How To Pray For A Test

A test or exam is one of the things that Christians pray to God for as the date of their test/exam approaches. As Christians, just as we pray to God and depend on God for our daily provision, strength, and grace regarding other aspects of life, we also pray for our tests or exams. Praying to God is an act of humility. We don’t try to excel in our upcoming tests with our intellect and strength. We come before God in humility to depend on Him and ask Him for the grace that we need to excel in our studies. Remember that everything comes from God, including intellect, understanding, and knowledge.

Nehemiah 9:6

Thou, even thou, art Lord alone; thou hast made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth, and all things that are therein, the seas, and all that is therein, and thou preservest them all; and the host of heaven worshippeth thee.

Revelation 4:11

Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

What does God say about exams?

The Bible does not explicitly address tests or exams. However, there are Bible verses that we can apply not just to our tests or exams but to our studies as a whole. When you talk about exams, you cannot avoid talking about studying since the result of your exams are affected by whether you’ve studied for them or not. That is where 1 Corinthians 10:31 and Colossians 3:23-24 come in. These verses tell us that we work heartily for the LORD and not for men when we work. Also, in everything that we do, we are to do everything for the glory of God. As we apply that to our studies, including our exams, we are to glorify God and know that we are studying not for our parents or teachers, but for God. The practical application of those verses is that if indeed we want to glorify God in our studies, we shall strive to be excellent in our studies and faithful in them. That means we always set aside time to study and review what we need to review to be prepared for the exam. Knowing that it is God we are studying for; we are to study with excellence since God deserves excellence. 

1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23-24

23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.

How are students encouraged before exams?

A Bible verse that you can use to encourage yourself (if you are a student) or other Christians who are students is Philippians 4:13. The verse does not apply in the sense that it’s okay to neglect your studies because you can still excel in your exams through Christ Who strengthens you. Instead, it tells us that you can do all things – things according to God’s will, such as being faithful in your studies – through Christ Who strengthens you. This means you can excel in your studies not because Christ strengthens you even if you don’t study, but because Christ strengthens you to do the will of God, which is to study so that you may excel in your exams. Indeed, it may sometimes be hard to be faithful to one’s studies, and sometimes students struggle with understanding some subject matters, but even if it is hard, they can do it through Christ Who strengthens them. We can be excellent and glorify God in our studies and exams not through our strength but through Christ’s strength and the grace that God gives us.

Philippians 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Another thing that you can encourage in students is that they are always honest and uphold the integrity of their hearts as they take an exam. This means they shall never cheat or merely follow what other students are doing; they shall always turn away from evil and do that which is right in the sight of God. Pleasing God is much more important than pleasing men. Without our pleasing God, having high scores is all in vain.

Proverbs 10:9

He that walketh uprightly walketh surely: but he that perverteth his ways shall be known.

Proverbs 19:1

Better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips, and is a fool.

Titus 2:11-12

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

How do you pray for a test?

The things that we have discussed above are what you can pray for your upcoming test. You can pray for yourself to be faithful in your studies and prepare for your forthcoming examinations. You can pray to God for strength and grace as you study, that He will help you master and understand the subject matter you are reviewing. You can also pray for your heart; that your heart’s motivation in studying is always to glorify God and that you will never turn to dishonest ways, always upholding the integrity of your heart. Here is how you can pray for your studies and exams:

Father in heaven, You are the God Who gives grace and strength. Give me the grace to be faithful in my studies so that I shall always study well in preparation for my upcoming tests. Give me an understanding of the mind and the knowledge I need to comprehend the subjects I am studying. Even if this is challenging, I can do it through Christ, Who strengthens me. Remind me that I ought to glorify You even in my studies and that I am studying for You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Depending on God does not mean we don’t need to study. It means we study and prepare for our upcoming tests knowing that God helps us as we study. In the end, if we do well in our tests, the glory is not ours but God’s, Who gave us the grace and the strength to do well.