There are all sorts of different ways and reasons to pray. God encourages us to “pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests” Ephesians (6:18a NIV). So, whether we’re feeling good, bad, or somewhere in the middle, God wants to hear from us. However, it’s common to not know what to say to God in certain situations or times in our lives. When we’re feeling low or empty, sometimes the words just don’t come. Even when we’re on a spiritual high, it can be hard to find the right words.
In these moments, we know the “Spirit helps us in our weakness.” The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:26-27 (NIV) that, when we do not know what we ought to pray, the Spirit intercedes for us and searches our hearts. One way the Spirit can intercede on our behalf is through Scripture. It’s not uncommon for someone to say, “Wow, that was exactly what I needed to read today,” when they’ve been in God’s Word. The Spirit can reveal things to us through God’s Word, and in the same way, we can use Scripture to find the words for our prayers.
Reasons to pray Scripture
You might initially think it’s strange to take God’s word and pray it back to him. However, Jesus gives us a prayer in scripture to emulate. What is known as The Lord’s Prayer gives us a model for how we can pray. So, praying Scripture is following Jesus’ example. In addition to that, consider these reasons to start incorporating Scripture into your prayers.
- God’s word is our weapon against the evil one’s attacks. In Ephesians 6:17, God’s Word is called the “sword of the Spirit.”
- God’s word equips us for every good work and helps us be complete. (2 Timothy 3:16-17)
- God’s Word gives us life. When he is tempted by the evil one, Jesus quotes Deuteronomy 8:3, saying, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” And Jesus tells his disciples in John 6:63 (NIV), “The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”
How to find Scripture to pray
Now that we’ve discussed the importance of incorporating Scripture into our prayers, how can we actually do it? The Bible is a big book. Where do you even start? Later, we’ll share 10 verses that you can use as a starting point, but here are some tips for identifying and using meaningful Scriptures in your prayers.
- Make a list of the types of topics and situations to find verses that you can use in prayer. Consider things like praise, feelings of lack of faith, or confession.
- Are there any verses or words that you know that immediately come to mind? Start there. You can search online tools like BibleGateway if you aren’t sure what the exact verse is.
- Then, start searching for other verses to give yourself a toolbox of verses to pull from in a variety of situations.
- Choose a way to store them. You could write the verses down on notecards with a thought about when to use them. If you prefer using a physical Bible (rather than an online or app version), put tabs on pages and highlight the specific verse you want to have at the ready. Finally, if you like using your phone to engage with God’s Word, use a note on your phone to keep track of and categorize the verses you want to keep.
How to pray Scripture
You have identified verses to pray. Now, all that’s left is to use them in your prayers. If it feels awkward at first, consider these suggestions.
- Take a verse and personalize it. The Psalms often use pronouns like “I,” so these are easy verses to use in prayer. Also, consider how you can insert the names of other people into these verses to pray for others.
- Read and then pause. Read through a chapter, whether it’s a Psalm or another book, and pause after each verse or after a natural ending point in the verses. Use the verse(s) to inspire and inform your prayer. Spend time thinking about the meaning of what the Scripture is saying, and if you aren’t sure, use a trusted study Bible or authoritative commentary to dig in and get a better understanding.
10 verses to jumpstart using Scripture in your prayer
Like anything in life, getting started is often the hardest part. To get started using Scripture in your prayer, save these 10 verses using the method you’ve chosen above.
1. “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 NIV).
How to use it: Save this verse for when you need help overcoming negative thinking or hurtful speech.
2. “Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” (Isaiah 25:1 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse when you want to praise God and remember the good things he has done in your life.
3. “Answer me when I call to you, my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; have mercy on me and hear my prayer.” (Psalm 4:1 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you are in difficult times and need a listening ear.
4. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8–9 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you need a reminder that faith is a gift from God because of Christ’s sacrifice.
5. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you are confessing your sins before God.
6. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you are in a challenging time in your life and need relief.
7. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you need courage and strength in a certain situation.
8. “For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his wills through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives.” (Colossians 1:9 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you are praying for someone to find salvation in Jesus.
9. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” (Romans 12:14 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you are praying for your enemies or someone you are in conflict with.
10. “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10 NIV)
How to use it: Save this verse for when you are praying for guidance in seeking the will of God.
As you use these Scriptures in your prayers, be encouraged that God hears your prayer, and he will answer you (1 John 5:14-15). If you need additional recommendations for how to pray, check out our prayer guide.
