Donald S. Whitney, author of Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, presents a transformative method: praying Scripture itself, offering encouragement and practical guidance.
The Core Concept: Scriptural Prayer
Scriptural prayer, as championed by Donald S. Whitney, isn’t simply about the Bible; it is the Bible, prayed back to God. This involves utilizing the very words of Scripture as the foundation and fuel for our communication with Him. It’s a method where we move beyond generic requests and instead engage with God through His revealed Word.
Whitney emphasizes that this practice isn’t about learning a new technique, but rediscovering a vital, often neglected, aspect of prayer. By praying through a passage, we’re guided by God’s own priorities and perspectives, leading to richer, more meaningful conversations with Him. It’s a way to pray about familiar things in entirely new ways, and to uncover requests we’d never independently formulate.
Donald S. Whitney’s Approach: A Summary
Donald S. Whitney’s approach to praying Scripture is remarkably accessible, designed to overcome the common reason people don’t practice it: they simply weren’t taught how. His method isn’t complex; it’s about intentionally taking a biblical passage and transforming its statements into personal supplications and praises directed towards God.
He highlights that while any part of the Bible can be used, the Book of Psalms provides an excellent starting point due to its inherent prayerful nature. Whitney’s framework allows space for both the guiding influence of the Word and the prompting of the Holy Spirit, fostering a dynamic and deeply personal prayer life. It’s a simple yet profoundly effective way to connect with God.
Why Pray the Bible? Benefits and Foundations
Praying through Scripture allows believers to approach familiar topics with fresh perspectives, while also uncovering entirely new dimensions for prayer and connection.
Transforming Your Prayer Life
Donald S. Whitney’s method fundamentally reshapes how we interact with God in prayer. Instead of struggling to find the right words, or simply repeating habitual requests, we engage directly with God’s revealed Word. This approach moves beyond merely talking to God, and instead involves joining Him in conversation, aligning our desires with His will as expressed in Scripture.
By praying the Bible, individuals discover a richer, more focused prayer experience. It’s not about learning a new technique, but about rediscovering the power inherent in God’s own words. You’ll find yourself praying about the same things, but in brand new ways, and even prompted to pray for things you’d never considered before.
Addressing Common Prayer Challenges
Many Christians struggle with consistent, meaningful prayer, often feeling stuck in routine or unsure of what to say. Donald S. Whitney’s approach directly tackles these hurdles. The common issue of not knowing how to pray is resolved by utilizing the pre-written prayers found within Scripture itself.
This method bypasses the feeling of emptiness or inadequacy, providing a solid foundation for communication with God. It’s a solution for those who haven’t been taught effective prayer practices, offering a simple, accessible path to deeper connection. By praying Scripture, we move beyond self-generated pleas and embrace God’s revealed will, fostering a more dynamic and fulfilling prayer life.
Scripture as a Guide for Prayer
Donald S. Whitney emphasizes that Scripture isn’t merely a text about prayer, but a direct guide for prayer. Praying the Bible transforms our prayer focus, moving us beyond habitual requests to align with God’s revealed character and purposes.
This approach ensures our prayers are rooted in divine truth, rather than solely based on our limited understanding. By engaging with biblical passages, we discover new dimensions of prayer, prompting requests we might never have considered otherwise. It’s a powerful way to expand our prayer life and deepen our intimacy with God, utilizing His very words as the foundation for our communication.
Getting Started: Practical Steps
Donald S. Whitney suggests beginning with accessible passages, noting that some biblical books are easier to pray through than others for newcomers.
Choosing a Biblical Passage
Donald S. Whitney emphasizes that while any portion of the Bible can be utilized for scriptural prayer, certain passages lend themselves more readily to this practice. He specifically recommends the Book of Psalms as an excellent starting point due to its inherent prayerful nature and diverse expressions of faith.
When selecting a passage, consider its length and clarity. Shorter passages are less daunting for beginners, while passages rich in descriptive language and emotional depth can fuel heartfelt supplication. Don’t feel limited to continuous reading; individual verses or even phrases can become powerful focal points for prayer. The goal is to find a text that resonates with your heart and invites you into deeper communion with God.
Praying Through Psalms: A Recommended Starting Point
Donald S. Whitney strongly advocates beginning with the Book of Psalms when learning to pray Scripture. He believes Psalms are uniquely suited for this practice because they are prayers – expressions of praise, lament, repentance, and thanksgiving already offered to God.
Praying through Psalms allows you to align your own heart with the Psalmist’s, borrowing their words and emotions to connect with God. You can simply read a Psalm slowly, pausing to turn phrases into personal petitions, or use the Psalm as a template for your own prayerful reflections. The variety within Psalms ensures you’ll encounter diverse approaches to prayer, expanding your own spiritual vocabulary.
