Praying the Bible

1. Prayer Boredom Stems from Method, Not Faith

If you are indwelled by the Holy Spirit—if you are born again—then the problem is not you; it is your method.

Universal Struggle. Many Christians experience boredom and mind-wandering during prayer, often leading to feelings of inadequacy. This isn't a sign of weak faith, but rather a common issue stemming from repetitive prayer habits. The problem isn't that we pray about the same things, but that we say the same old things about them. This creates a sense of monotony, making prayer feel like a chore rather than a joyful communion with God.

Spirit-led desire. The Holy Spirit creates a genuine desire for prayer in believers, a longing to connect with God. This desire is often thwarted by the lack of variety and engagement in our prayer practices. The Spirit prompts us to cry "Abba! Father!" indicating a deep, innate yearning for communication with God. This yearning is present in all believers, regardless of age or experience.

Method is the key. The issue isn't a lack of love for God or a lack of concern for the things we pray about. Instead, the problem lies in the method we use. When we rely on the same old phrases and patterns, our minds naturally wander, and prayer becomes a tedious routine. The solution is not to give up on prayer, but to change our approach.

2. Praying Scripture: A Simple, Powerful Solution

When you pray, pray through a passage of Scripture, particularly a psalm.

Simple and accessible. The solution to prayer boredom is surprisingly simple: pray through a passage of Scripture, especially a psalm. This method is accessible to all Christians, regardless of their background or education. It doesn't require special skills or knowledge, just a willingness to engage with God's Word.

God's words, our prayers. By praying through Scripture, we are taking words that originated in the heart and mind of God and circulating them through our heart and mind back to God. This transforms our prayers from a monologue into a dialogue, where God's words become the wings of our prayers. It's a way of talking to God in his language.

Variety and engagement. This method ensures that our prayers are never the same, as each passage of Scripture offers new insights and prompts new thoughts. It keeps our minds engaged and prevents the monotony of repetitive prayer. It also allows us to pray about the same things, but in fresh and different ways.

3. The Psalms: God's Words for Our Prayers

The Psalms: they are designed to be prayed.

Inspired songbook. The book of Psalms was originally the songbook of Israel, inspired by God for the purpose of being sung to him. God gave us the Psalms so that we would give the Psalms back to God. This makes them uniquely suited for prayer, as they express a wide range of human emotions and experiences.

God's language. The Psalms provide us with the very words God wants us to use in our prayers. They are not just human expressions, but divinely inspired praises that reflect the yearnings of the Holy Spirit within us. By praying the Psalms, we are returning to God words that he expressly inspired for us to speak and sing to him.

"Psalms of the Day". A systematic approach called "Psalms of the Day" helps us avoid random searching and ensures we encounter all 150 psalms. This method involves scanning five specific psalms each day and choosing one to pray through. It provides direction and momentum, making it easier to engage with Scripture in prayer.

4. Praying Beyond Psalms: Letters and Narratives

Open the Bible, start reading it, and pause at every verse and turn it into a prayer.

New Testament letters. The New Testament letters are another rich resource for prayer, often containing prayers of the apostle Paul that we can pray verbatim. Most of the content of these letters is easily personalized in prayer, requiring only a little transition. Every line in a New Testament letter suggests something to pray about.

Narrative passages. While narrative passages require a different approach, they can also be used effectively in prayer. Instead of focusing on individual verses, we should look at the big ideas and broad brushstrokes of the story. This allows us to pray about the themes and lessons of the narrative.

Flexibility in approach. The key is to turn every thought Godward as we read the passage, even if the thought has nothing to do with the text. This doesn't mean we should misinterpret the Bible, but rather that we should use the language of the text to speak to God about whatever comes to mind. The focus is on God through prayer; our glance is at the Bible.

5. Transformation Requires Action: Pray Now

The most important part of this book.

The fork in the road. This point in the book is a turning point, where we must choose between information and transformation. The knowledge we've gained will be useless unless we put it into practice. The real value of this book lies in its ability to change our prayer lives, not just inform our minds.

Immediate application. The most important step is to put down the book, pick up the Bible, and pray through a psalm right now. This is not something to postpone or delay, but an action to take immediately. This exercise is crucial for experiencing the power of praying the Bible.

Seven-minute challenge. The challenge is to pray through a psalm for at least seven minutes. This is enough time to experience the difference between repetitive prayer and engaging with God's Word. This is the most important part of the book, and it requires immediate action.

6. Evaluating the Experience: Signs of Effective Prayer

For freshness of utterance, for breadth of comprehension, for elevation of thought, for intimacy of heart, there is no prayer like that which forms itself in the words and thoughts of Scripture.

Focus and engagement. Praying through Scripture helps us remain focused and prevents our minds from wandering. The text holds our attention and guides us in prayer, making it easier to stay engaged. The next verse in the text makes it easy for us to refocus.

God-centeredness. This method tends to make our prayers more God-centered, shifting the focus from our needs to God's attributes and will. It leads to more praise and adoration, rather than just a list of requests. It moves us from a self-centered approach to a God-centered one.

Conversational flow. Praying the Bible transforms prayer into a conversation with God, where we respond to his words in Scripture. It takes the pressure off us to initiate and maintain the conversation, as God speaks to us through his Word. It becomes a two-way dialogue, not a one-way monologue.

7. The Power of Praying God's Word: Examples

The Psalms are given us to this end, that we may learn to pray them in the name of Jesus Christ.

George Mueller's transformation. George Mueller, a renowned man of prayer, found that praying through Scripture transformed his prayer life. He went from struggling to feel like praying to experiencing consistent communion with God through his Word. He said that his heart was nourished by the truth, and he spoke to his Father about the things that He had brought before him in His precious Word.

Jesus's example. Jesus himself prayed the Psalms, even on the cross. His final words were taken from the Psalms, demonstrating the importance of using God's Word in prayer. He prayed the first verse of Psalm 22, and likely continued to pray through the rest of it.

Early church's practice. The early church also prayed the Psalms, as seen in Acts 4. They used the Psalms to express their faith and seek God's guidance. This practice was a key part of their spiritual life and growth. These examples show us the power and importance of praying God's Word.

Last updated: January 26, 2025