By Athanasios Bardis
Praying Through the Scriptures
Many years ago, I remember hearing pastor John MacArthur pray in a way that was different from what I was accustomed to, as well as seeing others practice in my church setting. It’s not that I didn’t like it; on the contrary, I found myself almost speechless for the entirety of the prayer. In the end, I turned to my wife and said, “That was not just a prayer; it was a thoroughly solid and biblical sermon.” That was a hyperbolic statement, but it captured how I felt.
MacArthur’s pastoral prayer was edifying, encouraging, admonishing, and convicting. My question is: why? The words of Paul to Timothy echo in my mind:
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17).
The issue at hand is not MacArthur’s giftedness but rather the why, how, and what of his prayer. He was “praying the Scriptures”. God’s primary and fundamental instruction to humanity comes through His Word. The Word of God forms us, makes us wise unto salvation, changes us, induces growth, and sustains us. “For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Heb 4:12).
What Does It Mean to Pray Through Scriptures?
Praying through the Bible means that a person’s prayers are directly drawn, informed, shaped, and guided largely from the written Word of God. God’s words become our prayer words. Church history teaches us that the strength of the Puritans lay in the practice of solid biblical prayers. Reading the collection of Puritan prayers and devotions clearly supports this point.
Scripture passages and especially the prayers from the book of Psalms supply the content and shape the form of the prayers. Our prayers then reflect the language, thoughts, and principles of the Bible. Praying through Scripture uses scriptural primacies, patterns, words, and expressions. Ligon Duncan states, “A scriptural manner of praying provides the order, proportion, and variety which should characterize all our prayers.”[1]
The most effective prayer is one that aligns with the will of God. To pray in the Spirit means to pray according to the Spirit’s will. This is best accomplished when our prayers are rooted in the Spirit-inspired Word. Calvin contends that the human heart is a factory of idols. It tends to glorify “self” and not God. If you want to mortify “self”, see yourself in the mirror of the revelation of the Word of God. Left to our own devices, our hearts and minds will make up prayers according to our own will. Even our best prayers are tainted with sin. Using the words of the Bible is the best way to pray.
Why Pray The Scriptures?
Whereas many of us who love the Word of God wholeheartedly believe in the inerrancy, infallibility, authoritative nature, supremacy, and sufficiency of the Bible, they somehow fail to recognise the central role that the Scriptures should be playing in our prayer life. Only the Spirit of God can move our affections in the right direction. Can the Holy Spirit, who is the Inspirer of the Word, operate outside and contrary to his Word? Godly affections are initiated and properly expressed when they are induced and saturated by the Bible. When we pray the Word of God, the Spirit of God uses the Word of God to realign, renew and change our hearts into the image of Christ.
Since the Bible is the very Word of God, praying through Scripture teaches us to pray in alignment with God’s will. You see, throughout history, Satan has attempted to separate the character of God from the revealed Word of God. The devil distorted God’s message and presented it to Adam and Eve as if it were disconnected from God Himself. This demonic tactic has continued to persist. In John 14:23-24, Jesus emphasized that obeying His Word is tied to loving the Father.
…“If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
Jesus desires that believers continually grow in their sanctification. So, how does this occur? In His high priestly prayer, Jesus asks the Father to sanctify the disciples through the truth. This truth is found in the written revelation of the Scriptures. As stated in John 17:17, “Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” If the Word of God helps set us apart from the world, then why not infuse our prayers with Scripture? If this is indeed the case, let us “pray the Scriptures” to cultivate godliness.
Often, we Christians pray for specific guidance. We ask God to lead us through situations and circumstances, as well as in our decision-making. What is the way to discern God’s will? The psalmist declares that “the testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple…the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes…Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward” (Ps 19:7a,8b,11). When we “pray the Scriptures”, the Lord enlightens our understanding; He gives us light and wisdom, teaches us, encourages us with His promise, and protects us from sin.
In James 1:5, Christians are encouraged to ask God for wisdom. But how does God grant wisdom to His people? It’s not a mystical process; rather, it is rooted in the reality of His Word. The Scriptures make us wise unto salvation, and the Scriptures, make the simple wise (2 Tim 3:15; Ps 19:7). The best way to pray is to pray biblically. Start praying through the Scriptures.
In his letter, James, the servant of God, instructs believers to pray with faith. Biblical faith is not vague; it is specifically informed by the Word of God. It is the assurance of hope rooted in what God has promised (see Heb 11:1-3). The promises of God are realized through faith, and our faith in God is informed and guided by His promises. As Romans 10:17 states, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.” Faith is characterized by absolute and unwavering trust in the Word of God.
We pray for strength, encouragement, guidance, and resolutions, expressing both our thankfulness and our grief, as well as our sorrow and pain. We ask for the glory of God in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, many of us can relate to the experience of praying with misguided intentions, seeking after desires that are not aligned with God’s will. Our hearts can be deceitful, and our minds require continuous renewal through the powerful Word of God. The natural inclination of the human heart tends towards evil throughout our lives. The Apostle Paul reminds us that we often do not know how or what to pray for (see Romans 8:26).
How Do I Pray Through the Scriptures?
Praying through the Scriptures is neither a complicated method nor a mystical way of communicating with the Lord. The Word of God is clear, allowing every believer to pray in a straightforward, God-honoring manner. However, it is essential to avoid distorting the meaning of the Scriptures. Instead, we should pray according to the analogy of faith, which involves comparing Scripture with Scripture and interpreting Scripture according to Scripture; let the Bible be its own interpreter. Pray in accordance with the full counsel of God.
In your prayers, make it a practice to use Scripture accurately and apply it correctly. Be mindful not to misuse Scripture. Allow the Word to guide your prayers, rather than the other way around. A simple way to begin praying through the Scriptures is to plan in advance which passages to use. It can be tedious to spend five to ten minutes searching for a passage before you pray. Therefore, the best approach is to have a prepared list of Bible prayers or psalms that you can refer to each day.
Prepare your heart by reading aloud the passage of Scripture if possible. Spend a few moments reflecting on it to deepen your understanding and engrave it in your mind. Then begin to pray, using the same themes, words, and phrases, and apply them to your own situation appropriately. As a result, your prayers will naturally become more biblical. If it helps you concentrate better, feel free to keep your eyes open during your prayer while looking at the Word of God. Align your will with God’s will.
Praying through the Scriptures will refresh and invigorate our prayer life. The use of vain repetitions will dramatically decrease. The Lord will graciously enliven our religious affections The Word of God will achieve all its purposes. It is a double-edged sword that pierces our hearts, exposes our thoughts, and brings us to our knees as we see the glory of God. Our prayers will change orientation from being man-centered, vain and dry to being God-centered, biblical and affectionate. Start practising godly conversation and rediscover the practice of biblical prayer.
Lord, teach us how to pray!
Bibliography
Henry, Matthew. Method for Prayer. Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Heritage, 1994. [1]Matthew Henry, Method for Prayer (Ross-shire, Scotland: Christian Heritage, 1994), 9.