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Contending for the Word Q&A
Scripture: The Fuel for Worship and Prayer
Question: How does Scripture fuel worship and prayer?
Introduction
Today we consider a question that is encouraging and practical, “How does Scripture fuel our worship and prayer?” The Bible is not only meant to inform our minds, but it also ignites our hearts in worship and shapes our prayers, so they align with God’s will in Scripture. When we open the Word, we are invited into deeper fellowship with the Lord that transforms how we praise Him and how we speak to Him.
Scripture Directs Worship
True worship is grounded in God’s Word. Jesus told the Samaritan woman in John 4:24, “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
- Spirit, our worship is empowered by the Holy Spirit.
- Truth, our worship is shaped and guided by God’s revealed Word.
Without Scripture, worship drifts into self-made expressions that reflect our feelings more than God’s glory. With Scripture, we are drawn back to Christ-centered praise that honors the character and work of God. The Word gives content to our worship and teaches us who God is and how He desires to be adored.
Scripture Shapes Prayer
God’s Word not only reveals who He is, it teaches us how to pray. The Psalms give voice to the full range of human experience, praise, lament, confession, and thanksgiving. Jesus also provided the Lord’s Prayer as a model in Matthew 6:9-13.
When our prayers are saturated with Scripture:
- They become God-centered, not self-centered.
- They reflect God’s promises, not merely our desires.
- They cultivate trust and thanksgiving, even in trials.
Praying Scripture keeps us rooted in truth. It reminds us of what God has said and done and helps us to pray confidently in step with His revealed will.
Scripture and the Spirit Work Together
The same Spirit who inspired Scripture also works through it to lift our hearts in worship and prayer. Romans 8:26 reminds us that the Spirit helps us in our weakness when we do not know what to pray. We never come before God alone. We approach Him with His Word in our hands and His Spirit in our hearts. The Spirit uses the Word to stir our affections, deepen our understanding, and strengthen our communion with the Lord.
Conclusion
Scripture fuels worship and prayer by directing our praise toward God in truth, shaping our requests according to His will, and uniting our hearts with the Spirit’s work. If we long for deeper worship and stronger prayer lives, the starting place is simple, open your Bible. The Bible is not only information for the mind. It is fuel for worship and gives the language for prayer.
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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.
