We are living in some strange and surreal times. They can be wrought with frustration and fear. But, in the midst of so much change, God remains unchanging. He remains good. He remains in control.
When we start to feel stressed and overwhelmed, we can hit the pause button and pray. Prayer not only gives us a moment to breath, but it helps us center our thoughts on Him, and align our emotions and attitudes with His truth.
But what if we just don’t know what to pray? What if we can’t put our thoughts and emotions into words?
We know the feeling. Sometimes it can be difficult to express what we need. God has us covered. He gave us His Word and, not only is it a way to know Him deeper, it is a resource we can use in our prayer lives. We can pray Scripture!
Here are some verses to get you started…
Philippians 1:6 “…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”
Psalm 37:23-24 “The LORD makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him; though he may stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with his hand.”
Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 6:9-13 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.”
James 1:5 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Psalm 91:1-4 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his pinions, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.”
Psalm 103:1-5 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.”
God honors his Word. Simply taking His Word and offering it back to Him in prayer can be a great way to deepen that time with Him. Take the verses we’ve listed, or find ones that speak to where you are and what you need or want to say, and turn them into prayers and worship.
If you’d like to dive deeper into using Scripture in your prayer life you can read this article from The Gospel Coalition or this one from Bible Gateway.