PRAYING SCRIPTURE
The Word of God is one of the most valuable tools we have to build a dynamic daily prayer life. It brings power, truth, and encouragement to our prayer time.
Let’s begin with King David’s Psalm 23. Take a moment to read it, and then use the prayer below as a way to use the psalm to have a conversation with God.
SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for His name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely Your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
PSALM 23
PRAYER:
“God, You are my Provider, and I know You will take care of me. Thank You for guiding me to places of rest. You are my source of energy and passion. You keep me going and lead me toward a life of purpose and freedom. I know that even when I experience my darkest seasons of difficulty and challenge, I have nothing to be afraid of because You are with me. Your presence and power are a constant comfort to me. I know that You are preparing the way for me and that my enemies cannot touch me because You are taking care of me. I know that You have blessed me, and I thank You for choosing me and anointing me with purpose. Your blessings are so much more than I could ask for. I know that You are good, God, and that You are with me all the days of my life. You have chosen me, and I have chosen You, and that means I will be with You, in Your presence, forever.”
In the following section, we will use several Scriptures and claim their promises through prayer. You can make this as personal as you like. You will find the most benefit when you pray the Scriptures that God is showing you in His Word and that are connecting with you personally in your current season of life.
SCRIPTURE:
Come near to God and He will come near to you.
JAMES 4:8
PRAYER:
“Heavenly Father, You have promised that if I draw near to You, You will draw near to me. I need more of Your presence today, and I am drawing near to You through prayer, worship, and reading Your Word. I open my heart to You and ask You to be near to me and change me to be more like You.”
SCRIPTURE:
Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and
know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
PSALM 139:23-24
PRAYER:
“Father God, I ask You to search my heart. If You find anything in me that is offensive, please show me and help me remove it from my life. Lead me to live a life that draws people to You. Help me live my life on earth in a way that impacts eternity.”
SCRIPTURE:
But seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
MATTHEW 6:33
PRAYER:
“Your Word tells me that if I seek first Your Kingdom and Your righteousness, You will lead me to a life of blessing, purpose, and freedom. I am Yours today, God, and I give this day to You. Help me to focus on Your priorities first, sharing Your love and making Your Name known.
I know that by focusing on You rather than myself, I will receive joy and peace.”
SCRIPTURE:
Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.
JAMES 4:10
PRAYER:
“God, You have promised that if I humble myself before You, You will lift me up. I recognize today that I cannot succeed on my own, and I need You in every moment. I humble myself before You, and I ask You to work in and through me today. My time, efforts, thoughts, and words are Yours today (name specific parts of your day and give them to God). Use me for Your purposes, Lord.
I trust that You will be with me and lift me up.”
SCRIPTURE:
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
2 TIMOTHY 1:7
PRAYER:
“Father, I know You have not given me a spirit of fear or timidity, but one of power, love, and self-discipline. When my mind feels out of control, I pray that You will renew my spirit and let power, love, and self-discipline fill me. Help me to look more like You every day. I declare that anything that is not of You has to leave me in Jesus’ mighty Name. I proclaim that I do not have a spirit of fear, but I have a sound and healthy mind.”
SCRIPTURE:
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.
ROMANS 8:28
PRAYER:
“God, You promise me in Your Word that in all
things You work for my good. Right now, there are circumstances in my life that don’t feel good and that I can’t see an ounce of good in (talk to God about the specific situations that are causing you difficulty or pain). Even though this is how I feel, I choose to believe
Your truth over my feelings. When you say You will work in all things for my good, I believe You. Even in situations that seem hopeless, I know You are working on my behalf and that You want more for me than I could ever want for myself. Thank You for having a purpose for me and for working all my life circumstances for good.”
SCRIPTURE:
Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.
PSALM 62:8
PRAYER:
“Father, in Your Word You invite me to pour out my heart to You. You are my refuge, and I know that anything I think, feel, or do is ok to bring to You. Knowing that You are a safe place for me, I come to You and give You everything on my heart (talk to God about the specific things that are on your heart today). From what is worrying me to what is delighting me, what I hope for to what I’m afraid of, I bring it all to You because I know I can trust You. Help me and guide me in every area, in Jesus’ Name.”
SCRIPTURE:
The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of His bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands.
