If you want to start praying the scriptures for your life, you might be thinking that it’s too overwhelming! Maybe you don’t know where to start or think your prayer life does not measure up. How can you begin to pray scriptures in the Bible the right way?
It can be tough if you are thinking about all of these things at the same time! Maybe you are comparing your prayer life to that of someone else!
If you think that no one in the 21st Century is studying the Bible and praying to our Lord Christ Jesus, you’d be wrong! People LOVE to talk to God; they just don’t always know how!
That is how this article will help! We’ll explain the benefits of praying the scriptures, how to pray scriptures in the Bible, examples of prayers in the Bible, and much more!
If you are ready to shake up your prayer life, hold on tight because that is exactly what we are going to do!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take. – Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)
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The Benefits of Praying the Scriptures
Praying the scriptures is an easy way to pray.
The Bible has already been written. You don’t need to be a creative writer or an advanced reader to pray the scriptures; it’s all laid out for you in the Bible. Reciting or reading words that you find in the Bible is pretty straightforward and can be simple.
We know that God is always at work for the good of everyone who loves Him. – Romans 8:28 (CEV)
Praying the scriptures is a way to fulfill your God-given purpose.
You might be called to be a “Prayer Warrior.” How does one begin the journey of becoming a prayer warrior? Praying the scriptures and memorizing scriptures are some great ways to begin your path of being a prayer warrior or of fulfilling your spiritual purpose – whatever that is!
Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. – Psalm 37:4 (NIV)
It’s powerful to pray God’s word back to Him.
You are placed in “God’s territory” when you read His word to Him. In fact, you have a chance to see things through His eyes when you read His words back to Him. Get to know the Lord Almighty as you read and study His word – the Bible!
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. – Philippians 4:6 (NKJV)
Enrich your Bible study time by praying over what you are studying.
Maybe you are reading and studying the book of Philippians and come across a verse that really speaks to your heart or your relationship with God. Philippians has quite a few verses that Christians love, so that’s a pretty easy scenario to picture!
For the following verse, you could just pray words like, “I know that I can do all things through You because You give me the strength I need to get through every situation.”
I can do all this through Him, who gives me strength. – Philippians 4:13 (NIV)
God will change you through the Holy Spirit when you pray.
God did not leave us alone when Jesus ascended to Heaven; He left us with the Holy Spirit, who is with us at all times. We just have to believe and trust that the Holy Spirit will guide us when we do not know what to pray for.
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. – Romans 8:26 (NIV)
Praying the scriptures is a great way to offer praise to God.
If you are unsure how to worship and praise God when you are alone, this is a great way! You can just lift up His words to Him to show Him that you revere the great things that He has blessed in the Bible – His all-inspired words!!
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness. – 2 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
How to Pray Scriptures in the Bible – 10 Ways
#1. Read the Scriptures Out Loud.
Sometimes, the best way to communicate with the Lord is out loud. You should just speak (if possible) in an audible voice what you want to say to Him. Act as though you can see Him like He is another person in the room with you (He is!)!
If you personalize the Lord, it will make it easier when you try to open up to Him. Speak the feelings that are on your heart, trust that He will keep your secrets safe, and know that He hears our prayers and takes each one seriously!
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of Him. – 1 John 5:14-15 (NIV)
#2. Pray the Scriptures that Grab Your Attention.
It might be that you find something compelling while you are studying your Bible. Maybe you hear someone else use a Bible verse in a new way. Perhaps you just learned the meaning of a verse that you always thought meant something else!
Whatever is on your heart is what you should be praying about. If you need to ask God to point out verses to you, ask Him! Don’t be afraid to speak up about the things that are weighing heavily on your heart. If David had been shy about this, we would not have most of the Psalms!
I have chosen the way of faithfulness; I have set my heart on Your laws. – Psalm 110:30 (NIV)
#3. Use Different Bible Translations.
As you pray various Bible verses, it is recommended that you find a Bible that you understand and one that is accurate. As a collector of Bibles, I can’t tell you which one is the best version because we really do love so many different ones!
