I struggle with prayer. I just do. Up until I started prayer journaling my prayer life was severely lacking. Prayer journaling has been an incredible blessing to my prayer life. I have gone from a prayer weakling to a prayer lover. With my prayer journal in hand, my prayers are confident and heart felt.
But there is another form of prayer that I have found to be so beneficial to me: praying the Word.
Hebrews 4:12 says this: “For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Isaiah 55:11 says this: “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”
I have always viewed those verses as more for my devotion time in the Word, but I think they can be applied to praying the Word as well! Biblical people had feelings, fears, and struggles just the same as we do! I believe God handcrafted the Bible to not only teach us, but also to help us realize that the people of times past were just like us. We don’t always have to form our own Words, we can use the Words of those in the Bible. Here are a few ways we can pray scripture:
- Claim God’s promises by praying them back to God. A great example of this based on Isaiah 43:1 is: Oh Lord, You created me, You formed me! I don’t have to fear because You have redeemed me! Thank You for this great gift, thank You for calling me Yours.
- Express your feelings based on a Biblical Person’s heart cry: Why are my feelings so downcast? Where are you God? Help me to hope in You. Help me to continually praise You even though I feel so down, for You are my health and strength. Based on Psalm 42.
- Confessional Prayer: Wow, Psalm 51 is such a beautiful picture of confession. I could never even come close to saying it that good. I pray through this one when I feel convicted. When you pray through this one, let shame and guilt fall right off of you. God has this! Come to Him with a broken heart and trust in His forgiveness!
- Prayer of Praise/Thanksgiving: Do you need a good prayer of praise? Go read through 1 Chronicles 29:10-18 it is one of my favorites!
These are just a few examples of many ways you can pray back scripture. You can simply insert your name, add in details of your life as you are praying, or simply read it word for word in prayer. If you come across scripture that really resonates with you, make a note to pray it as well! There is incredible power in praying scripture! Use it as a launching pad for a very real, powerful, and intimate prayer with your Father in Heaven!
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