Proclaiming God’s Word in Prayer

After you have prioritized prayer, prepared your heart to pray, and even planned your place of prayer, have you ever struggled with finding the right words to pray? I have been there too. In these times, God reminds me I can never go wrong in praying His word, because His word can never fail.

Praying Scriptures and Scripture-based prayers is one of the most powerful types of prayers. The power we access in proclaiming God’s word in prayer is because God’s word is all powerful. Matthew 5:18 (NLT) tells us, “I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved.” Also, in Matthew 24:35 (NKJV), we are reminded, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”

God always responds to the authority of His word. When we pray, we are speaking the promises, principles, and precepts of God back to Him in prayer. The Bible provides strategies and solutions to every situation we may encounter in this life. There is no area of life that we cannot find comfort, clarity, and confirmation to navigate using the compass of God’s word.

Key to being able to proclaim God’s word in prayer is reading, studying, and knowing God’s word prior to speaking it back to Him in prayer. When we hide God’s word in our heart, we have something stored up to draw from in times of need. Praying scripture is essential to our prayer life as a believer.

How many people claim that the Word of God takes precedence in their lives, yet they are biblically illiterate? If we are willing to stake a claim that our entire human and eternal existence is based upon the truth of God’s word, then that merits our efforts to familiarize ourselves with the very truth we have identified with as our reason and standard for living. We must daily live the word and apply the word of God. “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12, NIV).

Some practical ways we can apply proclaiming God’s word in prayer include:

Keep a prayer journal with Scriptures God has led you to in praying over circumstances specific to you.
Use a topical index of Scripture references you can quickly access when praying for a specific topic (i.e., healing, finances, etc.).
Unpack one-three verses of Scripture by constructing a written prayer that reflects the truth of those verses for your life.
Read Scripture aloud during your prayer time and allow the Holy Spirit to guide you as you spontaneously pray the word back to God.

As with many spiritual disciplines, prayer works in tandem and overlaps with worship and the study of God’s word. Psalm 138:2 (ESV) says, “I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.” When we live a lifestyle of exalting God’s name and His word, it will result in our ability to keep our thoughts and speech centered on God’s word.

We will find ourselves speaking His word as part of our regular conversation. His word will transcend everything we do and transform our prayer life. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path“ (Psalm 119:105, ESV). Even as we pray, God’s word lights the pathway in what we offer back to Him. Proclaiming God’s word in prayer becomes our joy, privilege, and confident hope that God is always working behind the scenes, attending to our prayers, and moving on our behalf.