PRAYING THROUGH
BIBLICAL EXAMPLES TO FOLLOW
- Judges 4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Arise! For this is the day on which the LORD has given Sisera into your hands; behold, the LORD has gone out before you.”
PRAY for boldness to lead when God calls, even in uncertain times.
- Judges 6:15–16 He said to Him, “O Lord, how shall I deliver Israel? Behold, my family is the least in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.” But the LORD said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat Midian as one man.”
PRAY for faith, like Gideon, to trust God’s strength in your weakness.
- Judges 16:28a Then Samson called to the LORD and said, “O Lord GOD, please remember me and please strengthen me just this time…”
PRAY for perseverance after failure to seek God’s guidance for what He has next.
- 1 Sam 3:10 Then the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel said, “Speak, for Your servant is listening.”
PRAY for a listening heart that responds to God’s voice.
- 1 Samuel 15:22a Samuel said, “Has the LORD as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of the LORD?”
PRAY for obedience that values God’s commands over personal gain.
- 1 Sam 16:7 “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.”
PRAY to see things as God sees them, not as man sees them.
- 1 Samuel 18:4 Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
PRAY for loyalty and selflessness with your relationships.
- 2 Samuel 15:6 In this manner Absalom dealt with all Israel who came to the king for judgment; so Absalom stole away the hearts of the men of Israel.
PRAY to share God’s wisdom when others come to you seeking advice.
- 1 Kings 3:9 “So give Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, to discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
PRAY for Godly judgement to know good from evil in all situations and respond appropriately.
- 1 Kings 18:36 “At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, ‘LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel, and that I am Your servant, and that I have done all these things at Your word.’”
PRAY for a heart to be God’s servant in all you do.
- 2 Kings 2:9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”
PRAY for a double portion of spiritual hunger and service.
- 2 Kings 19:15 Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said, “O LORD, the God of Israel, who are enthroned above the cherubim, You are the God, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth.”
PRAY for trust in God’s power when facing overwhelming odds.
- 2 Kings 22:2 He did right in the sight of the LORD and walked in all the way of his father David, nor did he turn aside to the right or to the left.
PRAY to stay on the path God has for you.
- Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the LORD and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.
PRAY for devotion to study, live, and teach God’s Word with understanding and confidence.
- Esther 4:14 “For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place and you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?”
PRAY for courage to act “for such a time as this.”
- Esther 6:10 Then the king said to Haman, “Take quickly the robes and the horse as you have said, and do so for Mordecai the Jew, who is sitting at the king’s gate; do not fall short in anything of all that you have said.”
PRAY for integrity that honors God even when unseen.
- Job 1:21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, And naked I shall return there. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.”
PRAY for steadfast faith in times of suffering.
- John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
PRAY for humility to decrease so Christ may increase.
- Luke 1:38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word. And the angel departed from her.”
PRAY for surrender to God’s will, even you don’t understand all that it means.
- Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
PRAY for wisdom how to pray for and encourage others in a personal and meaningful way.
- John 13:23 There was reclining on Jesus’ bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.
PRAY for intimacy with Jesus and love for others.
- John 20:18 Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things to her.
PRAY for boldness to proclaim the risen Christ.
- Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
PRAY for unashamed witness to the gospel in every aspect of your life.
- Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Spirit and of faith. And considerable numbers were brought to the Lord.
PRAY for a spirit of encouragement and generosity.
- Acts 7:59–60 They went on stoning Stephen as he called on the Lord and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Then falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said this, he fell asleep.
PRAY for openness to God’s work no matter what the cost or discomfort.
- Acts 10:34–35 Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him.”
PRAY for openness to God’s work across cultures and boundaries.
- Romans 16:1–2 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea; that you receive her in the Lord in a manner worthy of the saints, and that you help her in whatever matter she may have need of you; for she herself has also been a helper of many, and of myself as well.
PRAY for servant-hearted leadership and hospitality.
- Acts 18:26 And he began to speak out boldly in the synagogue. But when Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they took him aside and explained to him the way of God more accurately.
PRAY for wisdom to teach truth with gentleness and clarity.
- Luke 5:19 But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.
PRAY to be a friend that is present and recognizes and meets real needs.
- Acts 9:15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the sons of Israel.”
PRAY to embrace your calling as a vessel for God’s purposes.
