By Prayer And Petition
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.
It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and in over our heads. Paul reminds us that in every situation, we can learn to be thankful by bringing our requests and needs to God. Notice that there is an “if this then that” relationship here. When we regularly bring our needs before God, His peace guards our hearts.
This doesn’t necessarily mean that the peace of God is only given to us when we pray. It’s more likely that we are so swept up in life’s challenges that we can’t recognize or experience it. As we stay connected to God through prayer, it becomes easier to enter into His peace.
Praying According To God’s Will
This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears uswhatever we askwe know that we have what we asked of him.
What does it mean to pray according to God’s will? It means that the things we ask from God are aligned with His priorities and character. This is one reason that becoming familiar with Scripture is so critical. The Bible helps us understand God’s desire and will, and the more we understand it, the better prepared we are to pray according to His revealed will.
What Is The Power Of Prayer In The Bible
Prayer is the means through which we communicate with God, and he is interested in getting to know us better via prayer. If you want to learn how to pray, Bible passages on prayer are an excellent resource. The passages that follow will encourage you in your everyday relationship with Christ and will assist you in experiencing the power of prayer!
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You Should Pray Scripture Because It Helps You Understand Scripture Better
When you pray Scripture, you must think carefully about what you are saying. In order to pray Scripture, you need to have an idea of what Scripture means in its context. The process of praying Scripture forces you to ask questions about Scripture that you might not ask if you were merely reading it. Instead of just reading a passage of Scripture to understand what it meant then, when you pray that same Scripture, you must understand both what it meant then and what significance that has for you now. This often requires that you use biblical theology, especially when reading the OT.
John Piper explains that when you pray Scripture,
you will be surprised how many insights come as you really take Scripture seriously and try to pray it into your life. If you run into theological or interpretational problems, tell the Lord you will work on that later and move on. If we seek hard to obey what we do understand, more light will come on the hard parts.13
You Should Pray Scripture Because Jesus Did
I need to develop this further because its not always logical to argue that we should do something merely because Jesus did. Jesus did a lot of things that we cant dolike walk on water and forgive people of their sins. And Jesus did some things that we shouldnt dolike die on the cross to satisfy Gods righteous wrath against sinners. But Jesus did many things that we should imitate, and praying Scripture is one of them.
Both the Gospel according to Matthew and Mark record that Jesus prayed this to the Father when he was dying on the cross: My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? . That quotes the first line of Ps 22.
We have to be careful here because Jesus fulfills Scripture in a way that we dont. Jesus is unique.2 My point is that Jesus prayed Scripture. For him to do that, he had to read Scripture, correctly understand Scripture, meditate on Scripture, and then apply Scripture to his specific situation. We dont typologically fulfill Scripture in the same way that Jesus does, but we can and should pray Scripture appropriately with reference to our contexts. For example, we can appropriate God-breathed prayers in Scripture as they match our own circumstances. Gods people have been doing that with the Psalms for thousands of years.
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Prayer Quotes For Strength
22. Quit playing, start praying. Quit feasting, start fasting. Talk less with men, talk more with God. Listen less to men, listen to the words of God. Skip travel, start travail. Leonard Ravenhill
23. None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience. It is a great matter when in extreme need to take hold on prayer. Martin Luther
24. You know the value of prayer: it is precious beyond all price. Never, never neglect it. Sir Thomas Buxton
25. Prayer is the first thing, the second thing, the third thing necessary to a minister. Pray, then my dear brother pray, pray, pray. Edward Payson
26. It is not enough to begin to pray, nor to pray aright nor is it enough to continue for a time to pray but we must patiently, believingly, continue in prayer until we obtain an answer and further we have not only to continue in prayer unto the end, but we have also to believe that God does hear us, and will answer our prayers. Most frequently we fail in not continuing in prayer until the blessing is obtained, and in not expecting the blessing. George Müller
27. Think of what He can do, and how He delights to hear the prayers of His redeemed people. Think of your place and privilege in Christ, and expect great things! Andrew Murray
28. The reason why we obtain no more in prayer is that we expect no more. God usually answers us according to our own hearts. Richard Alleine
What Does The Bible Say About Pray About Everything
Here are 15 Bible scriptures that encourage you to pray for everything and everything: 1. Matthew 7:7-8 Ask, and it will be given to you seek, and it will be found knock, and it will be opened to you this is the way of the universe. 8 Everyone who begs receives, and everyone who seeks finds, and to the one who seeks, there is no limit.
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Daniel : 18 Only Because Of Gods Mercy
We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
So often, we feel a sense of entitlement in life. If we do enough good works, we feel deserving of an easy, comfortable life, but often thats just not the way it works.
When we pray, it has nothing to do with the good deeds we have done. It is only because of Gods great mercy that we can approach His throne with our requests and have them granted.
What Does The Bible Say About Praying
If you want to learn how to pray, Bible passages on prayer are an excellent resource.The passages that follow will encourage you in your everyday relationship with Christ and will assist you in experiencing the power of prayer!Rejoice continually, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all situations for this is Gods desire for you in Christ Jesus.Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. The Bible says:
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Bible Verses To Encourage You
Concordia University Texas is a Christ-centered community it’s our first core value. We strive to be a place where Christ is honored and all are welcome. During these unprecedented times, CTX is committed to supporting students in their academics and their faith.
Here’s a message from CTX President Don Christian:
We pray that the following Bible verses will encourage you and remind you of the hope we have in Christ.
Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the following verses are from the English Standard Version Bible.
John 16:33
“In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart I have overcome the world.”
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Philippians 4:67
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.
Psalm 34:45, 8
I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed. Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him!