In terms of understanding, I love the Contemporary English Version (CEV), New Living Translation (NLT), and the New International Version (NIV)! However, the NASB and KJV or NKJV tend to be the closest versions to the original translation of Greek or Hebrew.
It’s really a personal preference of what you love the most! Read more about how to build a Bible library, or visit your own public library to investigate the matter further! Also, I do encourage readers on various Bibles in the SOAP Bible study method tutorial.
#4. Pray the Scriptures that are On Your Heart.
Maybe there are some verses that have been speaking to you personally. Perhaps you were unsure what to do with them, but you have had them on your heart for some time now. Praying is the perfect outlet to use for verses like that!
My heart is set on keeping Your decrees to the very end. – Psalm 119:112 (NIV)
#5. Repeat Scriptures.
You can meditate or repeat verses that are near or dear to you or ones that you have come across and want to pray to the Lord. You could even start from any place in the Bible when meditating on scriptures! God just loves to hear His Word read back to Him!!
I will meditate on Your precepts and fix my eyes on Your ways. – Psalm 119:15 (NRSV)
#6. Personalize the Scriptures.
One clever way to begin praying the scriptures is to personalize them with your own name or the name of the person or people whom you are praying for. You don’t have to make it complicated; just substitute the name in the verse for yours or theirs!
Instead of: Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of my sins. Wash me clean from my guilt. Purify me from my sin. – Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT)
Say: Because of Your great compassion, blot out the stain of Sandy’s sins. Wash her clean from her guilt. Purify her from her sin. – Psalm 51:1-2 (NLT)
You can do this with just about any Bible verse! Just adjust it to have your name or someone else’s name, and it works great! This will help your prayer life to evolve to a whole new level!
My eyes stay open through the watches of the night that I may meditate on Your promises. – Psalm 119:148 (NIV)
#7. Write the Scriptures Out.
Doing a Scripture writing plan or writing out Bible verses that speak to you can really revitalize your prayer life! When your hand-and-eye coordination is involved with your thinking, it is that much more meaningful and impactful in your life!
You can create your own scripture writing plan with a Bible reading plan. Just write out the verses assigned for the day, and you’ll have done that Scripture writing plan for the day! It’s actually pretty simple to write out Bible verses!
Alternatively, you could write out the verses you are studying as part of a church Bible study or personal Bible study. You could also just go through the verses in a specific book and begin writing them out as a prayer to the Lord or as a keepsake for your child or children!
I will meditate on Your precepts. – Psalm 119:78 (NIV)
#8. Pray the Book of Psalms.
This method is pretty straightforward; you would just go through the Psalms and pray. You could easily start from the beginning of the book and finish at the end. Likewise, you could pick your favorite Psalms and focus on those (Psalm 23 comes to mind).
Learn more about how to pray the Psalms for inspiration and verses to use! There are also some other methods you can try in that article, which might help you as you experiment with different ways! It never hurts to try new things when it comes to your prayer life!
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. – Psalm 139:23 (NIV)
#9. Ask Questions About the Scriptures.
When you study the Bible, there is nothing wrong with asking questions. It’s actually a smart way to learn, as you will discover new things when you try to answer the questions you ask.
If you are new to the Bible, you might feel a bit unsure of whether it’s okay to ask God questions. Numerous times in the Bible, people have asked questions to God! It’s perfectly normal to have things on your mind and want to ask Him about them! Go ahead!
In prayer, we often think of formal situations rather than personal ones. When you are praying, especially in private, you should get personal with God. Tell Him all about your worries and ask Him any questions that are troubling you!
It’s normal to be vulnerable in prayer, so be sure to ask questions about the Bible and about your life when you are praying. The Lord is there and will hear you. You might not receive an audible answer, but you will be heard. Learn more about how God listens to us!
David was afraid of the Lord that day and said, “How can the ark of the Lord ever come to me?” – 2 Samuel 6:9 (NIV)
#10. Use Prayers from the Bible.
