“Honey, I lost my job today.”
I’ll never forget the panic that gripped my soul in the aftermath of those words.
Words that are devastating for any family, and perhaps especially so for a one-income household like ours.
What came next was a long and winding path through anxious years of unemployment and job uncertainty in positions that weren’t a good fit.
Though it was one of the most troubling and challenging seasons of our lives, I wouldn’t take it back if I could. I don’t regret a single moment.
Because it was during this season that I really learned to pray. Not in a way that begged for my own agenda, but in a way that was wholeheartedly surrendered to God’s plan and that wanted nothing more than to see His will accomplished.
This was the beginning of an exhilarating adventure in learning to pray the Scriptures.
Much has been written about the value of praying the Scriptures. Perhaps you’re wondering whether this practice is a good fit for you.
Here are five types of Christians who will benefit from praying the Scriptures.
People Who Benefit from Praying the Scriptures
1.Christians who recognize life’s instability. Since that extended season of job transition, our family has experienced numerous other times of instability, including a cancer diagnosis, a shift from homeschool to private school, and the ups and downs of foster care and adoption (to name just a few).
During these seasons, we’ve often found ourselves unsure of what the next step ought to be. With so many uncertainties in life, it brings great comfort and peace to know that our God is unchanging, that He still answers prayer, and that His Word endures forever.
2.Christians who want to know God’s will. Here’s a prayer I’ve often lifted to the Lord over the years:
“Father, you say in Your Word that I need to trust You with all my heart and refuse to rely on my own understanding. Please help me to do that in this situation. And Lord, You promise that if I acknowledge You in all my ways, You will direct my paths. Well, this is me acknowledging You: I just want what You want. Please show us what that is and fulfill Your promise to give us direction.”
Maybe you recognize that this prayer quotes from Proverbs 3:5-6. Well, I’ve been supremely thankful have the Bible as a road map in prayer during life’s most confusing and even devastating times. When we pray God’s Word, we are most certainly praying His will.
3.Christians who want to see God answer prayer. It has been thrilling to pray the Scriptures, and then to see Him answer in ways that are unmistakably Him.
Sometimes with an open door. Other times with a closed one. Sometimes through a conversation, other times through a completely unexpected divine encounter (well, completely unexpected to us, but not to Him). God’s answers take many forms, including some that we never could’ve anticipated, but there’s no question that He does answer.
4.Christians who are fully surrendered to God. While praying the Scriptures is a powerful way to see God answer prayer, it’s important to remember that we must not use it a means of manipulating God to do our will, but rather to bring our will in alignment with His.
5.Christians who want a stronger faith. Praying the Scriptures beautifully melds two essential components to Christian growth: God’s Word and prayer.
And when it comes to building a faith that’s strong enough to withstand the nitty-gritty of real life, there are few things more powerful than looking back to God’s past faithfulness through answered prayer.
For Those Who Are Ready to Learn How
If you fall into one of these categories and you’d like to take your prayer life to the next level, you might be ready for a group of resources like the Pray Unswayed bundle.
The Pray Unswayed bundle is a complete prayer system, an outpouring of my own years of experience praying the Scriptures. It will teach you how to make the Bible your road map in prayer, equipping you to pray strategically and effectively. And you’ll be able to pray with boldness, knowing that you’re praying God’s will as you pray His own Word.
Whether you’re just getting started or have prayed the Scriptures for years, the Pray Unswayed bundle will boost your prayer life to the next level.
You can learn more here, and for a limited time use code PRAYMORE20 to receive 20% off the bundle price.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)
