Praying Scripture means you are praying God's Word over your life--His truth, His promises, His will. Can you think of any words more powerful to pray?! As you start a new school year, consider praying these verses over yourself, your school, your peers, your teachers, and most importantly, your walk with Christ. I encourage you to keep a journal of your prayers this year and date them so you can reflect on God's faithfulness down the road!
(I am going to phrase these as personal prayers, but you could also change the "I" and "me" to the names of your peers, teachers, and other individuals!)
Prayers for Guidance
"Lord, I choose to trust You with all my heart. I will not lean on my own understanding. Instead, I will acknowledge You in all my ways, and I know You will make my paths straight" (Prov. 3:5-6).
"Father, I ask that You instruct me and teach me the way I should go. With Your eye on me, give me counsel" (Psalm 32:8).
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path, God. Illuminate Your way and give me the courage to follow it" (taken in part from Psalm 119:105).
"Father, give me clear guidance. Whether I turn to the right or to the left, whisper to me, 'This is the way. Walk in it'" (taken in part from Isaiah 30:21).
"Make me to know Your ways, O Lord; teach me Your paths. Lead me in Your truth and teach me, for You are the God of my salvation; for You I wait all day long" (Psalm 25:4-5).
Prayers for Faith
"Father, increase my faith. You say that faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, but I desire even more than that. Lord, I believe. Help me in my unbelief!" (from Matt. 17:20 and Mark 9:24).
"Help me walk by faith, not sight. I pray that I won't be a doubter, one who is tossed around like the waves and easily led astray by other beliefs and deceit" (from 2 Corin. 5:7 and James 1:6).
"Lord, help me fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).
"I pray that I will be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, and be strong" (1 Corin. 16:13).
"God, You say that the victory that has overcome the world is our faith! Help me not neglect or deny my faith but live by it in every area of my life because You say the righteous live by faith" (taken in part from 1 John 5:4 and Romans 1:17).
"Father, I know that faith without works is dead. I pray my faith will bear love in all my actions. Help me to serve and love because of my faith. Even though my works don't save me, genuine faith produces good works. I know I have all these things, because Your Word says to ask and I will receive, seek and I will find, if I believe that I have received it" (taken from James 2:17 and Mark 11:24).
"In every situation, remind me to take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one" (Eph. 6:16).
Prayers Regarding Sin and Temptation
"God, I know all have sinned and fall short of Your glory. I pray I won't deceive myself into thinking I have no sin. Instead, examine my heart and mind. Convict me of my wrongs against You, and keep my heart in a posture of accepting Your conviction. With every conviction, strengthen me to repent. Give me a hatred for my own sin. When I confess my sins, You are faithful and just to forgive me of my sins and cleanse me of all unrighteousness" (taken in part from Rom. 3:23 and 1 John 1:8-10).
"Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me, and know my thoughts. See if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting" (Psalm 139:23-24).
"God, no sin can overtake me. You are faithful, and You won't allow me to be tempted beyond my ability. In every temptation, You provide a way of escape, so that I will be able to endure it" (1 Corin. 10:13).
"Help me to walk by the Spirit so that I won't gratify the desires of the flesh--moment by moment, day by day" (from Galatians 5:16).
"God, I am a slave to You, not sin. No sin can overtake me. I submit myself to You. Help me to resist the devil so that he will flee from me" (from James 4:7).
"Help me to walk in the light as You are in the light. In this, I have fellowship with others, and Your blood cleanses me from all sin" (1 John 1:7).
"Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over transgression for the remnant of Your inheritance? You do not retain Your anger forever, because You delight in steadfast love. You will again have compassion on me; You will tread my iniquities underfoot. You will cast all my sins into the depths of the sea. Thank You, Lord!" (from Micah 7:18-19).
"Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Remove my heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh" (from Psalm 51:10 and Ezekiel 36:26).
Prayers for Forgiveness
"Father, help me pay attention to myself and my relationships with others. If my brother sins, help me lovingly correct him. If he repents, I must forgive him. If he sins against me seven times in the day, and turns to me seven times saying he repents, I must forgive him, and I ask for Your strength and love to do so" (from Luke 17:3-4).
"Lord, help me bear with others; if I have a complaint against another or they have a complaint against me, may we forgive each other. As You have forgiven me, so I must also forgive" (from Colossians 3:13).
"God, You do not deal with me according to my sins, nor repay me according to my sins. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is Your steadfast love toward those who fear You; as far as the east is from the west, so far do You remove my sins from me. As a father shows compassion to his children, so You show compassion to those who fear You. For You know my frame; You remember that I am dust. Thank You for Your mercy and grace, Father!" (from Psalm 103:10-14).
“Father, stir a love in me so deep that I can love my enemies and do good to those who hate me" (from Luke 6:27).
"In You, I have redemption through Your blood, the forgiveness of my trespasses, according to the riches of Your grace. Thank You so much for Your shed blood that covers me" (from Eph. 1:7).
"I acknowledged my sin to You, and I did not cover my iniquity. If I confess my transgressions to You, You will forgive me of my sin" (from Psalm 32:5).
Prayers for Love
"Above all, help me love others deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8).
"God, do not let fear hinder my love. You have not given me a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. Help me apply this truth in every area of my life" (from 2 Timothy 1:7).
