There are days when my prayers feel flat, as I recite a list of hopes I had uttered groggily just the morning before.
Usually this becomes a theme in my life when my Bible sits barely touched during the weekly flurry of activities and housekeeping. After 5 minutes of sharing personal requests, I may linger or simply rise and go on with the day.
Yet when I finally take a moment to meditate on the Word, even if only on one verse, what fresh energy and depth comes to my prayers! Why?
God’s Word is inseparable from Him. In knowing it we come to know Him, and talk with Him.
Our time communing with the Lord isn’t limited to our situational needs, but can become infinite as the Bible exposes our ultimate need for Him.
One of my pastors recently said, “Petitions are only one room inside the mansion that is prayer.”
What other rooms have you explored? Some include praise, thanksgiving, confession, spiritual growth for others and the church…
As I discuss in my mini-guide to prayer, the greatest schoolroom for learning to pray is the Bible itself.
From the Psalms to the Gospels, verses are rich with declarations and truths that can lead our time with the Lord. Our prayer life can branch out and flourish as we abide in His wisdom, laying ourselves before Him in a greater surrender.
To start this process of praying Scripture in our daily quiet time, why don’t we first pray to desire His Word, love it, and allow it to guide us?
One amazing example of this is the longest chapter in the Bible – Psalm 119 – an epic, acrostic poem exalting the priceless nature of God’s Word.
“Great peace have those who love your law, nothing can make them stumble.” Psalm 119:165
The psalmist pieces together a thorough picture of faith, all centered around delighting in God’s Law.
In a world teeming with questionable self-help articles, philosophies, arguments, and opinions, the Scriptures carry a surety and purity that can direct our hearts toward worship and Gospel-centered living, just like they did hundreds of years ago for the psalmist.
Below I’ve picked out a few petitions from this 176-verse psalm that we can echo in our prayers to the Lord. In saying and praying them, may we grow in hunger for His Word and perception of the Spirit’s work in our life!
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Verses in Psalm 119 to pray:
For Grace and Enlightenment: v. 17-18
Deal bountifully with your servant,
that I may live and keep your word.
18 Open my eyes, that I may behold
wondrous things out of your law.
Get a pre-Bible reading prayer bookmark with this verse in my subscriber-only Freebie Library!
For Strength and Protection from Lies: v. 27-29
Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
28 My soul melts away for sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word!
29 Put false ways far from me
and graciously teach me your law!
For Leading and Change of Heart: v. 34-39
Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
and observe it with my whole heart.
35 Lead me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in it.
36 Incline my heart to your testimonies,
and not to selfish gain!
37 Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things;
and give me life in your ways.
38 Confirm to your servant your promise,
that you may be feared.
39 Turn away the reproach that I dread,
for your rules are good.
For Security: v. 41-43
Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
your salvation according to your promise;
42 then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
for I trust in your word.
43 And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
for my hope is in your rules.
For Hope: v. 49-50
Remember your word to your servant,
in which you have made me hope.
50 This is my comfort in my affliction,
that your promise gives me life.
For Comfort and Good Witness: v. 75-77, 79-80
I know, O Lord, that your rules are righteous,
and that in faithfulness you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
for your law is my delight…
Let those who fear you turn to me,
that they may know your testimonies.
80 May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
that I may not be put to shame!
For Deliverance from Temptation/Sin: v. 132-135
Turn to me and be gracious to me,
as is your way with those who love your name.
133 Keep steady my steps according to your promise,
and let no iniquity get dominion over me.
134 Redeem me from man’s oppression,
that I may keep your precepts.
135 Make your face shine upon your servant,
and teach me your statutes.
For His Nearness: v. 169-170
Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
give me understanding according to your word!
170 Let my plea come before you;
deliver me according to your word.
For more like this, see my 30-day devotional Praying the Psalms:
Or check out Daily Grace Co.’s Bible Study on the amazing chapter Psalm 119!
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