Praying Scripture
by Major Karen Ramsey (TPN Newsletter, February 2002)
I wonder if this has ever been your predicament. On odd occasions it has been mine and I was reminded of it the other day when a friend phoned me and said: 'Karen, I just can't seem to pray any more. What should I do?' I recalled some of the aids I have used.
1. I reminded her of the Lord's Prayer, something that most of us are familiar with. You may feel that you know it so well that it doesn't always mean very much, but have you tried sitting down and writing it out. It doesn't take long and as you are writing you may find yourself meditating on a certain phrase as God speaks and lifts you up.
2. The Salvation Army song book is another source of prayer. Its pages are covered with prayers of praise, petition and pardon. I've just opened my song Book for an illustration and it has fallen open at song 52: 'Many are the things I cannot understand, All above me mystery I see.' It certainly is a mystery when we can't seem to talk with our best friend, but the song goes on to speak about his grace and his boundless love for us, truly more than we can ever comprehend.
3. For me, my best tool for praying is the Bible. I woke up the other morning with the words of Psalm 23 going over and over in my head: 'lead me' (actually it says 'guide me') 'in the paths of righteousness for thy name's sake,' and I wondered what God was trying to say to me. Over and over again throughout the day the words would return and they became a fervent prayer. That evening my husband and I were going to be counselling a friend and we truly needed God's guidance for his name to be glorified in the situation. Those words have remained with me, words that I knew well, but that have been given a fresh significance and have added to my prayers.
The prayer of Jabez is a wonderful prayer to include in your daily devotions, especially when you may be finding it hard to pray. It's found in 1 Chronicles 4:9,10. It is a very short prayer but the words are a vast resource to tap into.
I often use the prayers of Paul and then personalise them for my family and friends and myself. Below are a few I have used. I sometimes use just a phrase in one of them, and I may change the words a little, but God knows my heart and what I am trying to say, even if I don't say it very well.
- Ephesians 1:17-19, 3:16-19
- Philippians 1:9-11
- Colossians 1:9-12
- Philemon 1:4-7
- 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
- 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3
You may also find it helpful to look again at Jesus' prayer in John 17 and allow a verse or a phrase to encourage you and lift you up, causing you to pray.
4. You may well find it helpful to spend some time observing the beauty of God's creation and see him there.
5. If you are unable to communicate with the Lord using any of these aids, may I suggest that you sit quietly, saying the name of Jesus over and over again and quietly wait for his response, for God is a faithful God and he who 'seeks him with all his heart will surely find him'. Relax, listen and enjoy being in the presence of God. Even if you can't speak to him, sit in his presence and let him bless you.