Praying with Scripture
by Joni Eareckson Tada
“‘Is not my word like fire,’ declares the Lord, ‘and like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces?'”  
Jeremiah 23:29
Would you like to have greater faith in prayer? Of course you would. And it stands to reason that if faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God, then the Word alone is the source of faith, especially in prayer.
The Word of God is the Christian’s true prayer book. The secret to receiving answers to prayer lies in how we use God’s Word during prayer time — that’s why it’s always a good idea to pray next to an open Bible. Do you want to tune your words of praise so they will rise like a beautiful worship song to the Lord? Then fill your praises with glorious words from the Song of Songs or verses of adoration from the book of Psalms.
Also, bring God’s Word directly into your intercessions. Pray for your loved one on the basis of Colossians 1 or Psalm 20. Why is this so important? The psalmist said, “I will never forget your precepts, for by them you have renewed my life.” You bring God’s power to bear in the lives of the people for whom you intercede when you bring God’s Word into your intercessions.
Read portions of Scripture to prime your pump before you pray. Let the Spirit lead you to certain verses to use in your praise and intercessions. Then, develop personal prayers that are enriched by those same verses. God loves to hear His Word when you pray. It’s like speaking His language.

Today, Lord, I praise You that Your Word is like a hammer that breaks through my unbelief. Your Word is like a fire that sets my heart aflame.  Teach me to use all of Your Word as a powerful tool in my prayers.

Blessings,
Joni and Friends
 
 
Taken from Diamonds in the Dust
Copyright © 1993
By Joni Eareckson Tada
Published in Print by Zondervan, Grand Rapids
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version.
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