The Bible: An Invitation to Pray

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“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

As we reflect on our relationship with the Lord, we might ask, ‘How do I grow? How do I get closer to the heart of God?’ And we all know the common response, don’t we? Read your Bible and pray.

It’s a good answer. It’s a true answer. But if we are honest with ourselves… sometimes those two things feel like chores on a to-do list. We read the Word, then we close the book. Then we move to prayer, and sometimes… we stall.

Have you ever sat down to pray and felt—just for a second—a sense of ‘spiritual writer’s block’?

Have you ever felt like your prayers were repetitive, or dull, or wondered if you were doing it wrong? Maybe they feel like short-circuit prayers.

Have you ever felt like you were speaking into the air, reaching for words that just wouldn’t come?

What else comes to mind?

What if I told you that you don’t have to find the words? What if the words are already waiting for you? How would you feel if we said, “There is a sure way to pray in step with God?”

Dr. Phil Collins suggests that when we separate Bible reading and prayer, we miss a spark. But when we combine them—when we pray the Scriptures—our Bible reading becomes a conversation, and our prayer becomes an echo of God’s own voice.

Think of it this way: To pray the Scriptures is to anchor your heart to a specific text and let it navigate your conversation with the Father. You aren’t just reading history; you are breathing in His words and breathing them back out as your own.”

The Bible offers Prayer Invitations:

The Invitation to Echo: The Bible is a prayer book. From the raw, honest cries of the Psalms to the perfect structure of the Lord’s Prayer, these are your ‘tutors.’ When you don’t have the words, use theirs. Let David’s cry be your cry. Let Paul’s joy be your joy. This is the simplest way to let Scripture navigate your conversation with the LORD.

The Invitation to Converse: When reading a story or a parable, we often look for the lesson or main takeaway. Another thing we can add is looking for a person. Often, this is where you can make a connection. If a verse touches a wound, turn that thought into a petition. If a verse shows you God’s glory, turn it into worship. If a verse calls you to action, ask for the LORD to help you bring it to fruition. Let it be a cycle—He speaks, you respond.

The Invitation to Focus: God’s Word can help identify what to talk to Him about. Time reading and digesting Scripture is an opportunity to let the Bible work through you and direct your prayers. The passage may bring to light a specific weight on your heart for yourself, others, or the world. (health, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, finances, spiritual battles, and emotional matters.) It might shed a brighter light on an annoying sin you can’t seem to shake. God’s Word can ignite a spirit of thankfulness and a need to worship. When you let Scripture define the topic as you discover His promises, this is the perfect breeding ground for your prayer.

These three invitations are open doors to help us with our prayer life. They present ways to push through, not knowing what to say or feeling like our prayers are flat. Scripture allows us to echo God’s Words, invites us to spend time talking to the LORD, and directs our focus so our prayers aren’t squirrely.

Let God’s Word be your prayer guide.

March 25, 2026 1

Can Scripture Shape My Prayers?

Have you ever sat down to pray and found yourself repeating the same three sentences? We’ve all been there. While God honors every sincere word, our prayer lives can sometimes feel like a dry well.

The remedy isn’t necessarily to “try harder,” but to change the source of our language. By letting Scripture guide our prayers, we move from a monologue of our own worries to a dialogue with the Living God. Drawing from insights in 1 Corinthians, here are three steps to help you transform your prayer life from the inside out.

1. Let Scripture Influence Your Prayer Life

Prayer is a dialogue with the Lord. Often, we bring our own agenda and forget the will of God when talking with the Father. Scripture provides the vocabulary, focus, and depth that our natural minds often lack.

As you read, don’t just look for information; look for a bridge to God.

Seek Illumination: Before you start, ask the Holy Spirit to “turn the lights on” in the text.
Dig Deeper: Pay attention to the context. Why was Paul writing this to the Corinthians? Use different translations or cross-references to see how one truth connects to another.
The Golden Question: Ask, “Lord, what are You showing me here that should become my prayer?” If you read about God’s faithfulness in a trial, let your prayer be: “Lord, I thank You that You are faithful even when I am anxious.”

2. Read with Intentionality to Pray

It’s easy to read the Bible for study and pray for needs as two separate activities. The power happens when you merge them. Approach every passage ready to “pray it into action.”

For Yourself: If a verse mentions the “wisdom of God,” pray for that wisdom to navigate your specific work conflict or parenting struggle.
For Others: Instead of just praying “Lord, help my friend,” use the text. If you’re reading about the unity of the Body in 1 Corinthians 12, pray that your friend would feel their unique value in their local church.
For the World: Use the promises of God’s Kingdom to intercede for global issues. Pray that God’s will—as revealed in the Word—would be done on earth as it is in heaven.

