How to Pray When Words Won't Come

By: Jenifer Metzger

Have you ever wanted to pray but the words just wouldn't come? You just didn't know what to say? Pray the Word.

In those moments when the words fail us, we need to begin to pray the Word. God's words are for us, He breathed those words for you. Praying God's own words align our heart with His as we pray His will. And as we pray His words, our heart will be stirred and we will find our own words.

When we pray God's words, we can pray them just as they are in the Bible. We can also personalize it by adding our own name or a personal pronoun (e.i. changing us to me). Here are some verses you can begin to pray:

Satisfy us in the morning with Your faithful love

so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14

Teach me Your way, Lord,

and I will live by Your truth.

Give me an undivided mind to fear Your name.

Psalm 86:11

Make Your ways known to me, Lord;

teach me Your paths.

Psalm 25:4

Therefore, you should pray like this:

Our Father in heaven,

Your name be honored as holy.

Your kingdom come.

Your will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

And forgive us our debts,

as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And do not bring us into temptation,

but deliver us from the evil one.

Matthew 6:9-13

Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness,

so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.

Hebrews 4:16

Open my eyes so that I may contemplate

wondrous things from Your instruction.

Psalm 119:18

God, create a clean heart for me

and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Psalm 51:10

God's words are powerful and have purpose. Why wouldn't we pray them?

Discussion:
1. What are other verses you can pray?
2. What else can you do when the words for prayer will not come?