Praying the Scriptures
First of all, thank you for following along as we are encouraged to pray for each other. Second, we spoke about praying the names of God for ourselves and for others as we remember and value of the many facets of God’s attributes and love for us. Third, we will explore praying the Scriptures for ourselves and for others as we pray God’s powerful words with our names and the names of others inserted into the verses.
God’s word never returns to Him without effect. When we speak God’s words in prayer, He hears and He moves. What we are doing is telling God what He tells us to tell Him. In intercession, we can use the prayers that already exist in the Bible. The prayers of Jesus, Paul, and Peter are in the Scripture for our benefit!
These apostolic prayers are God-centered. They all address God directly. These prayers also are positive in that they ask God to release god qualities rather than asking Him to remove negative qualities. They focus on the impartation of something positive. A good example of this is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
How powerful and how easy is it to insert a name into this passage for intercession!
Another way to intercede for others using the Scriptures is by inserting peoples’ names into the Psalms. Psalm 91 is a great way to intercede for safety and God’s presence for our loved ones:
Psalm 91 NIV
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
The possibilities are many. The leading of the Lord will show you how to pray for yourself and others using Scripture. He wants us to delight in these prayers, knowing we are being led by Him as we pray. We know that as we speak back His words to Him, He hears and He moves. What a great benefit of being a Christ follower!
Q: Which of your loved ones would benefit from Scriptures being prayed over them? What Scriptures would be timely and helpful?
Q: How can you benefit by praying Scriptures over yourself? What Scriptures are you led to pray?
Prayer: Father, we thank You that Your word is available to us to pray. You always make a way as You draw us close to You by Your word and Your Spirit. Please move as we pray for ourselves and for others. We ask for divine protection, answered prayer, kingdom advancement, and greater relationship with You, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
God’s word never returns to Him without effect. When we speak God’s words in prayer, He hears and He moves. What we are doing is telling God what He tells us to tell Him. In intercession, we can use the prayers that already exist in the Bible. The prayers of Jesus, Paul, and Peter are in the Scripture for our benefit!
These apostolic prayers are God-centered. They all address God directly. These prayers also are positive in that they ask God to release god qualities rather than asking Him to remove negative qualities. They focus on the impartation of something positive. A good example of this is Paul’s letter to the Ephesians:
Ephesians 3:14-19 NIV
A Prayer for the Ephesians
14 For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
How powerful and how easy is it to insert a name into this passage for intercession!
Another way to intercede for others using the Scriptures is by inserting peoples’ names into the Psalms. Psalm 91 is a great way to intercede for safety and God’s presence for our loved ones:
Psalm 91 NIV
1 Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
3 Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,”
and you make the Most High your dwelling,
10 no harm will overtake you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call on me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”
The possibilities are many. The leading of the Lord will show you how to pray for yourself and others using Scripture. He wants us to delight in these prayers, knowing we are being led by Him as we pray. We know that as we speak back His words to Him, He hears and He moves. What a great benefit of being a Christ follower!
Q: Which of your loved ones would benefit from Scriptures being prayed over them? What Scriptures would be timely and helpful?
Q: How can you benefit by praying Scriptures over yourself? What Scriptures are you led to pray?
Prayer: Father, we thank You that Your word is available to us to pray. You always make a way as You draw us close to You by Your word and Your Spirit. Please move as we pray for ourselves and for others. We ask for divine protection, answered prayer, kingdom advancement, and greater relationship with You, in the name of Jesus. Amen.