Have You Prayed Scripture?
by Susan Harris
One of the prize books I received for topping my class in elementary school was a book called “My First Book of Prayer”. Filled with colourful pictures, it was my first tangible expression of prayer as a child.
Later, I was launched into prayer during my early years at university with Campus for Christ. There I learned of the multifaceted areas of intercession, praise, worship, thanksgiving, petition, supplication, adoration, waiting, listening, confession aspects of prayer and praying the Scriptures.
One of my favourite ways to pray continues to be Scripture Praying. (Tweetable)
Scripture Praying uses the word of God to pray requests that are based on His word. It reminds me of a lawyer presenting a case, where a point is made and then backed up with a reference. You can build fresh resolve for fresh answers by praying the Word of God. In 1985 I started praying the Scriptures and have never stopped.
That year at university I scored a ‘C’ grade in Marketing and was quite distressed about it. I searched the Bible for words that spoke to good grades and intelligence, and found some in Daniel:
Children in whom was no blemish, but well favoured, and skilful in all wisdom, and cunning in knowledge, and understanding science, and such as had ability in them to stand in the king’s palace, and whom they might teach the learning and the tongue of the Chaldeans. (Daniel 1:4, KJV).
(I would recommend using a concordance to help locate scripture verses that speak to your situation. There are free ones online.)
Since the Word of God MUST come to pass, I prayed this verse daily, personalizing it to my situation like this:
I, Susan, am favoured by God just like Daniel was. I am smart and wise, and will understand and gain knowledge in every kind of learning including Marketing, Business Policy, Accounting 1…..
And I named every course I took. The following semester I scored an A in Business Policy, the follow-up course to Marketing, and my faith in Scripture praying was affirmed.
Friend, not one jot, not a punctuation mark, or a letter will go unnoticed by God.
Pray the Word back to Him Who spoke the Word, and
see it come to pass. (Tweetable)
The Word is the tool that Jesus used to defeat Satan’s temptation after His forty-day fast. Not once, but three times, Jesus said, “It is written” and quoted the Scripture. His strategy is as potent and effective today as it was then. Ensure you are doing what is required in your human environment. Then speak the Word to your mountain and see the Lord unfold the results.
(Excerpt from Golden Apples in Silver Settings, by Susan Harris Ch 17 – Fresh Resolve to Pray.)
Related articles
- How There is Power in Scripture (underthecoverofprayer.wordpress.com)
- What is the Date for Answered Prayer? (underthecoverofprayer.wordpress.com)
Susan Harris
Susan is a speaker, wife, mother, and former teacher. Prayer is her passion, and except for salvation, it is the subject on which she has spoken most frequently over 20 years of Christian ministry. She is also the author of three books – Little Copper Pennies for Kids, Little Copper Pennies: Celebrating the Life of the Canadian one cent piece (for adults) and Golden Apples in Silver Settings. She loves kittens, pennies, and making new friends. Find her at www.susanharris.ca, on Facebook at SusanHarrisCanadianAuthor, and on Twitter @SusanHarris20.
I really enjoyed your post and I do the same exact thing, personalize scriptures. When we pray the word of God we know His word will not return to Him void!
Exciting, and you must have seen many answers to prayer, too? Thanks for expressing your enjoyment of the post, and feel free to search the site using my name and read the other blogs. (There’s two to date but more will be forthcoming.) Blessings on your day.
Reblogged this on susanmharris.
Great encouragement. It’s a reminder of a teaching I heard long ago–when you pray God’s word to Him, you know it will not return void.
Janis, it’s a reminder I need as often as the dawn breaks because there are so many vagaries that want to tell us otherwise. Thanks for sharing on the blog.
Interestingly, Wednesdays have traditionally been “Prayer&Fast” day at the church in which I grew up. And it’s no different today. After logging on I was delighted to see this blog that traces my roots of prayer back to my childhood, and which continues in my adult years in another country was posted on a day I devoted to prayer. You had no knowlege of this Jan, but thanks for choosing to post this reminder today.