and helps us trust in His care for our lives.
Recognizing God’s Faithfulness
Throughout the Bible we see that God is faithful to His people … both the Israelites in the Old Testament and the early church in the New. We can pray to the same “God who sees me” as Hagar did (Genesis 16:13), the “God who heals me” as Miriam (Exodus 15:26), the “Lord, my Rock” as David (Psalm 144:1), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).
Claiming God’s Provision
Throughout Scripture we find abundant reminders that God will provide for all our needs. We find that He will give us rest (Psalm 23:2), protection (Isaiah 43:2), food and clothing (Matthew 6:25-32), wisdom (James 1:5) and so much more.
Learning to pray Scripture is an amazing way to grow your prayer life. I have specific prayers for my daughter and my husband – claiming Scripture for their lives. And as I read my Bible each day, I use the passages I have read as a foundation for my prayers … asking God to change me to match His Word. I have found great comfort and peace in learning to pray Scripture and I hope you will be encouraged to do the same!
How do you incorporate Scripture into your prayers?
Recommended Reading:
Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler
Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler
Any of the Power of a Praying books by Stormie Omartian
Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore
Praying the Psalms by Elmer Towns {Mr. Towns has written several books about praying through specific passages of Scripture.}
Thank you Teri Lynne! For those of us who struggle with what to pray, God’s Word is an endless supply of prayers!
Kathy, learning how to use God’s Word to guide my prayers has given me more insight into praying in line with God’s will. And yes, it certainly does provide an endless supply of prayers!
To be honest, I have never used God’s Word in prayer. But I guess it is never too late to start.
What a great way to look at it … “never too late to start.” You are right!!
This is wonderful! I just sat through Dr. Whitney’s Spiritual Disciplines class this past spring, and praying Scripture was a BIG part of it.
Is that Donald Whitney? His books on spiritual disciplines are wonderful resources!
That sounds wonderful! I have spent the past several years studying the spiritual disciplines and reading as many of the classics as I can manage. It gives me a much bigger perspective on God and my relationship with Him.
Hi Teri Lynne,
I really struggle with what to pray when it comes to my husband and kids. I think the enormity of the task get to me… there is so much to pray about, where to I start? But I found a list (from Pipers church) that gives an area and verses dealing with that area for each day of the month. That has helped me tremendously.
I don’t know where I’ve been (home with the kids out of school maybe) but I didn’t know that you were doing this series on prayer… I’ve got some reading to do to catch. I look forward to the rest of the series.
Hey Stephanie! We are going to share about praying for our spouses and children as a part of this series! Stay tuned!! :) But I would love to hear more about the list you have found.
Prayer has never come naturally for me, either. I have found praying Scripture to be an incredible blessing in my prayer life – providing me with a foundation of truth to pray over people. I use a Scripture prayer calendar for my kids and my husband, and I recently discovered Andrew Case’s new book: Prayers of an Excellent Wife. I love having these tools available to guide me as I seek to learn to live a life of prayer.
Oh, Ashley, I’ll have to add that to my Amazon Wish List. Sounds wonderful. (And I’ll be sharing my prayer calendar next week!!)
You can actually get a free pdf version at his website: HisMagnificence.com!
I have to confess that I really enjoy praying. I like to pray the scriptures over my family, and pray Jeremiah 29:11 over my children, confessing that they will walk out God’s plan for them. For my husband, I pray for wisdom in his business dealing, in interacting with the children (since he’s home with them) and favor for new customers. I pray and remind God of his healing scriptures, that not just me but my entire family is healthy and healed.
Melanie Chitwood mentioned this in her devotional about praying for your spouse, but if you go to google and type in “scriptural prayers for children” or “scriptural prayers for spouse”, you will get some good resources.
My struggle is finding time to read and study the Word, which I am still working on, but Glory to God, will be starting Bible school soon. My time at my job is almost over, and God has shown himself faithful with the provision and confirmation we have seen. Then hubby and I together will be studying God’s Word, spending 4 hours a day with Him in preparation for the country of Africa. So since we are talking about prayer, any would be appreciated if we come to mind :).
Thanks so much for this site. I haven’t had much time to visit lately, but am looking forward to catching up on what I’ve missed. Be blessed.
Welcome! We are glad you have been encouraged. If you haven’t had a chance, you might look back at what we shared last month about time studying the Word. Many great suggestions and ideas for getting started and developing a consistent time in the Word!
Love this post on Praying God’s Word. I have been incorporating this idea in my prayers along with other ideas that have been given over this week and last. It is so wonderful to have focus and direction. I love the process of growig in my communication with the Most High.
~Blessings~
Marita
Marita, you are such an encouragement to us here at Scripture Dig! I am so glad you have been blessed this week by our offerings of specific ways to grow your prayer life!
The more I memorize, the more God’s Word just creeps into my prayers without even “trying.” I like to stay “back to God” what He says about Himself in His Word, and that gives me such peace and confidence before I even get to confessions and petitions. And when I DO get to the asking, using His words of promise give me such boldness to know I’m asking what HE wants for us.
YES!! I have found that as well, Julie. As I pray I am amazed sometimes at how few of my own words/thoughts are there.
Great post, when I do remember to pray scripture back to God I am always so incredibly blessed by it. I think I’m a little bit the opposite of you though that I lean on prayer and turn to prayer more often than I dig into the Word. Not that I don’t LOVE when I do open my Bible, but I think it’s the convenience of it, I pray everywhere I am…in the car, while doing dishes, in the store…another good reason to have as much scripture as possible memorized and on the tip of my tongue.
Sarah, I have a theory that most people are generally more confident in either prayer or study. I imagine it has much to do with temperment/personality. Your ongoing prayer life inspires me!
A dear friend of mine taught me how powerful it is to pray God’s word! I’m so thankful the Lord placed her in my life! I also use Beth Moore’s “Praying God’s Word” also. I love to jot down prayers as I do my daily reading when something just pops out to me! I believe when I am praying God’s Word, then I am praying in His will. That is so powerful to me, and gives me great peace!
I do that, too, Nikki! My journaling in the morning is a huge conglomeration of my thoughts blended into prayers as I work through what God has revealed in His Word.
I’m loving this prayer series that you are doing here on Scripture Dig…my heart has been challenged, I have been given some new ideas and challenged to pick up on some older prayer “methods” that I’ve fallen away from. I love Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore and the Power of a Praying…books. I’m going to pull our Praying God’s Word day by day and start working through that again. Thanks Teri Lynne!
I have that book as well, Becky. It’s a great one for helping you find Scriptures that relate to your particular situations. So glad you are reignited about prayer through this series.
Teri Lynne –
I find myself praying God’s Word back to Him frequently. I know what He says is true. I know there is power in His Word and I trust Him to be faithful to His Word.
I love how you called it a “Double Whammy” ~ A sincere heart of prayer coupled with the power of His Word certainly is a power-packed combination.
I totally agree, Steph! And I find I have much more confidence that I am praying in line with His will when I am praying His Word … less room for me and my selfishness!
Wonderful, practical advice from God’s Holy Word! Thank you. Traci – http://www.ordinaryinspirations.blogspot.com