How to Pray Scripture: 5 Ways to Pray God’s Word
Wondering how to pray scripture? Maybe your wondering why you should incorporate scripture into your prayers! We’re diving in to see what the Bible says about our prayers and will cover five ways to pray scripture.
What does scripture say about prayer?
James 5:16 says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” Is this how you would describe your prayers? Maybe you feel like you are sending words and thoughts out into space. Or, maybe you feel like you are tossing your prayers into a wishing well and wondering, “Does this really change anything?”
Well, here’s the good news. The Bible is the true word of God, and it says that, “the prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.” There is a tool that can help make our prayers powerful and work. Imagine that every prayer you’ve prayed is a coin. Instead of throwing those into a wishing well, what the Bible is saying is we can actually deposit that coin into a gum-ball machine and have faith for results. Cheesy analogy, but stick with me!
Why is the Bible helpful in prayer?
The Bible is the word of God. 2 Timothy describes scripture as being breathed out by God. So, if that is true (which it is because it’s in the Bible), the same voice that had the power to speak in creation is the same voice we read in the Bible. Genesis records that all God had to do was speak for the word to be made. Genesis 1 says, “And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Why wouldn’t we use His word to guide our words in prayer?
Let’s look at the power of God’s word for a moment.
Hebrews 4: 12-13 says, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
Wow! God’s word is living and active. His word is current, not archaic, but still relevant and still working.
The Bible is sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. What does that mean? Scripture is precise and focused. It can differentiate between the soul, desires and thoughts of humans and the Spirit of God. But, what does that mean? The word of God will help you understand what are your thoughts and what are God’s thoughts. We, as humans, have been given a soul with thinking, creativity and invitation. We have our own thoughts, but also God likes to talk with us through the Bible, other people, feelings or impressions. So how can you know when God is talking and not something else? God’s word will never contradict itself. The Bible will help us discern His voice. The Bible says that we, as his sheep, know our Good Shepherd’s voice. If it doesn’t sound like God, then it’s probably not God.
The Bible knows the intention of our hearts and how our hearts can be geared towards selfishness and lack of faith. This means God understands. When no one else does or you feel alone or misunderstood, God knows.
And, nothing is hidden from His word. There is no topic that the Bible does not address. What about technology? Dating? Scripture does not have those specific words in the Bible, but it does have principles and wisdom to help guide you on those topics if you are willing to seek it.
How the power of the word of God can guide our prayers
Have you heard or thought about some of the things Jesus says about our prayers? In John 15:7, Jesus said, “Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, “You will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” In the past, when I would hear Jesus say these things, I thought, “That is a nice, poetic way for Jesus to emphasize prayer.” But now, I really think Jesus actually means it.
When we use the words of the One who created the mountains, then those words have the power to move mountains.
Now, praying scripture is not a magic formula.
God is the one who is in control, and He will determine the timing and full outcome of our prayers. That might mean we don’t get to see some prayers answered in our lifetime or in the way we think they should be answered. Israel cried out for 400 years for freedom from Egypt; God is still God and we are not.
And, when we are praying things that are already in His heart and mind, they will be answered. Isaiah 55:11 says that God’s word will never return void.
So, how do we start praying scripture?
Five steps to pray scripture
Allow the Holy Spirit to lead you to a particular passage of scripture to pray, and then follow these steps:
- Rejoice
- Repeat or Rephrase
- Repent
- Request
- Receive
For this post, we’ll pray Psalm 103 together.
Rejoice
Begin by rejoicing in who God is and what He is like. Rejoice that he has and is already doing what the scripture is saying.
I rejoice and bless your holy name, Lord! Thank you that you are my forgiver, healer, redeemer and satisfier.
Repeat or Rephrase
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Repent
Repent means to confess sin, receive the forgiveness of God and to turn away from the sin. Repent for unbelief, disobedience, laziness to seek out His word, trying to control God, sin, etc.
Lord, I repent for forgetting your benefits! I confess that I allow my worries and fears to distract me from who you are and who I am in you. Thank you for the grace you extend to me.
Request
Ask God to do what it says in scripture or you can choose to stand on this word and take it as a promise.
Lord, I ask you to do what it says in your scripture. Holy Spirit, fill me with the peace that comes from being satisfied only in you. I choose to believe you do satisfy me with good. Renew my strength, Jesus.
Receive
I receive the crown of your steadfast love and mercy. I receive your good benefits and renewing love.
Pray scripture at our church-wide prayer hours
You can utilize this tool in your prayers at our church-wide prayer hours happening throughout the week at Mosaic. Click here to learn more about times, and activate praying scripture with other members of Mosaic.