Prayer isn’t about saying or asking the right things — it’s about building a relationship with God by talking and listening to Him.
Have you felt this struggle too? The pressure of what to say when you pray. If so, you are not alone. That day I had to remind myself that there isn’t a formula for getting prayer right and that God isn’t listening for the perfect combination of words or measuring how well I pray.
But when we do long for more power and confidence in our prayers, Scripture tells us how to find it: This is the confidence which we have before Him — that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.
Basically, when we pray God’s Word, we pray God’s will.
In recent weeks when I haven’t known what all to pray, I’ve reminded myself that God’s Word is “alive and active.” And I’ve looked for scriptures to pray, asking Jesus to make His Words come alive in each family’s and individuals’ lives who have lost someone to COVID-19.
And on those days when this pandemic leaves me feeling like my life is spinning out of control, I’ll pray through Jeremiah 29:11-13:
Lord, You know the plans You have for me and my family, plans to give us a future and a hope. You promise to listen and lead when we come and talk to You. Today I choose to trust Your heart and Your plans when my life doesn’t look at all like I thought it would right now. Lord lead my decisions and align my direction with Yours. Even though things are hard and uncertain right now, I trust the plans You have for me.
I’m so grateful for the gift of being able to talk to God, even when I don’t know what to say. And I’m getting more comfortable with just sitting still and letting Him whisper His promises and then simply asking for their fulfillment in my prayers.
What is a favorite verse of yours that you could pray for others and for yourself today?
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Leave a Comment
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Renee,
One scripture that comes readily to mind is John 14:18: I will not leave you comfortless; I will come to you.
I think of this one when someone has lost a loved one. No words can bring their loved one back, but God’s unfathomable love can step in to comfort them. I believe that God allows pain so that we can experience His peace that passes understanding. I know that I would never have the close and intimate relationship with God that I do if pain had not been allowed to enter my life. Congratulations on the expansion of your wonderful family!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Renee Swope says
I love this verse Bev, and it is so perfect when praying for someone who is hurting from a loss of a loved one, or any other sorrow. Thank you for sharing it! I am definitely adding “promises to pray” list. 🙂 And thank you for the congrats. Our new daughter-in-love is a sweet gift to us all!
Michele Morin says
“May the Lord grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans.”
(Psalm 20:4, 5)
So many disappointments in this season. We will all need to learn how to dream big (God-sized) all over again.
Renee Swope says
You are so right Michele! I love this verse to pray over our hearts that will be hesitant to dream again. Thank you for sharing the verse and the insight. 🙂
Elizabeth says
Jeremiah is my go to, but I also love Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
Renee M Swope says
Proverbs 3:5-6 is one of my go-to verses as well. And such a good one to pray, too. Thanks for sharing it Elizabeth. 🙂
Karen says
Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
This is my banner, my inspiration, my promise,
my go to when I feel I can not accomplish anything!
Renee M Swope says
Amen Karen!! Such a good verse to declare over our doubts and fears.
Joyce Ehrhart says
Psalm 116:2 Because He bends down to listen, I will pray as long as I have breath.
Isaiah 40:10 I will strengthen you, yea I will help thee.
Some of my “go to” verses.
Renee M Swope says
Love these too!
Laurel Wallace says
These are all wonderful scriptures! Here’s one I also love:
Romans 12:12 “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Renee M Swope says
Romans 12:12 is such a great verse, and one I need to pray for myself daily. Lord, help me be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and faithful in prayer.
Julie says
The verse I keep coming back to lately:
Joshua 1:9
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Renee M Swope says
Joshua 1:9 is such a great scripture to pray. I think it’d be a good one to put it on a sticky note on our mirrors to remind ourselves during in this long season of sorrow and uncertainty.
Emily Boer says
Thank you, Renee. This is exactly what I’ve been struggling with lately, and this was a Godsend.
Renee M Swope says
Emily, I am so glad God timed this post to meet you in a personal way, as you struggle with this, too.
Beth Williams says
Renee,
First off congratulations on the wedding. So glad everyone had a good time in spite of all the ups & downs with the virus. I just got through reading “Dangerous Prayers” by Craig Groeschel. He gives us three powerful prayers to pray-“Search me, Break me & Send me”. They can be hard to pray but their impact is enormous. They pack a powerful punch. I’ve been ruminating on Psalm 23:4-5 Yea though I walk through the valley of shadow of death I will fear no evil for thou art with me. Thy rod & staff they comfort me. Jeremiah 29:11 is my life verse. We must remember that He is in control of the universe. Only He can get us through this pandemic. Praying God’s word is a great deterrent for the devil. He must flee when those words come out.
I have simply been praying Abba Father & then let the words flow from there. Nothing fancy or big words. Just speaking from my heart. I believe that is what God wants from us.
Blessings 🙂
Renee M Swope says
Beth, thank you for all that you shared. I love hearing your heart and how you are praying through this season of sorrow and uncertainty. I know God is moving in powerful ways that we can’t yet see, but we can trust HIM with all our hearts to bring beauty from the ashes of all of this.
Jennifer Haynie says
Renee,
Thank you for your post. After all of the rioting that’s taken place, I am heartbroken, and to be honest, at a loss of what truly to pray for. Obviously, I pray for peace and for justice, but even those words seem to bounce off of God. Through everything that’s happened this year, I know I need to simply let my heart cry out for God.
Thank you again for sharing.
Renee M Swope says
Jennifer, I have felt the same. My heart is crushed with the pain, devastation, division, hatred, injustice and sorrow of our nation. Some times all I can pray is Jesus, Jesus, Jesus. There is power in His name. He is the only ONE who can heal, redeem and restore all that is broken in our country and our hearts.
verse of the day says
WOW just what I was searching for. Came here by searching for bible verse of the day