A Biblical Prayer

Biblical prayer is a prayer aligned with the Scriptures or texts from the Bible. It is the highest guideline and a foundation for the Christian faith. You can pray to God using your own words, thoughts, and ideas, but a biblical prayer embodies principles and teachings applied to the truths of God’s Word. If you want to know how to pray a biblical prayer, that’s simple: read your Bible. The more you read God’s word, the more you become familiar with His ways, His principles, the things He desires, and the things He despises. The more familiar you are with God and His ways, the more biblical your prayers will become.

Here is an example of a Biblical prayer:

Heavenly Father, I bless those cursing me behind my back, and I know that I don’t have to retaliate. Help me to do good to those who hate me, use me, and persecute me, so that I may shine the light of Christ amidst the darkness. Bless them, Father, by encountering them with Your love, this I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This prayer is based on Matthew 5:44. Jesus said, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you….”

Praying the Scriptures is one of the most powerful and effective prayers because you are praying for the will of God by using His Word. God will never contradict what He has said nor ignore what He has declared and promised. And when you speak those promises out in prayer, the heavenly angels move because you are speaking the very words of God.

How do you pray in the Bible?

When Jesus taught His disciples how to pray, He showed us the right way to pray. Let’s take a look at the Lord’s Prayer in Matthew 6:9-13:

9 After this manner, therefore, pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name 

– Reverence, honor, adoration, praise to the Father.

10 Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. 

– Praying for the Father’s will and the manifestation of heaven on earth. This means prioritizing His perfect plans and ideas more than what is on your mind, what you think is best, and so on. God’s will should be placed above all else.

11 Give us this day our daily bread 

– Praying for the Father’s provision to your daily needs or your family’s needs. 

12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors 

– Confession of sins and forgiving those who caused you offenses.

13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever. Amen. 

– Prayer for God’s protection and giving back all the glory, honor, and power unto Him in the name of Jesus.

So here we have the following manners of prayer: 

1. Reverence, honoring, adoration, and praises to the Father.
2. Praying the Father’s will and the manifestation of heaven on earth more than what is on your mind, what you think is best, and so on. God’s will should be placed above all else.
3. Praying for the Father’s daily provisions of your needs and your family’s needs. 
4. Confession of sins and forgiving those who caused you offenses.
5. Praying for God’s protection and giving back all the glory, honor, and power unto Him in the name of Jesus.

Jesus modeled how we approach God in our prayer time with Him, so that we may magnify Him and glorify His name. We ask for His will to be done, His provisions in our lives, and sometimes we make confessions. We may also ask for His protection against evil and temptations. 

Prayers are our conversations with the Father. You can come and be who you are in Christ before Him, and He’ll welcome you with wide-open arms.

How do you start a prayer?

It is vital to start a prayer with reverence, magnifying God, adoration, and thanksgiving, as that’s what Jesus taught His disciples in the LORD’s prayer. Moreover, there are also three practical ways that you can pray biblically:

1. You can pray biblically by declaring the Scriptures.

For instance, Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

To make this into prayer, you can declare:

In Jesus’ name, God’s thoughts for me are peace and not of evil; to give me a future and a hope!”

2. You can pray biblically by aligning your thoughts into the Word of God and making them your prayers:

For instance, Jesus said in Matthew 5:44, “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you….”

To make this into a biblical prayer, you can say:

Heavenly Father, I bless those cursing me behind my back, and I know that I don’t have to retaliate. Help me to do good to those who hate me, use me, and persecute me, so that I may shine the light of Christ amidst the darkness. Bless them, Father, by encountering them with Your love. I pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

3. You can pray biblically by simply being you as a child of God, given that you have the knowledge and the foundation of God’s Word. 

Our Heavenly Father isn’t robotic or strict enough to reject any of His children coming before Him in openness and transparency. Always come as you are in your prayers before God, for He prefers honesty and authenticity above all else.

For instance, you may pray:

Heavenly Father, I am having a terrible day today. I ask that You help me produce the fruit of the Spirit and not respond according to my flesh. Help me see people according to who they are in Christ and not their flesh. I praise You and thank You for the Holy Spirit who helps me in my weaknesses, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

This kind of prayer is biblical too, as you can see Scriptures highlighted, such as in the book of Galatians for the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23); the Book of Corinthians for regarding people, not in their flesh (2 Corinthians 5:16); and the Book of Romans for the Holy Spirit helping the believers in their weakness, especially with prayers (Romans 8:26).

Biblical prayer is simply about the Word of God being planted deep in the hearts of believers and making it a lifestyle as you pray to God. It is your responsibility to spend quality time with the Word of God, to study and meditate upon it, while the Holy Spirit helps you walk in them by reminding you of God’s Word every time and all the time. 

What is a good Bible verse for prayer?

There are many Bible verses that you can use for prayers, depending on your needs and what is timely for you at the moment. Here are some examples of good Bible verses for your prayer:

Bible verses for God’s healing:

1. James 5:14-15

Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he has committed sins, they shall be forgiven him.

2. Jeremiah 17:14

Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise.

3. Isaiah 53:5

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

4. 2 Chronicles 7:14-15

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

5. Isaiah 38:16-17

O Lord, by these things men live, and in all these things is the life of my spirit: so wilt thou recover me, and make me to live. Behold, for peace I had great bitterness: but thou hast in love to my soul delivered it from the pit of corruption: for thou hast cast all my sins behind thy back.

Bible verses for God’s provisions: 

1. Luke 12:14

Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?

2. Psalm 84:11

For the Lord God is a sun and shield: the Lord will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

3. Hebrews 4:16

Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

4. Genesis 9:3

Every moving thing that liveth shall be meat for you; even as the green herb have I given you all things.

5. Philippians 4:19

But my God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

6. Hebrews 13:5

Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

7. John 15:7

 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Bible verses against the works of the enemy:

1. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

2. James 4:7

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

3. Ephesians 6:11-17

Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

4. Romans 8:37

Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

5. Zechariah 4:6

Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

6. Isaiah 54:17

No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord.

7. 1 Corinthians 15:57

But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

8. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5

 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ…

9. 1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

Bible verses for strength:

1. Psalm 9:9-10

The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.

2. Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.

3. Nehemiah 8:10

Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.

4. Isaiah 40:31

 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

5. Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and are safe.

6. Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof.

There are so many more Bible verses to study if you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you as you spend time and meditate upon the Word of God. Just be sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and make every effort to study and read your Bible. Then start declaring and praying the Scriptures and you will witness God’s will manifesting in your life and in the lives of those you touch. 

It is a powerful declaration when you pray the Scriptures because God’s Word is God’s will. The more time you spend reading the Word of God, the more you understand His will. And when the enemy comes and tries to lie to you, attack you and do some stealing, killing, and destroying (see John 10:10), his tactics won’t work against you because you know the truths of God. And when you start praying what the Bible says, as you submit to God and resist the devil, the enemy begins to flee.

May our good Lord bless you, keep you and make His face shine upon you, in Jesus’ name. Amen.