Many times, we want to pray, but we don’t know what to say. What content should we pray about? The following brief suggestions will help.
1) Pray the Word
Read a few verses at a time, say 3-4 verses. Turn them into the present tense and pray it back to God. As appropriate, pray that God will help you experience what that text is teaching, embrace it, avoid it, etc.
For example, Ephesians 6:10-11 says, “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”
To pray that, we would first read it out loud. Second, we might pray as follows:
“Father, I want to ‘be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.’ I want to be strong in you but I don’t know how to do it. I don’t even know if my heart is willing. Please give me the willingness to desire to obey this scripture. Also, please teach me how to do it so that I may bring glory to you by walking the way you want me to. Lord, you say I should ‘Put on the the whole armor of God” that I “may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.” Please teach me how to wear “the whole armor of God,” not part of it. Expose the schemes the devil is using in my life. Open my eyes to see them and help me avoid them by wearing your armor. In Jesus name, Amen.”
Popular examples of praying the word are 1) praying the Ten Commandments.
2) Petitions and Intercessions
Pray for things for things you need (petition) or pray on behalf of others (intercession). Petition and intercession are both types of prayer, but they differ in focus and purpose. Petition involves praying for one’s own needs and desires, seeking God’s help, guidance, or provision for personal matters. In contrast, intercession involves praying on behalf of others, bringing their needs, struggles, or situations before God, and advocating for them. While petition is self-focused, intercession is outwardly focused, demonstrating care and love for others through prayer.
3) Ripple Prayer
Ripple prayer is a form of prayer that combines both petitions and intercessory prayer. See the ripple prayer article here.
