A Bible-Based Prayer
This week is all about prayer. Why do we pray? What makes prayer important?
FAITH
Dani Fielder
5/20/20264 min read
Sometimes in our walk with Christ, it is hard to know what to pray or how to pray. Every prayer is unique to the person, what they are praying for, and the situation or setting in which they are praying. Ultimately, however, prayer is a conversation with God in which we give God glory, thanks, and praise and humbly bring God our concerns, fears, or questions. God already knows what we are going through, and he knows our needs. He just wants us to come to him. There are so many scriptures that highlight the importance of prayer. Here are a few:
"6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7, NIV).
"16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus" (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, NIV).
"12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:12-13, NIV).
From these scriptures, we can determine a number of things.
We should ALWAYS be praying. This meaning, we can, and should, do our best to communicate with God as much as we can.
Instead of worrying about our situation, we should pray about it. We can tell God about what we are going through.
God listens to us when we pray. If we seek him with all of our hearts, we will find him.
Knowing this information, it should push us to want to communicate with God more in prayer. That can be as simple as thanking him for a new day when you wake up, or as complex as telling him about something that is upsetting you. If you are not sure where to start in your prayer, the following is a prayer I personally used, and you can also use. The prayer incorporates scripture throughout to ensure that what is said is biblically sound.
A Simple Bible-Based Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I thank You, Lord, for being amazing, merciful, and loving. You are so amazing. You love me so much. You see me, and you understand me. My parents love me, but even they don’t know me fully. You know me fully, but still love me fully even though You understand I mess up constantly. You even know the number of hairs on my head (Luke 12:7)! You provide me with all I need. It honestly just amazes me to the point that I want to cry, God, because I am so unworthy. Sometimes I feel like no one sees me or like I am worthless. Still, you see me and you say I am fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).
I will obey You, God, above man (Acts 5:29); I will obey You even above the authority of this earth when it does not line up with You, heavenly Father, because You know what I need. I don’t care what anyone says; if it does not draw me closer to you or is part of your will or word, then I will not follow. I thank You for the Godly ensamples, or models, I have in my life. Bring people to my life that will add and bring me closer to you, but remove anyone that leads me astray (1 Corinthians 15:33). Lord, bind my doubt. Bind my confusion. Bind my insecurities. Loose my faith; increase my faith (Matthew 18:18). Search my heart for iniquity and unforgiveness, God, and cleanse me so I look more like you. I want Christ to make a home in my heart and for Your love to make me strong, God (Ephesians 3:17).
I know I am not perfect, so please forgive me, Father, for any sins I committed knowingly or unknowingly, and I will also forgive anyone who sinned against me (Matthew 6:14-15). Your word says if we need wisdom, ask, and You will give it to us (James 1:5), so give me wisdom, Lord. You have understanding (Job 12:13), so please give me understanding (Proverbs 2:3). I want to learn more about you, God, and myself, and what you are walking me through. Whatever season I may be in, I don't need to depend on my own understanding (Proverbs 3:5). Things may not look how I'd like them to, but I won't worry. Take my fear and pain, Lord. I will pray and thank You because I trust You (Proverbs 3:5, Philippians 4:6).
Lord, Your word says whatever we ask in prayer, believing, we will receive (Matthew 21:22, Mark 11:24). I believe You, Lord, and I believe Your word. My life is yours. I trust you (Psalm 37:5). Protect me and comfort me (Psalm 23:4) as I continue to keep my thoughts fixed on you, God (Isaiah 26:3). I love you, Lord, and I know your promises are true. Thank you for never wavering in your love for me and for always being true and glorious (Hebrews 13:8). You are forever a good and wonderful Father. Thank you in advance because I believe it is already done.
In Jesus' mighty name, Amen and Amen.