Praying scripture is a powerful way to connect with God using His written word. When we pray scripture, we can be confident we are praying in alignment with God’s will. Let’s start by unpacking what Jesus teaches us about prayer and then look at some examples of praying scripture.
What is prayer
Prayer is simply a way to connect with God. Jesus gives us guidance on prayer in Matthew 6:5-13. To summarize it, Jesus says not to pray for attention from others. God sees you praying in your secret place. He also says there’s no need to use a lot of words. Your Father already knows the things you need.
When I first read that, I found it so freeing. You don’t have to say a certain thing or sound a certain way for God to hear you. He just wants you to come to Him.
This section of scripture is also where Jesus teaches us the Lord’s prayer. We often recite it from memory but haven’t take the time to really study it, so let’s break it down.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven, your name be honored as holy.
First, Jesus teaches us to address God with reverence and closeness. God is our Father and loves us so much. He is also God of the universe and is worthy of our praise. Praising God for who He is is a great way to start every prayer.
Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
Jesus teaches us to pray that God’s will will be done on earth. God’s will can be done without our prayer, but God invites us to participate with Him and see all that He’s doing. Praying aligns our hearts to His will and opens our eyes to what He is doing. It is really a gift to witness His work on earth.
Give us today our daily bread.
Jesus reminds us that God cares about the details of our lives. He wants us to come before Him with our daily needs. Nothing that happens during our day is too big or too small for God. He wants to be at the center of every detail.
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.
We know from scripture that forgiveness is critical in our walk with the Lord. Whether it’s a small offense or a significant hurt, God calls us to forgive the offender. He will handle any judgement or justice that is necessary. He is the Righteous Judge. We have to choose to forgive them and cancel any debt we feel they owe us (for example, an apology).
And do not bring us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.
Jesus teaches us how to pray for the temptations that will come before us. The reality is we live in a world full of sin. During the day we will be tempted by our flesh or Satan in some way. Praying this verse is great preparation for our hearts. For more detail on temptation, check out James 1:13-15.
Praying scripture
Praying scripture is a skill I’ve just learned in the last few years. As I already mentioned, it’s really powerful because we are praying fully aligned to God’s will. Praying scripture is less complicated than it sounds. You simply take the words in a bible verse and turn it into a prayer. I think it makes more sense to see it so here are some examples:
Prayer for anxiousness
Lord, help me to not worry about [INSERT WORRIES]. I know these things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but you already know all my needs. Help me to seek the Kingdom of God above all else and live righteously. Thank you that you will give me everything I need. I choose not to worry about tomorrow. (Matthew 6:31-34)
Prayer for wisdom
Lord, help me to trust in you with all my heart and not depend on my own understanding. Please reveal to me your will in all I do and show me which path to take. (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Prayer for patience
Lord, help me be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. I know human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. (James 1:19-20)
Prayer for weariness
Lord, help me to not get tired of doing good, for I know I will reap at the proper time if I don’t give up. Therefore, as I have opportunity help me work for the good of all, especially for those who belong to the household of faith. (Galatians 6:9-10)
Prayer for strength
Thank you, Lord, that I can do everything through you, who gives me strength. (Philippians 4:13)
Prayer for hope
Father, help me not to look at the troubles I can see now, but fix my gaze on things that cannot be seen. I know that the things I see now will soon be gone, but the things I cannot see will last forever. (2 Corinthians 4:18)
Prayer for marriage
Lord, help me to be patient and kind. Help me to not envy, boast, or be arrogant. Help me to not be rude, self-seeking, or irritable, and to not keep a record of wrongs. Help me to find no joy in unrighteousness but rejoice in the truth. Help me to bear all things, believe all things, hope all things, and endure all things. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
Prayer for freedom
Thank you, God, for setting me free through Christ. Help me to stand firm and not submit again to a yoke of slavery. (Galatians 5:1)
Prayer of gratitude
Lord, I enter your gates with thanksgiving. I go into your courts with praise. I give thanks to you and praise your name. For you are good. Your unfailing love continues forever, and your faithfulness continues to each generation. (Psalm 100:4-5)
Prayer of praise
Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! You have covered the heavens with your majesty. From the mouths of infants and nursing babies, you have established a stronghold on account of your adversaries in order to silence the enemy and the avenger.
