DAY 17: PRAY USING SCRIPTURE

In the Christian life there is a beautiful and healthy balance between the Word of God and prayer. In prayer we speak to God. In Bible study God speaks to us. We are to store up God’s Word in our hearts in order that we might know His will.

It’s impossible to know what God wants us to do until we first know what God has said in His Word. Because so much of the will of God has been revealed in the Bible, we must invest time reading and meditating upon the Word of God. And as we do, we’ll discover deeper aspects of God’s will—promises we’ve never before relied on, avenues we’ve never journeyed along, open doors we’ve never seen. Psalm 119:105 calls God’s Word “a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path.”

While it may not be feasible to study God’s Word all day long, we can reflect on what we have read as we go about our day. When we do so, God will bring to remembrance the promises we need. God has no favorites, but certainly, He does have friends. And by revealing Himself in new ways to faithful students of His Word, He shares intimate secrets with those friends. God loves it when we call upon Him using His own Word. He has blessed His Word not only when it is preached and proclaimed, but also when it is prayed. The most effective prayer is one filled with God’s Word.

Over the years I have learned how to pray the Scriptures by making them personal. For example, Proverbs 3:5–6 is a passage that I’ve loved through the years: “Trust the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.”

Here is how I would pray that verse: ”Lord, I trust You with all my heart. Help me not to lean on my own understanding. I’m going to acknowledge You in all my ways. And I know that You, Lord, will direct my path.” That’s praying the Scriptures. That’s making a Scripture promise your own promise.

If you need God to come through in a powerful way to meet a need in your life, pray Philippians 4:19 like this: “Lord, I know that You are my God and that You will supply my every need according to Your riches in glory in Jesus Christ.”