Praying Scripture
by Jim Elzerman

Have you ever found yourself wondering what to pray about? Oh, there are plenty of requests that you can make — prayers that you repeat almost from rote. But doesn't God get tired of the same old prayers? If you can identify with that, then maybe you should try praying scripture back to God.

Many of the psalms of David are actually prayers that are as timely today as they were in David's day. Try this prayer from Psalm 5: "Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation" (Psalm 5:1-3).

Or how about this one from Psalm 6: "O LORD, do not rebuke me in your anger or discipline me in your wrath. Be merciful to me, LORD, for I am faint; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are in agony. My soul is in anguish. How long, O LORD, how long? Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love" (Psalm 6:1-4).

Many of the psalms lend themselves to being prayed back to God as you put yourself into the place of the psalmist. Look for those that capture your heart and circumstances.

Other scriptures that can be prayed back to God include one of my favorite verses from Jeremiah 33:3. "Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Your prayer might be something like this: "Lord I'm calling on you because I know that you will answer and help me sort out some things that I don't understand."

A prayer based on 1 Corinthians 10:13 could be: "Lord, I understand that I'm not the first one to experience this particular temptation and I am glad that you are faithful and have not left me to face this all alone. Help me to take the way of escape you provide so that I can move beyond this."

The words of Jesus make some of the best text to pray back to God. Consider a prayer formed around Matthew 11:28. "Jesus I come to you because I am weary and burdened. Please give me rest. I want to see things as you see them, to learn from you because you are gentle with me. I like being in your will because it lightens the load."

A verse that has been a special promise from the Lord to me is Revelation 3:8: "I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name." That verse often serves as a model for prayer. "You know my deeds. You know that I have little strength, but I have strived to keep your word and I have never denied your name. Thank you for doors you have opened in the past and that you will continue to open the doors you want me to walk through.

Next time you find yourself wondering what to pray that isn't the same old same old, try praying scripture back to God.