Have you looked at your church’s prayer list lately? It probably includes serious health issues, unsaved family members, prodigal children, people dealing with loss, and maybe some material needs. Each request represents the real needs of real people. 

As followers of Christ, we enjoy the distinct privilege of coming before the very throne of the King and Creator of the universe to make our requests known. We have confidence that our petitions will not only be heard but that our Sovereign God will answer with mercy and grace (Heb. 4:16). Such an advantage ought to give us courage and hope. 

In fact, before His arrest, Jesus repeatedly reassured His disciples that they would have continued access to Him through prayer (John 14:13–14; 15:7,16; 16:24). While we know that we’ve been given an indescribable gift in prayer, we often miss its full potential, offering only intangible and vague petitions such as “be with so-and-so as they go through this trial.” We want to pray, but we lack the right words to shape our prayers. How do we pray beyond the surface need and get to the heart of the matter?

In the upper room, Jesus gave His disciples the answer: 

“If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)

Prayers built upon the Word, Jesus says, have special efficacy. 

Know What You’re Praying

I think we’d all agree that a soldier should have a solid understanding of the firearm he’s using—its ammunition, range, reliability, sights/scope, kick, and accuracy—before choosing to use it in combat. Going into any type of battle with an untried weapon is a dangerous idea. 

Likewise, before we talk about how exactly to shape prayers with Scripture, we must make sure to build on a solid foundation, taking time to learn what a text is actually saying before we use it as a prayer request. Ask yourself some questions as you approach a particular verse: 

  • What is going on in the paragraph/chapter/book/testament that this verse is part of?
  • What genre of literature is this? Is it narrative? Poetry? Prophecy? Epistle?
  • What did the human author mean to communicate to his original readers?
  • Is this passage meant merely to describe (report) something that happened or is it intended to prescribe a way of living? 

I know it may sound daunting to answer any of those questions, let alone all of them. But that’s part of abiding in the Word that Jesus mentions. As we spend time with a passage, meditate on it, and interact with other resources about it, we will have a deeper understanding of what the text means. Then after you have taken time to investigate and reflect upon a verse or passage, you will be well-equipped to take that verse to the Father’s throne in prayer. 

Use the Word to Worship God

The Bible is a book all about God. From Genesis to Revelation, the Creator has revealed Himself to us in His Word. He’s also told us through His Son that we ought to begin our prayers with adoration or worship of God (Matt. 6:9). We should take time to humble our hearts in recognition of who God truly is. What better way to do this than with His Word? 

Don’t know where to start? Here are some passages that lend themselves to adoration of the Father: 

Use the Word to Confess Your Sin

Not only can we and should we use the Word to shape our worship, but we also ought to allow it to shape our confession. Perhaps like me, you easily move from adoration to petitioning, neglecting confession of sin altogether. And on days when I do stop to confess a sin, I often make it brief and vague. However, if I linger on a passage that points out fruit that ought to be in my life, I easily see my many shortcomings. Suddenly, my confession becomes robust and thorough. 

Don’t know where to start? Here are some passages that lend themselves to confession of sin: 

Use the Word to Recall God’s Goodness

Each November, we’re encouraged to focus on gratitude for the blessings God has given us. Or maybe you take it a step further and regularly list three things for which you’re thankful. While it’s good and right to be very specific about how God has personally blessed you, Scripture can also help us see other blessings that might not be top of mind. Using God’s Word to recall God’s gracious providence can be a helpful way to prime the pump of gratitude. 

Don’t know where to start? Here are a couple passages that lend themselves to thankfulness for God’s goodness: 

Use the Word to Shape Your Petitions

Now we come back to the prayer list. Whether you’re praying for a cancer patient, a wayward brother, a quick recovery, or a new job, Scripture can help to inform your prayers. This will not only give your prayers definition but it will give you confidence that you’re praying according to God’s will and not your own. 

Don’t know how to get started? Here are some ways you can do this, whether you have one minute or one hour to pray. 

  • Choose one verse to pray for everyone on the list.
    These prayers don’t have to be long, and they don’t have to be totally one-size-fits-all. For instance, say I pick Philippians 4:4 (“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”), my prayers could sound something like this: 
     
    • “I pray for my husband today that he will find reasons to rejoice at work. Help him to find joy in every circumstance, even when things don’t go his way.” 
    • “Father, help my kids to learn how to rejoice in You always. My son has a test today that he’s nervous about. Help him to have joy in You, even if he doesn’t do as well as he hopes. And, if he aces it, may his joy be in You and not in himself.” 
    • “My neighbor has cancer, Lord. Help her to rejoice even in the midst of pain. Give me opportunities to be a blessing to her so that she may see Christ in me and know the joy that only You can give.”
  • Pick a different verse to pray daily for each person on your list.
    As you look at your prayer list, take time to choose a verse that will speak into each person’s situation. For an unsaved loved one, perhaps you’ll choose Ephesians 2:8–9 and ask that they understand the free gift of God available in Christ Jesus. For the sufferer, you might pick Psalm 34:18 and pray that they would know the nearness of God in their season of trial. 

    Or for your child struggling with anxiety, you might pray Psalm 23, asking that they would know the comfort of their Shepherd in every situation, fearing no evil because God is with them. Try writing these verses on a card or jotting them down next to their name on your list. Change them as often as you think is necessary.

  • Pull apart a passage.
    Finally, after spending some time studying God’s Word, you could finish by meditating on that passage through prayer. What does the passage say about God? Who needs to understand that attribute of God today? Did someone disobey God’s Word? Is there a warning for someone on your list to heed? What commands are there to obey? 

Pray for the individuals on the prayer list to faithfully obey in the midst of their situations. You may not go through this entire exercise every day, but perhaps once a week you could devote some time to praying this way. 

Praying Scripture may feel clunky, awkward, and difficult at first, but keep going. Over time, it will become a fruitful and faithful practice with prayers that are deeper, richer, and more in line with God’s heart.

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