Turning a verse into a prayer: talking to God in your own words
It is sometimes said that there are two ways of going wrong when reading the Bible: reading it without praying, or praying without reading it. This quest joins the two: you take a verse and make it your prayer. The Word provides the words, you answer with your life.
What it looks like in your day
Choose a verse that is a command, a promise or an observation. Then follow these four steps:
- Read it calmly. Once or twice, in a low voice.
- Spot what it says. A promise, a request, a trait of God, an order.
- Say it in the first person. Replace “he” with “you,” “you” with “me” or “us.”
- Add your situation. Why does this verse speak to you today? What is it connected to in your life?
An example with a prayer of Paul for the church in Ephesus. The text speaks of God strengthening believers by his Spirit. Your prayer could be: “Lord, strengthen me by your Spirit in the inner man. I feel exhausted this week. I don't want to hold on by myself, I want to hold on through you.” You simply took the words of the text and put your heart into them.
If you are short on time, three sentences are enough. If you are a beginner, start with verses that are already prayers: psalms or prayers of Paul, like the one for the Ephesians. If you are shy, you can write your prayer before saying it.
What the Bible says
The Bible is full of prayers that you can make your own. Paul asks for the Ephesians:
“That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
You can take up this prayer for yourself or for a loved one: “That Christ may dwell in my heart by faith.” You just need to add the person's first name.
The Psalms are another goldmine. The psalmist prays:
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
This verse is already a ready-made prayer: “Open thou mine eyes.” You can say it before your reading of the day. And when he asks:
“Shew me thy ways, O Lord; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”
you have almost nothing to add: these are words that say exactly what many believers feel.
Jesus himself prayed with words from the psalms on the cross (Matthew 27:46). Praying the Word is thus the way he himself prayed.
Pitfalls to avoid
Twisting the verse. Turning a verse into a prayer doesn't mean making it say what you want. Stay faithful to its meaning: if the verse speaks of God judging, don't turn it into a request for comfort.
Choosing verses addressed to others. Some promises were made to a specific people or a specific situation. You can pray them, but with discernment: what does this teach us about God, and how does it apply to me?
Replacing your own voice. The words of the Bible are a help, but God also wants to hear you. Always add something personal.
Praying a magic verse. Some repeat verses like formulas that force God's hand. That is not the principle: you are speaking to someone who listens, and the verse is a starting point.
Going too fast. A verse prayed in ten seconds is not enough. Stay a while in what it says.
Today, take a verse from your reading. Rewrite it in the first person, then add a sentence about your situation.