"God, I want to be a friend who sticks closer than a brother, not a friend with false or selfish motives. May love be the root of all my relationships" (from Proverbs 18:24).
"God, Your Word says that everyone will know I am your disciple by my love for others. Help me not lose sight of this reality and be mindful of how I am coming across to unbelievers” (from John 13:35).
"Give me insight into how I can lovingly bear others' burdens and fulfill the law of Christ" (from Gal. 6:2).
"Father, I misuse all the gifts You've given me if love is not the motivator behind my actions. I am nothing without love, no matter what I 'do.' Help me love others as You define it, God: Love is patient and kind; love does not envy; love does not boast, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Now, I ask for Your strength to abide in faith, hope, and most importantly, love" (from 1 Corin. 13:1-8, 13).
"Father, just as You have loved Jesus, Jesus has loved me. I want to remain in that love, Your love" (from John 15:9).
"God, help me love others sacrificially. You say that there is no greater love than someone who would lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:13).
"Father, each day remind me to put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity" (from Colossians 3:14).
"Lord, You say that You discipline those You love and punish each one You accept as Your child. Help me endure discipline with the understanding that You are only loving me and growing me" (from Hebrews 12:6-8).
Prayers for Obedience & God's Will
"God, I know that my body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within me. I am not my own, for I was bought with a price. So, I will glorify You with my body" (1 Corin. 6:19-20).
"Father, help me put to death what is earthly in me: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry" (from Colossians 3:5-6).
"My Father, who is in Heaven, hallowed be Your Name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven. Give me this day my daily bread, and forgive me of my trespasses as I forgive those who trespass against me. Lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil. For Yours is the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever. Amen" (Matt. 6:9-13).
"In everything, I will give thanks because this is Your will concerning me" (from 1 Thess. 5:18).
"Help me to not be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of my mind, that I may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of Yours" (from Romans 12:2).
"Your will for me, God, is my sanctification. I pray I will live a sanctified life day in and day out" (from 1 Thess. 4:3).
"Lord, Your Word says that if I love You, I will keep Your commands. I love You, Lord, and I ask for You to help me walk in obedience" (from John 14:15).
"God, I am confident that You have started a good work in me and that You will carry it to completion. Let me be a vessel through which You move" (from Phil. 1:6).
Prayers for Mental Illness & Healing
"God, I pray You will remove my fear of others so that I can confess my sins to others so they will pray for me, that I may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Help me not judge others so that I can serve others the same way" (from James 5:16).
"God, help me dwell on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy" (Phil. 4:8).
"Lord, help me be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, I let my requests be made known to You. And Your peace, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus" (from Phil. 4:6-7).
"God, it is true that anxiety in my heart weighs it down, but a good word makes it glad. Help me mindfully share encouragement and kindness, and bless those words" (from Prov. 12:25).
"When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul. Thank You for being my Comforter!" (from Psalm 94:19).
"Lord, You heal the brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. I ask that You heal my heart today" (from Psalm 147:3).
"I will not fear, for You are with me. I will not be dismayed, for You are my God. You will strengthen me, help me, and uphold me with Your righteous right hand" (from Isaiah 41:10),
"Heal me, O Lord, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved: for You are my praise" (from Jer. 17:14).
"God of all grace, who called me to Your eternal glory in Christ, after I have suffered a little while, please restore me and strengthen me, making me strong, firm, and steadfast" (1 Peter 5:10).
Prayers for Praise and Thanksgiving
"Through You, I will continually offer up a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to Your name" (from Heb. 13:15).
"May I speak to others in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with my heart to You, always giving thanks for all things in the name of Jesus Christ to You" (from Eph. 5: 19-20).
"May I always enter Your gates with thanksgiving and Your courts with praise; I give thanks to You and praise Your name" (from Psalm 100:4).
"I will praise You, Lord! I give thanks unto You; for You are good and Your mercy lasts forever" (from Psalm 106:1).
Prayers for Salvation of Others & Witnessing
"Lord, It is a faithful saying that if I deny You, You will also deny me. Help me to never abandon or deny You in word or action" (from 2 Tim. 2:11-12).
"In my heart, I honor You as holy. Help me always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks me for a reason for the hope that is in me, and teach me how to do it with gentleness and respect" (from 1 Peter 3:15).
"Let my speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that I may know how I should answer everyone" (from Col. 4:6).
"God, I put on Your full armor, so that when the day of evil comes, I may be able to stand my ground, and after I have done everything, to stand. Help me stand firm with the belt of truth buckled around my waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, with my feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, I take up the shield of faith, with which I can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. I will take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is Your Word. Help me to pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, I will be alert and always continuing to pray for all the Lord’s people" (from Eph. 6:13-18).
"I will go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have learned. And surely You are with me always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:19-20).
"Lord, I believe that You are the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through You" (from John 14:6).
"It is by grace I have been saved through faith—and this is not from myself but is Your gift. It is not by works, so that I cannot boast" (from Eph. 2:8-9).
"For You so loved the world that You gave Your one and only Son, that whoever believes in You will not perish but have eternal life. You did not send Your Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. I pray I will remind others of this comforting truth and that I will lead others to salvation in You" (from John 3:16-17).
While many Scriptures are included in this article, there are so many more you can use! I truly admire your heart for prayer!
Have a wonderful and blessed school year!
~Ally B.
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