As a pastor, I’ve spent years guiding others in their spiritual journeys, yet every so often, I encounter a fresh perspective that reshapes my own walk with God. Recently, I had just such a moment while reading an article from Desiring God titled “Talk to God in His Own Language: Learning to Pray the Bible.”
The title alone caught my attention, hinting at a new way to approach prayer. As I sat quietly in my office, I felt a gentle challenge stir within me—to reconsider the way I engage in conversation with the Lord. I’ve always taught that prayer is a dialogue, but here was an invitation to shift that dynamic: What if, instead of just speaking to God in my own words, I prayed using His?
Revitalizing Prayer Through Scripture
The article began by addressing a familiar struggle—the dryness that sometimes creeps into our prayer life. Who among us hasn’t felt lost for words in prayer, repeating the same phrases or battling distraction? Yet, the message quickly became clear: This wasn’t just about revitalizing prayer to feel spiritually refreshed; it was about aligning our hearts more deeply with God’s will by praying His own words back to Him.
One story in particular resonated with me. The author shared how, in moments of prayerful silence, he turned to the Psalms, letting Scripture guide his dialogue with God. It was as if a key had unlocked a hidden room of spiritual riches. That image stuck with me—how often do I lean on my own understanding in prayer instead of anchoring myself in God’s unshakable promises?
A Simple Shift That Changed Everything
Moved by this idea, I decided to experiment with it myself. The Psalms seemed like a natural place to start, as the article suggested. Instead of merely reading them devotionally, I reshaped them into personal prayers:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want” became “Lord, you are my shepherd, and I lack nothing.”
This simple shift changed everything. Suddenly, my prayers weren’t just expressions of my own thoughts and emotions—they were declarations of God’s truth over my life. Praying Scripture tethered my conversation with God to His unwavering promises rather than the ever-changing currents of my circumstances.
A Practice for the Whole Church
As I continued reflecting, I saw how this practice could transform not just my own prayer life, but also the spiritual rhythm of our church. What if we encouraged our congregation to pray Scripture, not just read it? Imagine a community where, in moments of doubt or weariness, we instinctively turn to God’s own words for strength.
This isn’t about replacing personal prayers with recitation—it’s about allowing Scripture to shape the way we speak to God, just as it already shapes the way He speaks to us.
An Invitation to a Deeper Prayer Life
To my fellow ministry leaders, and to anyone looking for renewal in their conversations with God, I offer this takeaway: Let’s remain open to fresh ways of engaging with God, especially those that root us more deeply in His Word.
Consider setting aside time not only to read or study Scripture but to pray it. Start with a Psalm, a promise from the Gospels, or a passage from Paul’s letters. Let those words become your own.
Just as a fresh breeze revitalizes a stagnant room, praying the Bible can breathe new life into our conversations with God. It’s an invitation to shift from speaking to God in our limited understanding to engaging with Him in the rich, abundant language He has already given us.
