Bible engagement and prayer go together. We should read the Word with thought given to prayer and pray with thought given to the Word.
Maybe you’ve asked, “How do I pray according to God’s will?” When prayers are informed and fuelled by God’s Word, they will be consistent with His plans and purposes.
Here’s a simple three-step method (the 3 R’s) to help you pray according to God’s will:
- Read Scripture
- Reflect on Scripture
- Respond to Scripture (pray)
I’ve used the 3 R’s for decades, and they work brilliantly. Once I’ve read a portion of Scripture and spent time digging into the text, I take the truths that the Holy Spirit has illuminated and pray them back to God. When I do this, I find my prayers come alive. There’s something special about praying God’s Word back to Him. It’s real and relevant – never rote.
When the Scriptures are the content of our prayers, they guide how we pray. Our natural tendency, when the Scriptures don’t directly inform our prayers, is to mainly pray “God bless me and my family” or “Please help me” prayers. But when the launch pad for our prayers is the Word, they incline us to pray all types of prayers: petition, thanksgiving, adoration, entreaty, praise, intercession, declaration, formation, celebration, spiritual warfare, healing, and more.
That’s not to say the Bible is a “prayer book.” It isn’t. Nor is it to say that the Psalms or the many prayers in the Bible should be the main source for our prayers (even though they provide tremendous frameworks for prayer). But it is to say that reading and reflecting on the Word gives us glimpses of God that help us align our hearts with His heart. Then, when our hearts are aligned with God’s heart, we pray according to His will.
Read the related articles to learn more about Bible engagement and prayer.
Recommended
Inspiring Prayer is an excellent primer for prayer – a 54-page Scripture booklet from SGM Canada
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Summary
Bible engagement and prayer should go hand in hand, with Scripture guiding our prayers. To pray according to God’s will, the 3 R’s method—Read, Reflect, and Respond—helps align our prayers with His purposes. By reading and reflecting on Scripture, we gain insights that shape our prayers, moving beyond self-centred requests to include praise, intercession, and spiritual warfare. While the Bible isn’t a prayer book, it provides a framework that helps us pray in alignment with God’s heart and will.
© Scripture Union Canada
