Praying the Word: When You’re Searching for Joy
On the surface, prayer seems simple. It’s talking to God. But in practice, we may have a lot of questions. Am I doing this right? Is there a “right” way to do it? What am I supposed to say? Are there things I shouldn’t pray about? Or maybe we feel pretty comfortable with praying, but we struggle with getting bored or losing focus.
Whatever our struggles with prayer, Scripture can be helpful. As Donald Whitney explains, “Praying the Bible isn’t complicated. Read through a few verses of Scripture, pause at the end of each phrase or verse, and pray about what the words suggest to you.” (You can read more from Donald Whitney about how to pray Scripture in this article.)
In the Praying the Word series, we’ll take the idea of praying Scripture and make it practical by sharing a passage of Scripture, an example prayer, and some guided questions to help you make it your own. The example prayer might serve as a model, or you can use it as a prayer for yourself. As you give this a try, don’t worry if it feels awkward or you’re not sure what to say. Remember, the power of prayer doesn’t come from the words we say, but from the One who hears them.
Example Scripture
Hebrews 12:1-3
[1] Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
[2] looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
[3] Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.
Father, thank you that Jesus has gone ahead of me on the pathway to joy. He was tortured and stripped of all earthly comforts—an object of scorn and hostility among men—and yet he endured it all for my joy, so that I could know fellowship and friendship with you. He counted this suffering as nothing compared to the joy of redeeming his people and conquering sin and death forever. He is seated at your right hand even now, reigning in majesty and interceding for me in my struggle for joy.
I confess that I don’t have the perspective of Christ. I know you call me to be joyful in all things—even when kids don’t listen, the stomach flu makes the rounds again, I lose precious hours of sleep, and work piles up—but I confess I’m often weighed down by discouragement and despair instead. Forgive me for looking for joy and deep satisfaction in the wrong places—my circumstances, my belongings, my children—instead of fixing my eyes on my Savior. I want to be spurred on by my joy in you, seeing today’s troubles through an eternal perspective. Help me believe that you are working for my ultimate good even in these trials of life. Teach me to run eagerly towards the prize of an eternal future with you, casting off worry, selfishness, discontentment, and anything that robs me of my joy in you.
Lord, I can’t fully see the joy of heaven, so it can be hard to keep my focus on the things to come. Thank you, though, that you are the “founder and perfecter” of my faith. You will keep restoring the joy of my salvation to me as you grow me in grace and knowledge of you. Thank you that you surround me with other believers to encourage me in running this race well; I pray that you would help me to seek joy within community, learning from the example of other brothers and sisters in the faith. And help me to also point others to gospel joy as I experience more and more of it in my own heart.
Thank you for your tenderness in this passage, God—that you don’t want me to become weary or faint, so you point me to the source of lasting joy. Help me look to Christ and follow in his footsteps as I press on towards the true and lasting pleasures of heaven.
Make it Your Own
Praise God: What things in this Scripture passage give you reasons to praise God and thank him for who he is and what he’s doing? Give him both general and specific thanksgiving and come into his presence rejoicing.
Confess: What things do you need to tell God about how your heart or actions might veer (intentionally or unintentionally) toward self-reliance or even disobedience? Where have you trusted in your own wisdom or resisted his presence, commands, and care?
Share Your Heart: What things do you need to tell the Lord from a place of concern and humility? What questions linger, what worries do you harbor, and what do you need to hand over to him?
Ask: Where do you need wisdom? What help and grace do you need? Let the Lord know where you are weak and what specific things you need, letting him have the final and perfect say in how those needs are met and prayers are answered.