Utilizing New Testament Letters for Prayer
Donald S. Whitney highlights the accessibility of New Testament letters for scriptural prayer. Unlike narrative portions of Scripture, these letters often contain direct statements of truth and explicit requests, making them readily adaptable into prayerful expressions.
You can transform statements of doctrine into adoration, and petitions within the letters into intercessions for others. For example, Paul’s prayers for the churches can inspire your own prayers for believers today. Whitney emphasizes that this approach isn’t about rigidly following a formula, but about allowing the Word to shape and direct your prayer life, fostering deeper communion with God.
Techniques for Praying Scripture
Donald S. Whitney encourages turning scriptural statements into personal supplications, identifying key themes, and praying for others based on the text’s content.
Turning Statements into Supplications
Donald S. Whitney highlights a core technique: transforming biblical statements into heartfelt prayers. This isn’t simply repeating verses, but allowing the truth of Scripture to shape your requests to God. For example, a statement of God’s character – “The Lord is gracious and compassionate” – becomes a prayer asking for His grace and compassion to be extended to yourself or others.
This method moves beyond generic prayers, grounding them in divine revelation. It ensures your petitions align with God’s will and character as revealed in the Bible. By actively engaging with the text in this way, you’ll discover new dimensions of prayer and a deeper connection with God’s Word, praying in brand new ways.
Identifying Themes and Requests within Passages
Donald S. Whitney encourages a careful reading of Scripture to uncover underlying themes and implicit requests. Passages aren’t just stories or doctrines; they contain prayers waiting to be voiced. Look for expressions of need, praise, or confession within the text itself.
For instance, a passage describing suffering can prompt prayers for comfort and strength for those enduring similar trials. Recognizing these embedded requests allows you to pray with Scripture, not just about it. This approach expands your prayer life, leading you to intercede for things you might never have considered otherwise, deepening your connection to God’s Word.
Praying for Others Based on Scriptural Texts
Donald S. Whitney highlights the power of using Scripture to fuel intercession for others. Instead of generic prayers, anchor your requests in biblical truths and characters. For example, praying for a friend facing persecution using the Psalms of David, or for a struggling leader based on Paul’s prayers for the early church.
This method transforms prayer into a focused, biblically-informed act of love and concern. It moves beyond simply asking God to “bless” someone, to specifically requesting His provision, protection, and guidance as revealed in His Word. It’s a powerful way to align your will with God’s and pray with greater effectiveness.
Specific Biblical Books for Scriptural Prayer
Donald S. Whitney recommends the Book of Psalms as an excellent starting point for praying Scripture, due to its readily available expressions of praise and petition.
The Book of Psalms: A Detailed Look
Donald S. Whitney particularly champions the Psalms as ideal for scriptural prayer, noting their diverse range of emotions and situations reflected within their verses. This book provides a natural framework for expressing both joy and lament, praise and petition, directly to God.
Praying through the Psalms allows believers to encounter God in a deeply personal way, aligning their hearts with the ancient voices of faith. The Psalms offer pre-written prayers, yet invite individual application and heartfelt connection.
Whitney suggests utilizing the Psalms’ themes – thanksgiving, confession, supplication – as prompts for personal prayer, transforming poetic expressions into sincere conversations with the Lord. It’s a readily accessible entry point for those new to praying Scripture.
Praying Through the Gospels
Donald S. Whitney highlights the Gospels as a powerful resource for scriptural prayer, focusing on Jesus’ interactions and teachings. By meditating on scenes like the Sermon on the Mount or Jesus’ parables, we can draw out prayer points centered around discipleship and obedience.
Praying the Gospels involves entering the narrative, identifying with characters, and responding to Jesus’ words and actions. Consider praying for the needs of those encountered in the stories, or asking for the strength to embody the virtues demonstrated by Christ.
Whitney encourages using Jesus’ own prayers – like those in the Garden of Gethsemane – as models for our own, seeking alignment with His will and deepening our intimacy with the Father.
Utilizing the Pauline Epistles
Donald S. Whitney emphasizes the accessibility of the New Testament letters, particularly the Pauline Epistles, for transforming them directly into prayer. These letters are filled with adoration, thanksgiving, supplication, and intercession – readily adaptable for personal and communal prayer.
Instead of simply reading Paul’s prayers for others, we can personalize them, praying for similar needs in our own lives or the lives of those we love. For example, praying for spiritual wisdom and understanding, as Paul often did for his recipients.
Whitney suggests identifying the core themes within each epistle and crafting prayers that align with those themes, fostering a deeper connection with Paul’s original intent and God’s revealed will.
