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Contending for the Word Q&A
Growing in Prayer Through God’s Word
Introduction
Many Christians struggle with prayer, wondering what to say or how to stay focused. The good news is that God has given us His Word not only to guide our worship and life, but also to shape our prayers. When we learn to pray Scripture, we discover that God’s Word brings life, direction, and confidence to our time with Him.
What It Means to Pray Scripture
Praying Scripture means taking God’s Word and turning it back to Him in prayer. Rather than relying only on our own words, we allow the words of Scripture to form our praise, confession, thanksgiving, and requests. In this way, our prayers align more closely with God’s will and character. The Bible becomes the vocabulary of our communion with God and trains our hearts to desire what He desires.
Why Pray Scripture
- It keeps prayer God centered, we are praying His truth, not merely our feelings.
- It guards us from wandering, Scripture keeps our minds and hearts focused on what matters most.
- It builds confidence, when we pray God’s Word, we know we are praying according to His will (1 John 5:14).
How to Pray Scripture Practically
- Start with the Psalms. Read a verse, then pray it back to God.
Example: Psalm 23:1, “The Lord is my shepherd,” → “Lord, thank You for being my shepherd, guide me today.” - Use the Lord’s Prayer. Expand each line into your own words of praise, confession, dependence, and petition.
- Pray through a passage. As you read, pause at key phrases and turn them into praise, confession, or petition.
- Insert names. Pray verses for people you love, for your church, and for your community.
Example: Ephesians 3:16–17, “Lord, strengthen [name] with power in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in [name]’s heart through faith.”
Conclusion
Praying Scripture is powerful because it grounds our prayers in truth and directs our hearts toward God’s purposes. It is simple, read, reflect, and respond. If you want to grow in prayer, open your Bible. Pray God’s promises, commands, and praises back to Him, and watch how His Word transforms both your heart and your prayer life.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah. He is a writer, editor, and speaker living in beautiful Southern Oregon. Dave is a lover of Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology. He serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries, the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine, the Host and Producer of Equipping You in Grace Podcast, and is a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word. He is the author of The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024). You can find him on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube, or read his newsletter. Dave loves to spend time with his wife, going to movies, eating at a nice restaurant, or going out for a round of golf with a good friend. He is also a voracious reader, in particular of Reformed theology, and the Puritans. You will often find him when he’s not busy with ministry reading a pile of the latest books from a wide variety of Christian publishers. Dave received his M.A.R. and M.Div through Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