3. Invite the Holy Spirit to Lead

At the end of the day, praying Scripture is an act of submission to a relationship with God. Ask the Holy Spirit to direct your conversation with the Lord as you digest Scripture. Allow your Bible reading to spur your prayers.

In 1 Corinthians 2:1–5, Paul reminds us that true power doesn’t come from “persuasive words of wisdom,” but from a “demonstration of the Spirit’s power.” Let this resonate with your prayer life. God is not longing for elaborate wording, but a simple, pure heart coming to Him to talk.

SO WHAT DOES THIS REALLY LOOK LIKE?

Practical Example: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 talks about growing in love. As you are reading this passage, you may feel a tugging at your heart for someone in your life that you may view as a “sandpaper person”. Immediately go to the Lord in prayer and use this verse to begin your conversation.

“Lord God, Your Word says love is patient and kind. I don’t always have this mindset. Transform my heart so I can show this same Christ-like love to (NAME). Help me see them the way you do, your child. Allow my heart to be filled with Your love so I can extend kindness and a patient spirit towards them…”

Moving From Page to Prayer

Learning to pray Scripture isn’t about mastering a new spiritual “skill”—it’s about deepening a relationship. You don’t need to be a scholar to start. All you need is an open Bible and a heart willing to say, “Lord, teach me to pray.”

As you begin to shift your prayers around Scripture, I pray you will find that your conversations with the Lord become more grounded in the Word and your spirit becomes more attuned to the voice of the Father.

February 10, 2026 0

Prayer Life, Part 4

“Faith comes effortlessly to the heart as we elevate our conceptions of God by a prayerful digestion of His Word. And such faith endures, for it is grounded upon the Rock.” -A. W. Tozer

“Such is our dependence upon God that we are obliged not only to do everything for His sake, but also to seek from Him the very power. This happy necessity of having recourse to Him in all our wants, instead of being grievous to us, should be our greatest consolation. What a happiness that we are allowed to speak to Him with confidence, to open our hearts and hold familiar conversation with Him, by prayer! He Himself invites us to it.” -Francois Fenelon 1631-1715

How’s your daily serving of prayer? Spiritual nutrition is rarely on the world’s radar. Yet, it seems every January there is a large emphasis on becoming physically fit and indulging in a better diet. All to often we are unable to hear the small voice within-pleading us to feed our mind and soul proper nutrition-God. However, when weakness and lack of sufficient starts to show up, attention is then paid to dependency on the Lord. No wonder many of us are crippled by a thorn in our side-keeping focus on our need for God.

Prayer creates access to essential nutrients and vitamins we need each day. You know those “flesh blockers” to safeguard our lives from sin and destruction. Paul was well aware of this daily sufficiency when he wrote, “Pray without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17). He knew the fruit of the spirit would not automatically present itself without feasting on prayer time with God. Paul was well aware of how his digestion elements had a way of revealing themselves in his daily actions. Think about the transparency of his heart before meeting Christ!

Paul had spent many years not exercising spiritual healthy choices and indulging on worldly desserts and junk food. The temporary “feel good” substance left him empty after each self-sufficiency meal. His daily diet led to his own personal sickness and destruction. His fast food tasted so good at first, but he continued to have a hunger within which could not be satisfied until he met God.

Prayer, more than just an act of surrendering, worshiping, thanksgiving, confessing, asking, etc., opens the door to a healthy spiritual life. Spending time with God and feasting on His Word daily, allows for a wholesome life to be maintained. It is a time of humbling and letting the Lord’s provisions fortify our hearts, minds, and souls with His great nutritional love and attributes. This daily devotion produces a bowlful of basic essential nutrients for us to be able to carry out His will.

May we cherish and exercise the daily habit of prayer for our total well-being.

John 6:35 – And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

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Jeremiah 15:16
Your words were found, and I ate them,
And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart;
For I am called by Your name,
O LORD God of hosts.

January 16, 2021 0

Prayer Life, Part 3

Know that the **Lord** is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; we are His people, the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Psalm 65:4

With a reflection on the events in American this week, all that comes to mind is “What the world needs now is … prayer, sweet prayer.” Prayers for peace, prayers for compassion, prayers for kindness, prayers for self-control, prayers for love, prayers for understanding, prayers of gentleness, prayers of better judgement, prayers for righteousness in God, prayers for a humble nation, prayers for surrender to God’s authority, etc. I am sure your sentiments can complete the list better than I can. However, we can all agree this world is not what God intended.

Each day reveals the apparent need for transformation. A renewal of hearts, minds, and souls to find what we are really seeking-GOD! We have accepted sins and corruption as our daily mantra and become so complacent to a lifestyle filled with unholiness. With our attempts to “sanitize” our lives and make them what we want, somehow, we have created a lifestyle of self-centered living with the goal to satisfy our fleshy desires. Let me be the first to say, “I am guilty!”