DEUTERONOMY 28:12
PRAYER:
“Lord, I believe You have everything I need and You want to bless me. You tell me in Your Word that You will open the heavens to bless the work I do. I know that without You, I can do nothing. I ask that You will open the heavens and pour out Your blessings and power over me.I give my work and my efforts to You and I ask You for favor and blessing in anything my hands touch (surrender specific efforts to Him). May it be for Your glory alone so that others may see Your power and goodness at work.”
SCRIPTURE:
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
ROMANS 8:38-39
PRAYER:
“God, I am in awe of Your love for me. You are so great, and I am so small, yet You love me fully. I remind my soul today that nothing can separate me from Your love—I am so grateful! There is nothing I can do to win or lose Your love; You love me without condition. Because I know nothing on earth, in time or space, or anything in existence can separate me from Your love, I will live confidently and peacefully knowing I have always been and will always be fully loved by You.”
SCRIPTURE:
“No weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord.
ISAIAH 54:17
PRAYER:
“Lord, I know that no weapon raised against me will succeed because I am Your child. I feel pressure in my life right now, and sometimes I feel as though life will overcome me (talk to God about the concerns weighing on you). Even though I feel this way, in faith, I claim Your promise that no weapon can overcome me and that any accusations that come against me will be silenced. This truth is verified by Your love and saving power in my life.”
SCRIPTURE:
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.
PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7
PRAYER:
“Father, my heart feels anxious (tell God what is giving you anxiety). I don’t like this feeling, but I’m thankful I can come to You and receive peace. You invite me to replace my anxiety with prayer, and even though my mind and heart are racing, I’m coming to You knowing that You provide healing and calm for my soul. Thank You for giving me breath and life. I thank You that I am fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. I lay down all worries, all my physical and mental anxiety, and any attempt at trying to control it all (tell Him the things you are laying down right now). I surrender it all to You. I need You. I need Your peace that transcends my human understanding. Even if things are unstable around me, I pray that Your peace will be evident in my heart and my life. Guard my heart and mind, God. I trust that You are faithful, and I receive Your peace in my life today.”
SCRIPTURE:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares
the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you
will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.”
JEREMIAH 29:11-13
PRAYER:
“My God, I try to make so many plans for my life, but I know Your plans for me are best. You tell me that You have plans for me to prosper and have hope and a future. Thank You for loving me enough to have a plan for my life. You have promised me that when I call on You, You will listen to me. Thank You for listening when I pray.
I am confident knowing that I serve a God who cares about my life. I want to find You every day, and You say that if I seek You with all my heart, I will find You. Thank You for showing me the way to You. I lay my plans down at Your feet and receive Your plans for me (mention your plans and lay them down before God).
I know that You see the big picture and You know what isbetterformethanIdo.ItrustYou,andIaskYouto guide me toward Your plans.”
SCRIPTURE:
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
HEBREWS 13:5
PRAYER:
“Father, I am so comforted by the fact that You will never leave me. You are always with me, and I am safe withYou.As I go through my life and take on each new situation, I’m comforted by knowing I’m not alone because You are by my side. Help me feel Your presence.
When I feel uncertain or afraid, I pray You will comfort me through Your Holy Spirit and remind me that I am never alone because You, the Almighty God, have promised to always be with me.”
SCRIPTURE:
Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,
and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.
MATTHEW 11:28-30
PRAYER:
“Lord Jesus, I am so tired and worn out (tell God the areas that you’re tired and weary). I feel exhausted mentally and physically. Life feels hard, and I feel like I can’t keep up my current pace. You invite me to come to
You when I am weary, and I fall at Your feet desperate for rest, peace, and perspective. Show me where I am trying to do things on my own. Show me where I need to rest instead of strive. Teach me Your ways. Show me how to walk in gentleness, humility, and rest. I know
Your ways are higher than my ways, and I pray that You will transform my heart and mind to be more like You.”
SCRIPTURE:
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.”
PSALM 91:1-2
PRAYER:
“God, I claim that I dwell in Your shelter, the Most High God, and I rest in Your shadow, the Almighty One. I claim that You alone are my refuge and fortress. You are my God and I trust You. When I face anything that brings me uncertainty or fear (confess these things to Him), I know that I can come to You as my safe place. Thank You for Your strength and protection in my life.”
SCRIPTURE:
The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
PSALM 145:13-14
PRAYER:
“Almighty God, as I claim the promises in Your Word through my prayer time, I praise You for Your character. Trustworthy, faithful—that is Who You are. I thank You that I can trust You to be faithful to me.
I know that when I come to You with humility and a surrendered heart that You will lift me up.”