Richard Foster writes that there are at least four blessings that come from praying Scripture (a form of what he and others call Liturgical Prayer).[1] First, it often provides words for issues and emotions we have no words for. Sometimes we just don’t know how to say what we want to say. Scripture often brings the very words we need. Second, praying Scripture reminds us that we are part of much larger community. As we pray words used by the Body of Christ for centuries, we are reconnected with the global family of God. Third, it keeps us from giving in to the temptation to be spectacular and entertaining. By using words which others have written, we don’t have to worry about being clever, brilliant, or original. Finally, praying Scripture breathes new life into our prayers as it stretches us with words and concepts which may be unfamiliar.
Jesus himself used Scripture for prayer. There are several times during which Jesus alludes to or quotes from a Psalm when praying. He found that Scripture gave him just what was needed in certain times of prayer.
Yesterday we used categories of Scripture from Jesus to guide our prayers. Today we rely upon Paul. Paul can lead our prayer in two ways. First, Paul wrote many of his prayers down. We can pray for ourselves and others the actual prayers prayed by Paul. Second, Paul wrote several summary lists of the Christian character. In these lists he sketches out what life in Christ is not and what life in Christ is. Praying through these lists can be a rewarding spiritual experience.
Take ten minutes today to read through the material from Paul below. Then choose either some prayers of Paul or some of the lists of Paul and pray through those.
Praying Paul’s Prayers
Many of Paul’s letters include rich and rewarding prayers Paul uttered for his readers. By praying these prayers daily or weekly, we learn a new language and direction for prayer:
- 9And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, 10so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. (Phil. 1:9-11 ESV)
- 16I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, 17that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, 18 having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. (Eph. 1:16-21 ESV)
- 14For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, 15from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, 16that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:14-18 ESV)
- 9And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. (Col. 1:9-12 ESV).
Praying Paul’s Lists
In each of the texts below Paul provides a look traits we seek to eliminate from our lives and traits we seem to emulate in our lives. Praying through these lists regularly helps us catch God’s vision for our lives
Rom. 12:9-21
| God, help me eliminate these traits:
Tolerating evil, being slothful, being haughty, being wise in your own sight, repaying evil with evil, being vengeful, being overcome by evil |
God, help me emulate these traits:
Loving in a genuine way, holding on to the good, showing brotherly affection, showing honor, being fervent in spirit, being joyful, being patient, being prayerful, being generous, showing hospitality, blessing those who persecute you, living in harmony in with others, associating with the lowly, doing what is honorable, living peaceably with others, overcoming evil with good |
1 Cor. 13:4-8
| God, help me eliminate these traits:
Being envious, being boastful, being arrogant, being rude, insisting on your own way, being irritable, being resentful, rejoicing at wrongdoing |
God, help me emulate these traits:
Being patient, being kind, rejoicing with the truth, bearing all things, believing all things, hoping all things, enduring all things, never quitting |
Gal. 5:16-23
| God, help me eliminate these traits:
Being sexually immoral, being impure, being lustful, practicing idolatry, getting involved in sorcery, being full of enmity, promoting strife, being jealous, engaging in fits of anger, promoting rivalries, being involved in dissensions, causing divisions, being envious, getting drunk, being involved in orgies |
God, help me emulate these traits:
Being loving, having joy, being peaceful, showing patience, being kind, being good, being faithful, being gentle, being self-controlled |
Col. 3:5-14
| God, help me eliminate these traits:
Being sexually immoral, being impure, being controlled by passions, having evil desires, coveting, being angry, being wrathful, acting maliciously, being involved in slander, speaking obscenities, lying |
God, help me emulate these traits:
Being compassionate, showing kindness, being humble, being meek, demonstrating patience, bearing with others, forgiving others, loving |
[1] Richard Foster, Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home (HarperSanFrancisco, 1992), 107-108.
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