Bible Praying

 Bible Praying Is Prayers from the Bible

 

In my research into why we struggle to pray, one of the top answers was “I don’t know what to pray.”

 Many people feel stuck repeating a handful of prayer requests, e.g.  " The Lord's Prayer " and as a result, give up on prayer before they really begin.

I’ve found the best answer to that struggle is the practice of praying the Bible. Think of it as having a conversation with God. 

God starts the conversation by speaking to us through His Word. 

Praying the Bible is simply responding to the conversation that God our Father has already started. 

This is a great practical relief for me! 

I do not need to wait until I’m especially inspired or sharp to approach God in prayer. 

I just open the Bible, read what God says in His Word, and respond. It is that simple.

While we can pray in response to whatever we read in the Bible, I’ve found the prayers of Scripture a unique treasure. 

These prayers, inspired by the Holy Spirit, help us know God’s priorities for prayer and can inspire our own prayers.

What follows are 25 powerful prayers from the Bible you can easily adapt for prayer.

25 Powerful Prayers from the Bible

Prayers of the Old Testament

1. Numbers 6:24–26 – Aaron’s Priestly Blessing

🗣️: The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

Ever since creation, God has wanted His people to enjoy His blessing (Genesis 1:28). 

Sin brought the curse into the world, but God promised to bless the whole world through Abraham’s seed, a promise fully realized in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 1:3). {“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,” who has blessed believers “with every spiritual blessing” in the heavenly realms in Christ. The verse is a praise to God for these spiritual blessings.}

When we pray this blessing for ourselves or others, we ask God to fulfill His purposes in blessing His people with His peace and presence.

2. Psalm 19 – David’s Prayer in Response to God’s Glorious Self-Revelation

Keep back your servant also from willful sins.

Let them not have dominion over me.

Then I will be upright.

I will be blameless and innocent of great transgression.

Let the words of my mouth and

the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

Lord, my rock, and my redeemer. (verses 13–14)

The first section of Psalm 19 (verses 1–6) praises God for revealing Himself in creation: “The heavens declare the glory of God” (verse 1). 

The second section praises God for revealing Himself in His Word, explaining that God’s Word revives the soul, makes wise the simple, rejoices the heart, enlightens the eyes, and is greater than gold and sweeter than honey (verses 7–11).

David closes the Psalm in a surprising way: a prayer for protection against sin. Just like nothing is hidden from the heat and light of the sun (verse 6), the Word of God shines light that exposes the dark corners of our souls (verses 7–11). David pleads for God to help him to live a God-honoring life.

3. Psalm 23 – David’s Prayer for Comfort, Peace, and Trust

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever. (verses 4–6)

Praying Psalm 23, one of the most believed portions of Scripture, will comfort your heart and instill confidence in our Good Shepherd as you meditate on His gracious dealings in every area of your life. You might consider memorizing Psalm 23 for your prayer life or for bringing the comfort of God to others in need.

Go deeper in Psalm 23 reading this article: Psalm 23 Explained Line-by-Line. (Click here ) 

4. Psalm 25 – David’s Prayer for Help, Guidance, and Forgiveness

Make me to know your ways, O Lord; teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long. (verses 4–5)

We don’t know what troubling situation drove David to pen Psalm 25. We do know it involved his enemies, a need for God’s guidance, and sin in his life. If you feel like you’ve reached a dead end in life, pray this prayer for God to help you find His path forward.

5. Psalm 37 – David’s Prayer for When the Wicked Prosper

Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb. Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness. Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. (verses 1–4)

Psalm 37 presents commands “Fret not yourself because of evil doers” (verse 1), “Trust in the Lord and do good” (verse 3), and “Delight yourself in the Lord” (verse 4) and also provides the results of following the commands: “fret not yourself” because the wicked will “soon fade like the grass” (verse 2), “Delight yourself in the Lord” and “he will give you the desires of your heart” (verse 4). The Psalm repeatedly contrasts the fate of the righteous (they shall inherit the land) with that of the wicked (they will be no more).

Martyn Lloyd-Jones pointed to this Psalm as a key reason why he did not fear Hitler during World War II. Lloyd-Jones knew that even as a wicked man spread himself like a green laurel tree, he would pass away and be no more (verses 35–36).