When we talk about praying before drinking, we are talking about drinking only one small cup of alcohol or drinking in a controlled manner that does not lead to drunkenness. Praying before you get drunk is contrary to nature.
Father, give me the graces I need to be disciplined as I drink. Give me the strength to keep it to one cup or a tiny portion. Help me exercise the fruit of the Spirit, which is self-control, and walk as a wise person. Give me the wisdom and the conviction to stop if I see that I would be prone to drunkenness. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
Above is one prayer you can pray as you drink a controlled, small amount of alcohol. Take note that the focus of the prayer is on keeping disciplined and exercising self-control as you consume a small quantity of alcohol.
A Before-Drinking Prayer
Which verse in the Bible talks about alcohol?
The Bible tells us that drunkenness with alcohol is a sin, according to Ephesians 5:18 where it was written:
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;”
And in Galatians 5:21:
“Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Is drinking alcohol a sin in the Bible?
The Bible does not say that drinking alcohol itself is a sin. For example, if you drink a small quantity of wine, that is not a sin. But if you keep on drinking until you get drunk, that is when alcohol becomes a sin.
In 1 Corinthians 6:12, Paul said that everything is lawful/permissible for him to do but that not everything is wise to do. You may drink alcohol, but there are circumstances where drinking alcohol is unwise and may lead to sin.
All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.
-1 Corinthians 6:12
A Before-Drinking Prayer
Should Christians drink alcohol?
The answer to the question “Should Christians drink alcohol?” is to be considered on a case-to-case basis for Christians. Some Christians are prone to drinking too much alcohol, leading to drunkenness. In those cases, the wise thing to do is avoid drinking alcohol. At the same time, most Christians can exercise discipline and self-control; they can stop after drinking a cup or two. What we should always exercise here is wisdom. Another thing that you should consider is that if other Christians see you, it may cause them to stumble if they are vulnerable. Therefore, even if you can exercise self-control, you also have to be wise in where you drink and who is there with you.
Here is one prayer you can pray as you contemplate drinking alcohol:
Father, give me wisdom that I can apply when it comes to drinking alcohol. I pray that You would always give the grace to exercise self-control and never be led by alcohol. Remind me always to consider not being a stumbling block to other Christians. May I glorify You and honor You with every choice I make. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
A Before-Drinking Prayer
Drinking itself is not a sin. But what we have to look out for with alcohol is drunkenness. This is a matter of personal conviction among Christians. As long as nothing leads to drunkenness and no one is stumbling, it is just a matter of exercising wisdom. You have to be self-aware of your limits. It is unwise to put yourself in a position where you are prone to be tempted. Just remember that everything You do should please God and always be rooted in the fear of the LORD.