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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, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