As I have been reflecting upon prayer, the act of exalting God has come to the forefront. Entering into His throne room and worshiping Him has been heavy on my heart. It brings back the memories of Wednesday prayer nights during my upbringing. Men and women of the church would intentionally come together to bow their heads, bend their knees, and physically humble themselves to the will of God. Yet, it was filled with more requests than praise. So, I grew to know a limited prayer pathway.

When studying and reading about incorporating worship into my prayer life, I found an amazing article. Permit me to share a paragraph from it:

The spiritual battle is intensifying daily because the enemy knows that his time is short. He hates prayer because he knows that the power of prayer will overthrow every one of his plans. God inhabits our praise. The word “inhabit” or “enthrone” (yashab) means to judge in ambush. When we praise God, He will seat himself right in the middle of our lives and judge the enemies that are surrounding us. The Japanese translation of Psalm 22:3 is: “When you praise God He brings a big chair and sits there.” Think about that! God is seated in the center of your life. The enemy cannot dethrone you because God cannot be overthrown! God Victoriously Inhabits Our Praise (crosswalk.com)

What? Each and every time I worship Him, He brings His presence closer to sit and listen! He responds to my open heart and willing spirit as I sincerely invite Him to come into my midst. And above all, God wants to complete me, walk with me, and ignite His power in and through me because that is who He is. A giver of love, grace, and mercy. Almighty Lord, God of the universe, King of everything, Ruler over all!!

He said to me through the reading of Walking the Path of Prayer by Jack Hayford, “Move your POSTURE (my God Word!!!) in worship beyond one of passive reflection to one of power-filled potential for transformation.” All I can say is, “How much clearer can God speak to my heart this week about the importance of worship in my prayer life?”

How do you incorporate worship into prayer? Have you read a fabulous article or book about the topic recently? Please take some time to share your thoughts below. I would really love to hear from you. I treasure your insight and input. Remember, we are in this together. Let’s embrace the journey of spiritual growth through sharing!

January 10, 2021 0

Prayer Life, Part 2

*Hear this, you elders; listen, all who live in the land. Has anything like this ever happened in your days or in the days of your ancestors?* Joel 1:2 (NIV)

Happy Sunday friends! How’s your year been so far? Do you set goals and resolutions every January? Are you planning to make some changes in 2021?

This weekend I began studying Joel. As the writer expands upon the locust plague, he speaks of a God of justice as well as a Lord of mercy. Joel clearly denotes the judgment of sin as dreadful and overpowering punishment much like the devastation of wild locust. Yet, the author tells of a mighty God who is willing to forgive and restore anyone who will turn from their disobedience and declare Him as their sovereign Lord.

How often do we catch this vision of God? A father who stands ready to receive us if we will call on Him. The highest of strength and power who is King over all that has, does, and will exist. A Lord who is abounding in grace. A God who is compassionate and relational. Creator of all, who extends salvation through His son in order to call us His sons and daughters.

Since our 2020 experience, how do we see God? If we believe in an omnipotent God, why do we tend to become complacent and take Him for granted? I have asked myself, “Why don’t I pray more than I do?” Have we become blind to the consequences of fleshy living? Are our senses so dull that we have become immune to God’s warnings and pleas? Have we allowed the offerings of this world to dry up our joy as Joel talks about in Joel 1:12?

Joel’s message for me began in Joel 1:2 with the words “Hear this” and “listen”. It captured my attention to exam my reverence to God as my sovereign Lord and to turn away from my self-centeredness and sin. I saw glimpse of my own lukewarm behavior periodically, the kind of thinking and acts far from what God not only requires, but what He truly deserves. And again, I ask “why”?

As my heart cries out to God to restore my emphasis on Him, I feel the Lord asking me, “Who do you say I am?” How well can I accurately describe Him? This indescribable love who has longed for me, shown mercy in so many ways, sanitized my mistakes, transformed my sins for His good, and showered me with blessings beyond my understanding. He has created turning points in my spiritual journey to increase my faith and knowledge of Him and yet again is tugging on my heartstrings to draw closer to Him through a sincere focus on my prayer life.

What about you? Who do you say God is? How is your prayer life?

Please leave your comments, suggestions, and thoughts below. We are all in this together. Lets reach out and help each other in our journey. I look forward to hearing your insight.

To you, Lord, I call, for fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness and flames have burned up all the trees of the field. Even the wild animals pant for you; the streams of water have dried up and fire has devoured the pastures in the wilderness. Joel 1:19-20 (NIV)

January 3, 2021 0