Praying the Bible

A simple way to pray what Scripture says

Not sure what to pray? Scripture can give you the words. The Bible is full of prayers and promises, and this guide helps you choose a passage and spend time with it. In a few simple steps, you’ll work out what it says in your own words, then turn it into a prayer for someone or something on your heart.

Two ways in.

How to use it

  1. Start at the top. Write down who or what you’re praying for. It could be a person, a family, a church, a place or a situation.
  2. Choose a passage. Pick one of the examples, or a verse of your own, and read it slowly a couple of times.
  3. Work through the questions. Put the passage in your own words, notice whether it’s a prayer or a promise, and list what is being asked or promised. Short notes are fine.
  4. Pray. Use what you’ve written to put a prayer together. Pray it quietly, out loud, or with others.

Think of the questions as a companion while you consider the passage. They help you slow down, think about what the verse is really saying, and move step by step towards a prayer of your own. It’s a simple way to pray the Bible, and one you can come back to with any passage.

If you’re praying with others, name your passage first. Everyone then has the same words to follow and agree with, even when we pray in different ways. Once it feels familiar, try a new passage, and pass this page on to a friend or your church.