Learning to Pray Scripture

A major component of the Yada Yada stories is the praying of scripture. I developed this handout to assist in teaching the women how-to and providing them an opportunity to practice. I begin each meeting with the women sharing the prayers they have written during the week.

LEARNING TO PRAY SCRIPTURE


Prayer based upon biblical scripture rises above our common senses, contacts God and sets His spirituals laws into motion. It is not just saying prayers that get results, but it is spending time with the Father; learning His wisdom, drawing on His strength, being filled with His quietness and basking in His love that brings results in our prayers. Every word in the Bible was inspired by God. The scriptures characterize God's heart.

If a Christian wants to know what God thinks, how He feels or what His will is, read His Word. Praying the scriptures is merely reminding God of what He said. Isaiah 55:10-11(Message) says, "So will the words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them." God's word is a book of His promises and He wants a Christian to take Him at His Word.

Pray the Scriptures

As Christians, we all desire to have an awesome prayer life, one where our prayers go beyond the height of the ceiling of our prayer closets. Richard A. Burr, author of Developing Your Secret Closet of Prayer, states, “One’s spiritual life will never be above the practice of one’s private prayer life.” This is so true. Our ultimate goal is an intimate relationship with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Prayer, along with the other spiritual disciplines, becomes a key to entering the holy of holies. One of the ways we are able to do this is through Scripture praying.
Scripture praying is the practice of using God’s Word as the foundation for shaping our prayers for communion with Him and for intercession for others. It is communicating with Him in His own words. Scripture praying is putting equal emphasis on both the Word and prayer. It is realizing that prayer is a dialogue between our Lord and us.

So, why should we pray Scripture? So many times we do not have the words to adequately express our thoughts, feelings, emotions and His Word allows us to express those in keeping with His heart. Praying Scriptures like the Psalm 51 can effectively express our heart’s cry for forgiveness and healing as a result of sin. When we allow God’s Word to be the vehicle of our prayers, it is capable of declaring deep inner desires and thoughts.

Praying Scripture is not something new, nor is it meant to be complicated. Throughout God’s Word we discover His people praying what God has said to them. Using the 6 “P’s” of Praying Scriptures maybe helpful.

1.Pray as you have your quiet time that God would speak to you through His Word. Listen for Him to do so. Be attentive and open to Him speaking. Prayer is not a monologue, but a dialogue.
2.Personalize the Word as you read it.
3.Ponder the Word. Whenever you receive a word from Him take time to internalize it. Mediate on its personal meaning. As we pray through Scripture, we must observe the context of the passage, interpret it as to what the writer was talking about and not from our viewpoint, and then apply it personally.
4.Pray the received word.
5.Print the received word. Keep a journal to record the personal messages you receive, you will be surprised how often God speaks when we listen.
6.Proclaim the received word. The more you share what God has said the more He will make His message clear.

Examples of Praying and Personalizing Scripture“Lord, I approach your throne of grace with confidence, so that I may receive grace to help me in my time of need.” Hebrew 4:14

“This is the confidence I have in approaching, You, God; that if I ask anything according to Your will, you hear me. And I know if You hear me-whatever I ask-I know I will have what I asked of You.”
I John 5: 14-15

“When I do not know what to pray, I thank you, Father that the Holy Spirit comes to my aid and bears me up in my weakness. I know you search my heart and you know the mind of the Spirit. Thank you for filling the gap for me.” Romans 8:28.29

“Father, this is the day the Lord has made. I rejoice and I am glad in it! I rejoice in You always. And again, I say I rejoice. I delight myself in You, Lord. I am happy because God is my Lord.”
Psalm 118:24 and Philippians 4:4, 3:1

Prayer need: Direction

“Lord, I know you have my life planned out and know what you are doing. You have promised that you will take care of me, and not abandon me, and plan to give me the future that I hope for. I trust that you will keep me whole as I keep my mind set on you.”

Scriptures: Jeremiah 29:11 and Isaiah 26:3






Practice Personalizing ScriptureThe easiest way to practice this skill is to think of something you need to pray about, maybe it is patience. Go to the “Concordance” in the back of your Bible or Google on the Internet, “Bible Scripture on Patience.” Find a scripture that you think fits and personalize it for your situation.


Prayer Need:

Your Prayer:

Scripture(s):