Romans 8:28
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.
Joshua 1:9
Matthew 6:3134
Proverbs 3:56
Romans 15:13
What Do You Say Before Praying
It is essential that you have the purpose to pray before beginning the salat . Raise your hands up up to your ears and shoulders, and then exclaim Allahu Akbar in Arabic. According to the translation, Allah is the greatest. This should be done while standing .
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Bible Verses About Prayer How To Pray
Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. Colossians 4:2
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is Gods will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. Matthew 26:41
Therefore I want the men everywhere to pray, lifting up holy hands without anger or disputing. 1 Timothy 2:8
And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:7-8
This, then, is how you should pray:
Our Father in heaven,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us today 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 the evil one. Matthew 6:9-13
For more reading on how to pray, check out this article from John Eldredge about how prayer works.
You Should Pray Scripture Because It Keeps Your Prayers Fresh And Specific
People tend to sit in the same spot in their churchs auditorium each week. Students tend to sit in the same spot for classes. Google can predict with scary accuracy what sites you will visit online and when. Grocery stores that use special grocery cards can predict with alarming precision what each customer will buy and when. Those who know me fairly well can predict with almost 100% accuracy when I will wake up every morning and what I will order when I eat at Chipotle.
We are creatures of habit. And thats not a bad thing. But sometimes that can be a bad thing. Sometimes we can get in bad rut when it comes to spiritual disciplines such as Bible reading and prayer: our routine may become dull and boring and even unproductive.
A helpful way to avoid a bad prayer rut is to pray Scripture. It keeps your prayers fresh and specific.
John Piper shares,
If I try to pray for people or events without having the word in front of me guiding my prayers, then several negative things happen. One is that I tend to be very repetitive from day to day and hour to hour, and I just pray the same things all the time. . . . But the Bible . . . . gives me biblical things to pray for so that Im not praying with empty and vague requests like God bless them and God bless that. Rather, Im asking for specific things that the Bible commends.11
Likewise, Don Whitney observes,
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Prayers For All People
I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all peoplefor kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
You’ve never met a person who doesn’t need prayer. Everyone you know is fighting battles and has needs that you know nothing about. From the most influential and wealthy person to the absolute poorest, everyone could use intercession.
What if you knew it pleased God to pray for these people? Paul tells us that it does. Our prayers have the potential of helping people come to a saving knowledge of God and they make God happy. Thats a win-win!
Inspirational Quotes About Prayer
16. God does nothing but by prayer, and everything with it. John Wesley
17. Prayer does not fit us for the greater work prayer is the greater work. Oswald Chambers
18. Search for a person who claims to have found Christ apart from someone elses prayer, and your search may go on forever. E. Bauman
19. Have you any days of fasting and prayer? Storm the throne of grace and persevere therein, and mercy will come down. John Wesley
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20. God will do great things for you if you will wait for Him. Yield to Him. Cooperate with Him. John Smith
21. A day without prayer is a day without blessing, and a life without prayer is a life without power. Edwin Harvey
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You Should Pray Scripture Because It Helps You Focus On Praying
We humans are weak. We can be like Peter, James, and John when they were with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and fell asleep three times instead of praying. Jesus acknowledged, The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak .
We can have the best intentions in the world and then not pray or pray without really praying. Our mind may wander, or we may even fall asleep. Praying Scripture is a practical way to impede mental drift.5
John Piper shares,
If I try to pray for people or events without having the word in front of me guiding my prayers, then several negative things happen. . . . negative thing is that my mind tends to wander, and I think instead about what Im wearing, or that there is a Venetian blind that is halfway open, or that there is a siren out on the street and Im wondering what is happening. Im jerked all over the place by my inattentiveness. But the Bible holds my attention because Im looking at it and reading it. . . . Ive said to people, You can pray all day if you pray the Bible. Some people wonder how you can pray longer than five minutes, because they would lose things to pray for. But I say that if you open the Bible, start reading it, and pause at every verse and turn it into a prayer, then you can pray all day that way.6
Bible Verses About Who To Pray For
- I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 1 Timothy 2:1 NLT
- Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. James 5:16 NLT
- But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! Matthew 5:44 NLT
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You Should Pray Scripture Because It Helps You Express Yourself Appropriately
When you pray, you are addressing the Supreme Sovereign of the universe. How can you appropriately praise such a person? How can you appropriately repent of your sins and ask him to forgive you? How can you appropriately thank such a person? Yes, you should sound like yourself. Theres no inherent virtue in reciting Shakespearean-style prayers. But when you pray Scripture, you can use God-breathed verbs and nouns and adjectives and adverbs and prepositions and connectives. You could pray, God, youre really big and kind and powerful. And thats good. Theres nothing wrong with that. But you could be more expressive. You could express yourself even more vividly, more richly. For example, you could pray Psalm 145:13:
I will extol you, my God and King,
and bless your name forever and ever.
Every day I will bless you
and praise your name forever and ever.
Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
and his greatness is unsearchable.
Or after you ask God to act in some specific ways, you could quote Daniel 9:18: We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy.
Or if youre not quite sure what to do, you could pray 2 Chr 20:12b: We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.
Reasons You Should Pray Scripture
Abstract
I dont want to give the impression that Im a prayer-expert. Im not. But thats one reason I find praying Scripture so helpful . My argument is simple: You should pray Scripture. Three qualifications . . . .
I dont want to give the impression that Im a prayer-expert. Im not. But thats one reason I find praying Scripture so helpful .
My argument is simple: You should pray Scripture.
Three qualifications:
So why should you pray Scripture? For at least twelve reasons:
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