Isaiah 55:10-11 (NIV) “As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
Romans 12:2 (NIV) “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – His good, pleasing and perfect will.”
We all know that God’s word stands and is the final authority. We want to strengthen our prayers and renew our minds to solid truths. However, with so many translations and Bible arrangements, how and where do we find the scriptures that apply to our prayer needs?
First of all, realize that the Bible teaches through stories, songs, wisdom, parables, truths spoken and taught by spiritual leaders, and specific words in scripture quotes. Sometimes, there is a specific scripture promise to claim in prayer, like provision. We place ourselves in that promise. For example, Psalm 37:25 (NIV) alludes to God’s promise to take care of provision (falling back on Genesis 22:14): “I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread.” I might pray, “Thank You, Lord, that You provide for the righteous’ needs, including mine. You are my Jehovah Jireh, the One who provides for my needs. I bring this need before You and ask for Your planned provision to meet it.”
At times, like a good student, we need to apply a concept gleaned from the scriptures and meditate upon it. We might also incorporate a scripture quote that adds more depth to our request. For example, we can incorporate this concept from Psalm 91:11-12 - ”The Lord gives His angels charge over me to keep me in all my ways, and angels are strong and mighty warriors that fight spiritual battles. In 2 Chronicles 32:20-21, Israel was saved from Sennacherib’s troops when Hezekiah and Isaiah prayed. You, Lord, sent one angel who defeated all of Sennacherib’s armies. Jehovah Nissi, my Banner of Victory1, please fight my enemies, too, and send Your angels to have charge over me now.”
That prayer stands on the concept from Psalm 91 (a great Psalm of protection), references the Lord’s previous faithful action, and employs an understanding of His character by calling on the name Jehovah Nissi, as revealed in Exodus 17:15. It is a more potent prayer than, “Jesus, help me!” However, in crisis, He answers those, too.
When meditating on, memorizing, and renewing our minds through scripture, it is wise to search through multiple Bible versions or translations. A good online Bible application can offer this kind of resource. (For example, see Biblegateway.com2, where the search engine has a drop-down Bible application choice.) By reading a passage in several applications, you will likely gain a clearer understanding of the scripture message. In language, words can have several meanings, and sentence structure can change the emphasis of the words. Let the Holy Spirit guide you.
Another good resource is a hand guide to the scriptures by topic. You can create your own by recording verses from your studies that have meaning to you. Some may be about wisdom, guidance, healing, protection, etc. You can also find many books available on God’s promises, as well as guidance on how to pray for various issues. One helpful book is God’s Promises For Your Every Need3, with a compilation of scripture verses by topics such as “What the Bible Says About…,” “What to Do When You Are…,” “What to Do When You Feel…,” etc. A resource like this is not all-inclusive, but it can get you started, and you can add more scriptures, pertinent to each topic, as you discover them.
Developing your prayer life sometimes seems like mining for precious jewels. However, remember that prayer is about developing and drawing you deeper into a relationship with the Lord. He has provided many ways in the Bible to do this, including songs of joy and praise or lament, books on wisdom and history, and struggles and victories of Bible characters that are relatable. Let Him share the path for you to grow in your prayers and petitions. Use the Lord’s Prayer to remind you that the Lord is exalted above any problem you encounter, and His plans are perfect for you. He is worthy of your trust, thanks, and praise.
REFERENCES:
1 EPIC Encounter, Park, Dave andTthe Infusion Team, His Passion Publishing, Knoxville, TN, 2021
2 BibleGateway.com, a member of HarperCollins Christian Publishing with online searchable Bible tool
3 God’s Promises For Your Every Need, Thomas Nelson, a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc, Nashville, TN, 2019
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