Praying Through Scripture

Where does our help come from?

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth (Psalm 121:1-2).

The testimony of Scripture assures us of God’s faithfulness. We can take any need we have to our Creator God in prayer. But sometimes we don’t know where to start. Like how glasses improve impaired vision, examining our needs and concerns through the lens of Scripture helps us see our situation from God’s perspective. Praying through Scripture can give us words to pray when situations and people weigh heavily on our hearts.

Consider this brief list of common prayer needs and see how Scripture can guide your prayers:

A loved one is not walking with the Lord:

“I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1:18-19a).

Struggles with addiction, temptation, and sin:

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Prayer for healing:

“Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (James 5:14-16).

God has said “No” or “Wait”:

“Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:8-9).

When you feel unloved:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 8:38-19).

When you feel attacked or overwhelmed:

“I love you, Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies” (Psalm 18:1-3).

The lens of Scripture significantly improves our vision

Take a moment and reflect on your prayer life. Ask yourself: “How often do I recall God’s promises from Scripture when I pray? Do I directly connect prayer requests to God’s biblical promises?” The Bible assures us that God loves us and knows what is best for us. The lens of Scripture significantly improves our vision, giving us confidence to lift all of our requests to God. He will always be our help in his perfect time, in his perfect way. As you pray through Scripture, rest in the assurance that your “help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).

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