When I observe your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars which you set in place, what is a human being that you remember him, a son of man that you look after him? You made him little less than God and crowned him with glory and honor. You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet: all the sheep and oxen, as well as the animals in the wild, the birds of the sky, and the fish of the sea that pass through the currents of the seas. Lord, our Lord, how magnificent is your name throughout the earth! (Psalm 8)
Prayer of repentance
Thank you, God, that you have wiped out my wrongdoings like a thick cloud and my sins like a heavy mist. Let me return to you. Thank you that you have redeemed me. (Isaiah 44:22)
Prayer for your husband
How happy is [NAME] because he does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, [NAME’s] delight is in the Lord’s instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. [NAME] is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever [NAME] does prospers. (Psalm 1:1-3)
Prayer for your children
Help me direct [NAMES] onto the right path, so when they are older, they will not leave it. (Proverbs 22:6)
Prayer to know God
I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, would give [NAME] the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him. I pray that the eyes of [NAME’s] heart would be enlightened so that [SHE/HE] may know what is the hope of his calling, what is the wealth of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the mighty working of his strength. (Ephesians 1:17-19)
Why praying scripture matters for moms
As moms, we often have a lot of things running through our minds. In order for us to keep moving forward in a way that honors God, our husbands, and our children, we have to be connecting with God regularly. Or if you’re anything like me, you need to be connecting with Him constantly. Prayer is one way to connect with Him.
The world and our families are regularly throwing us curve balls. If you ever have the thought, “Is this God’s will for me? My marriage? My kids?” praying scripture is incredibly helpful. When you pray scripture over yourself and your family, you are praying God’s will for your life and theirs.
God’s word is not only a comprehensive guide for living out God’s best for our lives, it’s also a vault of pre-written prayers to help us connect with the Father. Consider posting scripture prayers around your house where you do daily tasks, like bathrooms or the kitchen, so you have reminders to connect with Him. I promise this will be fruitful time.
Praying scripture challenge
Choose a verse(s) to pray every day for 30 days! You can choose one of the example prayers above, your own scripture, or a combination of the two. If you’re not sure where to find scripture on a specific topic, try googling it. For example, google “scripture on hope” or whatever the topic is you’re looking for.
Below is the scripture I’m going to pray. Feel free to use it as an example and swap out scripture applicable to you in this season. Yours doesn’t have to be as long as mine. Remember, Matthew 6 says it’s not about having a lot of words.
My prayer
In order, this prayer is a combination of Psalm 9:1-2, 5:7-8, 19:12-14, Romans 12:1-2, Psalm 1:1-3, Proverbs 22:6, and Psalm 16:5-6.
I will thank you Lord with all my heart; I will declare all your wondrous works. I will rejoice and boast about you; I will sing about your name, Most High.
I enter your house by the abundance of your faithful love; I bow down toward your holy temple in reverential awe of you. Lord, lead me in your righteousness because of my adversaries; make your way straight before me.
Help me perceive my unintentional sins. Cleanse me from my hidden faults. Keep me, your servant, from willful sins; do not let them rule me. I desire to be blameless and cleansed from blatant rebellion. May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.
In view of your mercies, help me to present my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You; let this be my true worship. Help me not be conformed to this age, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, so that I may discern what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
How happy is Alex because he does not walk in the advice of the wicked or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers! Instead, Alex’s delight is in your instruction, and he meditates on it day and night. Alex is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever Alex does prospers.
Help me direct Marlowe onto the right path, so when she is older, she will not leave it.
Lord, you are my portion and my cup of blessing; you hold my future. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
In Jesus’ holy and mighty name I pray, amen.
Wondering about how to know God? Check out the gospel message.
I would love to be praying for you! Please let me know how I can be praying here.