Praying scripture means that we apply a truth of scripture directly to ourselves or another person in prayer. To do this it’s helpful to have a list of scriptures by topic. These can be found in a concordance in the back of many Bibles, or a basic list can be requested from CTK. Whether you are looking for a verse that applies to your situation or someone else’s, read through the list of biblical truths, look up the verse, and read the section it’s part of to get a sense of its context. As you then read the specific verse again, personalize it.
For example:
John 1:12 says “to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” So, for another person you might pray…. "Lord Jesus, thank you that Sarah has received you and believes in you. The Bible says this means that she has been given the right to be your daughter. What a privilege Lord! Thanks again!"
When we pray scripture, we pray God’s inspired, anointed word back to him. The practice of praying God’s word back to Him has two advantages: it is powerful, and it is safe. It’s pretty hard to go wrong praying God’s word back to Him. But we must find an appropriate text. Rather than picking a verse at random or looking for a verse to prove your point or confirm a decision you’ve already made, we need to familiarize ourselves with the Bible and understand its overarching themes: God’s holiness, his redemption, his tender mercy, and his unfailing love.
Another example might be:
If you are anxious about something you might find the verse in Philippians 4:6-7 that says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
So you might pray something like this:
Heavenly Father, your Word promises that I don’t have to be anxious; instead I can pray to you. So, Lord I’m asking that you would hear me now, calm my fears, and remind me that you are near. I ask that your peace that passes all understanding would come into my heart and mind. Holy Spirit, guard my heart and mind from the anxious thoughts and self-doubt that I am struggling with. Be my stability and my confidence. Thank you, Jesus.
Other ideas include:
- Personalizing a biblical passage – that is, putting it in the first person (changing "you" to "me"). You might try Psalm 91, Psalm 40, Psalm 5 or Psalm 23.
- Applying one of Jesus’ promises to your life – For example, Romans 8:1 could be restated, “there is now no condemnation for me because I am in Christ Jesus. Because through Him, the Spirit who gives life has set me free from sin and death.” Or Colossians 2:10 could be prayed, “Thank you God that in Christ I have been brought to fullness and that Jesus is the head over every power and authority.”