We can learn how to pray prayers that God delights in answering. These prayers always get a positive response. You may have to wait for the answer, but you can know that the Lord is at work.
I’m not talking about making God do what we want, like a genie in a bottle. It’s actually aligning our hearts with God’s, so we pray in a way that pleases Him.
How do we do that? We base our prayers on Scripture because God’s Word shows us what to pray for and how to pray.
He may or may not change a situation, but He will change our hearts.
I’ll give you an example.
I have some ADHD tendencies. My husband lovingly calls me Random Woman. It’s kind of my super power. Let’s just say I’m a daydreamer and more than a little absentminded. Let’s take an example, shall we?
In the middle of going through the mail, I’ll see a bill that needs to be paid. I go to my desk to pay it online, but there isn’t room for my coffee because a cup of moldy tea is sitting there. I go back down to clean the cup. The dishwasher is full of clean dishes, so I have to unload it before I can place the cup in it. And look, there are more dirty dishes in the sink. Once that’s done, I may or may not be able to get back to paying the bill or going through the mail.
I’m easily distracted, and I struggle to prioritize. Sometimes I don’t get much done, which feeds into discouragement. Then I numb out by surfing on the Interweb or watching Netflix because I’m depressed that I can’t get stuff done.
Talk about self-defeating behavior.
Praying God’s Word changes my heart
Last week I was in this kind of spiral when I decided to pray God’s Word to address my bad attitude. I decided to do something bold and pray a few verses from Proverbs 31 about the virtuous wife.
Now this passage has been known to make me feel everything from a little guilty to totally inadequate. Sometimes I scoff and totally discount it. No one does this all the time.
But I sensed God telling me that I can grow more like that woman IF I seek God’s help. The Lord calls me to trust in His power to transform me.
I chose to pray Proverbs 31: 17-20. My paraphrase was: Lord, help me be energetic, strong and a hard worker. Show me how to make profitable decisions and be diligent throughout the day. Help me see the needs around me and empower me to give generously to others.
I am not Martha Stewart, but I can work on my diligence. When I focus on loving God and loving others, I keep my intentions in the right place.
As a natural daydreamer (I’m a 9 for all the Enneagram nerds out there), I may never win any prizes for productivity. But I can focus on my effort and attitude.
With God’s help, I can be more deliberate about wisely using my time.
And you know what? That day was much more productive than the previous day. The prayer shaped my purpose as I remembered it again and again.
A few days later, I prayed 2 Timothy 1:7. My prayer: Lord, I thank you that you do not give me a spirit of fear and timidity. You give a Spirit of power, love and self-discipline. May Your power, love and self-discipline be at work in me today.
On days when I feel timid, tired and distracted, that verse inspires me. Praying the verse connects my heart to God’s.
When I find a verse that speaks directly to a current need or a reminder to praise God or thank God, I sometimes turn that verse into prayer. That was 2 Timothy 1:7 for me. It popped up as my verse of the day, and I knew I needed those aspects of the Holy Spirit.
Other times, I’m hurting and I go searching for a verse that applies to my need. That was the Proverbs 31 section. Google and search tools on websites like biblegateway.com can point you in the right direction.
Praying God’s Word changes my world
Scripture is divinely inspired by God. What better way to connect with Him and His good plans for us than to pray for the very traits, guidance and blessings He offers us.
Here are some more prayers from the Bible to try. Some of these are straight up prayers.
When I’m praying for someone else, I can use verses like Philippians 1:9-11.
I pray that my husband will grow more and more in his knowledge of you and depth of insight, so he is able to discern what is best.
Or Galatians 5:1. It is for freedom that you, Lord Jesus, set my children free. May they stand firm then, and not be slaves to sin.
Here’s another paraphrase, this one is from Psalm 27:7-9. Lord, hear my voice when I call, and be merciful to me. You know I need mercy. Guide my heart so I will seek your face. Reveal yourself to me, for you are my best source of help.
We will never be perfect this side of heaven, myself very much included. But by seeking God’s ways through the Bible and prayer, we can walk with Him more closely in our daily lives. And we experience those answers to prayer.
The Bible tells us so.
Jesus said, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” – Matthew 7:7-8
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”– 1 John 5:14
Sometimes my heart hurts because of a prayer God hasn’t granted YET. At those times, praying Scripture reminds me that our future in Christ is bright with promise, no matter what darkness clouds our present.
Those are the times to find prayers of praise.
From Psalm 18:30 – God, your ways are perfect, and all your promises are true. You shield all who look to you for protection.
What is your prayer today? Go to God’s Word and find a verse that speaks to your heart. Make that your prayer.
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