Why Scripture is important in prayer:
- God’s Word brings us into His presence. “The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth” (Psalm 145:18). “Your Word is truth” (John 17:17).
- God’s Word helps us to pray in Jesus’ name (John 16:23). There are 100+ names for Jesus in the Bible. A name in biblical time included the character and authority of the person. So praying “in Jesus’ name” is not just saying His name at the end of our prayers. It is also praying for and in His character—with unconditional and sacrificial love, righteousness, forgiveness, grace, mercy, truth, His power over all things… Scripture is where we learn about the character and authority of Jesus.
- God’s Word helps us to pray powerfully in His will because His Word is His will, and He promises to answer those prayers (1 John 5:14-15).
- God’s Word is critical in seeking Him through prayer. It is the one place that we will never fail to find Him– “seek and you will find” (Matthew 7:7).
- God’s Word helps us to offer Him prayers of praise with a right heart (Psalm 119:7). Praise that brings us into His presence (Psalm 100:4) and silences the enemy (Psalm 8:2).
- Praying God’s Word directs our path (Psalm 119:105).
- God’s Word is necessary to pray in the Spirit and to fight spiritual battles (Ephesians 6:17-18). It was how Jesus defeated Satan in the temptation in the desert (Matthew 4:1-11).
- Praying God’s Word helps us not be just hearers of His Word but doers of it (James 1:22).
- God’s Word helps us to pray for and achieve His purposes, and He promises that it won’t return empty (Isaiah 55:10-11).
- God’s Word teaches how to pray through the examples of the Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), the Psalms or the many other prayers of faithful servant’s recorded in the Bible.