A final way to begin praying the Scriptures is to use prayers found in the Bible. You can use one of the prayers listed here or check out some of the most powerful prayers in the Bible. There are dozens of lists like this online to aid you in finding more examples of prayers in the Bible!
Examples of Prayers in the Bible
Prayer #1 – David’s Prayer of Repentance
Have mercy on me, O God,
according to Your unfailing love;
according to Your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.
– Psalm 51:1-2 (NIV)
Prayer #2 – Solomon’s Prayer of Dedication
Lord, the God of Israel, there is no God like You in Heaven or on Earth—You who keep Your covenant of love with Your servants who continue wholeheartedly in Your way. You have kept Your promise to Your servant David, my father; with Your mouth, You have promised, and with Your hand, You have fulfilled it—as it is today. – 2 Chronicles 6:14-15 (NIV)
Prayer #3 – The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be Your name,
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
on Earth as it is in Heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.
– Matthew 6:9-13 (NIV)
Praying the Scriptures Resources
Praying the Scriptures PDF (Free eBook)
In this free eBook, you will find beautiful scriptures listed for you to pray on various occasions. Grab your copy in the Shop!
https://sharinglifeandlove.com/product/praying-the-scriptures/
Other Prayer Resources
Starting a prayer journal can truly aid you in praying the scriptures! Record your prayers in a simple format – something you can later review to see how God changed your life through prayer. Keep a record of these sacred moments with God to cherish at a later date!
5-Minute Daily Prayer Journal: Reflections and Scripture for a Deeper Faith
In this prayer journal, you can reflect on scripture for an even deeper faith than you have ever experienced before! Just spend 5 minutes a day writing in this prayer journal to grow closer to God!
Praying the Scriptures Bible by Kevin Johnson
This Bible is the first of its kind! It has scripture-specific prayers included in it that will guide you in your prayer life. Gain a new kind of conversation with God through the use of this Bible. The author also has a book, Praying the Scriptures, that may prove to be valuable to you!
Praying the Bible by Donald S. Whitney
This book provides you with the right words to pray what you mean. It is full of hope and encouragement, as well as practical advice that can help you move your prayer life into a whole new ballpark!
Praying the Scriptures by Judson Cornwall
In this prayer book, you will get the right vocabulary to say what is in your heart. Praying the Scriptures provides you with imagery, intelligence, elegance and aids in providing intimacy in prayer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the keys to effective prayer?
The most well-known keys to an effective prayer include supplication, petition, thanksgiving, and adoration – not necessarily in that order. In prayer, we should confess our sins, as well. You might want to create a formula for saying your prayers if you find it helpful!
How does the Bible say we should pray?
In Philippians 4:6, we are advised to tell the Lord what we need when we pray. We are to give Him our worries, and with petition, supplication, and thanksgiving, we are to pray. Depending on the version you check out, that should cover the bases.
What does the Bible actually say about prayer?
The Bible actually says a lot about prayer because it is the chief way we communicate with God. In Mark 11:24, we are encouraged to pray with faith. In 1 Thessalonians 5:17, we are told to pray without ceasing when we do this act of obedience! It’s very important!
How often should you pray?
According to the Bible, we are to pray continuously. While this might not be possible, you can at least pray when you think about it. If you don’t think about it enough during the day, you might set some alarms to go off on your smartphone to remind you to pray!
What does Jesus say about how to pray?
The Lord’s prayer is offered in the examples of prayers in the Bible. The apostles asked Jesus how to pray, and that was His reply. They often wondered the same things that you and I do! In Matthew 6, Jesus also advised people not to be show-offs when praying.
Conclusion
In what ways are you going to start praying the scriptures? Are you excited about igniting your prayer life with the words of the Bible?
Just remember that the Bible is a great resource when it comes to your prayers! You can use it anytime – day or night!
We hope you enjoy the free eBook that goes with this article and explore the other articles on our website! God bless you as you pray the scriptures for your life!
