byPrayer is communication with God – a place where you speak with faith to receive answers from Him. While these answers may manifest in various physical forms, the most reliable way to receive God’s direction is through His Word. The Bible, being God-breathed (see 2 Timothy 3:16), is more than just text – it is the living breadth of God Himself. It is amazing to note that while God is Almighty and sovereign over all creation, He has bound Himself to His promises in His Word, so much so that when He gave humanity free will, even after their fall into sin, He stood firm by what He has said because His Word is unchangeable – it is ‘yes and amen’ (see 2 Corinthians 1:20). Today, you can respectfully yet confidently hold Him to His Word, not out of rebelliousness, but out of trust in His faithfulness. Read further and discover how praying with God’s Word transforms your communication with Him from mere requests into powerful declarations of His promises.
The Word is direction.
When you pray, you are to do so according to God’s will. 1 John 5:14 (KJV) makes it clear, saying,
‘And this is the confidence that we have in him that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us.’
What, then, is God’s will? God’s will is His Word. To pray in line with God’s will requires you to know and declare His Word on earth. The Bible demonstrates this in Jesus’ prayer, where He asks God to do His will ‘on earth as it is in heaven.’ It gives God the go-ahead to do His work in your life based on what you have seen Him do in scripture.
Often, some Christians limit their prayers because they don’t know what God has already promised or declared. However, when you root your prayers in scripture, you’re no longer just asking and hoping like little children devoid of direction; you’re standing on the solid foundation of His promises.
When you root your prayers in scripture, you’re no longer just asking and hoping like little children devoid of direction; you’re standing on the solid foundation of His promises.
The Word is a weapon.
Each time Satan tempted Him, Jesus responded with ‘It is written,’ demonstrating that the Word has power against other spiritual forces. When you face challenges, you can also do as Christ did by declaring God’s Word as your defence. Thus, you must know the scripture to use it effectively in prayer. The Bible tells us in Ephesians 6:17 that the Word of God is ‘the sword of the Spirit,’ When you pray God’s Word back to Him, you’re not just speaking but engaging in spiritual warfare.
The Word is food.
Man must not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds out of the mouth of God (see Matthew 4:4). To nourish your spirit man, you must eat of God’s Word just as your physical body needs food for nourishment. So, the Word is your daily bread for your prayer. You must feed your prayer life with scripture daily.
When you digest God’s Word through reading and meditation, it becomes the substance of your prayers, and your prayers become enriched with His truth. The Bible says in Psalm 1:3 that those who delight in God’s Word are like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in season, whose leaves do not wither. When you pray based on His truth, your faith remains vibrant, like a fire that never fades.
The Bible provides direction and spiritual protection and nourishes your spirit man. By studying scripture, you can pray confidently, declaring God’s truth, thus transforming your prayer life as well. As you learn to use the scripture to pray, you will begin to see God’s will clearly manifest in your lives.
