PRAYING SCRIPTURES (1)

“Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ASK anything ACCORDING to HIS WILL, He hears us” – 1 John 5:14

Prevailing in Prayer by the Word is mainly about praying according to God’s Will – PRAYING SCRIPTURES: “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, 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 the petitions that we have asked of Him” (1 Jh.5: 14-15). Praying the scriptures ensures that God hears our prayers. The Word of God is His Will. Praying according to God’s Will is praying in alignment with His Word – praying God’s Word back to Him!

Praying scripture implies taking a passage, verse, or concept in scripture and using it for specific prayers relating to personal, family, church, organisational, national, or global affairs. Instead of forming a prayer from our own heart, mind, or imagination, we choose to pray what’s already written in the Word of God. The most effective prayers come right from God’s word; and the Holy Spirit often shows us what we should be praying for through the Word. For some, praying the scriptures might begin fortuitously. As we read a passage in scripture, we may feel deeply encouraged or convicted, and know that we don’t just want to read it and move on with life; we want it to be true for us. So, we start praying the words we read in scripture and God works through our prayers, transforming our lives. 

Praying the Scriptures will take our prayer life to a new level. It’s quite beneficial for some reasons. First, it prevents us from praying amiss since it comes directly from God’s word: “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss” (Jam.4:3a). Next, it ensures that God hears and answers our prayers (vv.14-15). It also helps us to live biblically-based lives. The world we live in is opposed to God’s Will and it’s easy to believe in the world’s ways. When we remain in God’s Word by praying it daily, our hearts become more aligned with His Heart. Instead of being led astray by worldly philosophies, we begin to live like God intended us to: “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom.12:2).

When we begin to realize we don’t even know how or what to pray for, Scripture offers us the wisdom and the words we seek. Tim Keller says that prayer is “helplessness accepted and given to God.” When we see our own weakness so vividly or feel powerless against the harsh world, the wise step is to turn to God in prayer, by laying hold on His Word – the Word of Life (Phi.2:16). Learning to pray Scripture is a priceless spiritual gift, but also a skill that can be cultivated under the tutelage of the Holy Spirit. God tells us to pray in the Spirit, and Scripture is inspired by the Holy Spirit Himself (Eph.6:18; 2Tim.3:16). If we are truly committed to praying according to His will, the best place to start to find His Will is in His Word. God has promised that if we pray according to His Will, we will receive what we’ve prayed for.

We can choose to engage in praying scripture as we read and meditate in God’s Word each morning. As we read a passage that stands out, we’ll stop and pray it. We can choose to keep a designated list of passages to pray regularly or pray as we read the Bible daily. It’s better to be flexible about this rather than turn it into another lifeless routine. Praying scriptures is a veritable tool that could help us draw closer to God. Rather than worry about doing it perfectly, the important thing is to get started! This is the in-built model for Capstone Capsule – each daily devotional ends with a Scripture-based prayer. May we receive greater Grace to prevail through Praying Scriptures.