Overcoming Obstacles and Maintaining Consistency
Whitney acknowledges distractions during prayer are common; establishing a sustainable routine, guided by the Holy Spirit, is key to consistent scriptural prayer.
Dealing with Distractions During Prayer
Donald S. Whitney doesn’t shy away from acknowledging the pervasive issue of distractions during prayer. He understands that a wandering mind is a common hurdle for many believers. Rather than striving for a completely “empty” mind – an often unrealistic expectation – Whitney suggests gently redirecting your focus back to the Scripture you are praying.
Recognize the distraction without self-condemnation, and then purposefully return to the biblical text. This act of refocusing is part of the discipline. It’s not about achieving perfect concentration, but about consistently choosing to engage with God’s Word in prayer, even amidst the noise of daily life.
Developing a Sustainable Prayer Routine
Donald S. Whitney emphasizes that consistency is key to experiencing the benefits of scriptural prayer. He doesn’t advocate for lengthy, elaborate sessions, but rather for regular, manageable times dedicated to praying through Scripture. Start small – perhaps 15-20 minutes daily – and build from there.
Tie your prayer time to an existing habit, like your morning coffee or before bed. This creates a natural cue for prayer. Whitney suggests choosing a specific passage and working through it systematically, rather than randomly selecting verses. A sustainable routine isn’t about willpower, but about establishing a pattern that fits your life.
The Role of the Holy Spirit in Scriptural Prayer
Donald S. Whitney highlights that praying Scripture isn’t merely a mechanical exercise; it’s deeply intertwined with the work of the Holy Spirit. While Scripture provides the words for our prayer, the Spirit empowers and animates them, bringing understanding and heartfelt connection.
He encourages believers to rely on the Spirit to illuminate the text, reveal personal application, and stir up genuine desires within their hearts. The Spirit also helps us to pray beyond the literal words, leading us to deeper communion with God. Praying in the Spirit isn’t about abandoning Scripture, but about allowing it to come alive through His power.
Resources and Further Study
Donald S. Whitney’s “Praying the Bible” offers a comprehensive guide, while numerous websites and additional books expand upon this powerful, scriptural prayer practice.
Donald S. Whitney’s “Praying the Bible” PDF
Donald S. Whitney’s book, readily available as a PDF, is a cornerstone resource for those seeking to deepen their prayer life through Scripture. It meticulously outlines a practical, accessible method for transforming familiar biblical texts into heartfelt prayers.
The PDF format allows for convenient study and annotation, enabling readers to directly engage with Whitney’s teachings. He emphasizes that praying Scripture isn’t about inventing new prayers, but rather allowing the very words of God to shape and direct our communication with Him.
This resource provides a clear framework, moving beyond simply reading the Bible to actively praying it, unlocking a richer and more profound connection with God. It’s a valuable tool for both individual and group study, fostering a consistent and biblically grounded prayer practice.
Additional Books and Websites
Beyond Donald S. Whitney’s foundational work, several resources can further enhance your journey of scriptural prayer. Consider exploring books focusing on prayer disciplines and biblical meditation, such as those by C.H. Spurgeon or Richard Foster, to broaden your understanding.
Numerous websites offer articles, guided prayers, and community forums dedicated to this practice. Websites like Desiring God and Crosswalk.com frequently feature content on prayer and biblical engagement. Searching for “praying the scriptures” will yield a wealth of articles and devotionals.
Remember to critically evaluate online resources, ensuring they align with sound biblical theology. Utilizing a combination of books and online tools can provide a well-rounded and enriching experience as you learn to pray God’s Word.
Advanced Techniques & Considerations
Praying imprecatory Psalms requires discernment, while consistently applying scriptural prayer to daily life deepens faith and reveals God’s ongoing presence.
Praying Imprecatory Psalms
Imprecatory Psalms, those containing requests for God’s judgment on enemies, present a unique challenge for modern Christians. Whitney acknowledges their difficulty, advising careful consideration before incorporating them into prayer.
Directly repeating the imprecations feels uncomfortable, yet dismissing them entirely overlooks their historical and theological context. Instead, consider the underlying righteous anger and longing for justice expressed within these Psalms.
Praying through them involves acknowledging the pain and suffering that prompted such cries, and trusting God’s ultimate justice. Focus on the psalmist’s trust in God’s sovereignty and goodness, even amidst hardship, rather than echoing the specific curses. Ultimately, these Psalms reveal a raw honesty before God, a model for expressing our own struggles with evil.
Applying Scriptural Prayer to Daily Life
Donald Whitney emphasizes that Scriptural prayer isn’t confined to dedicated prayer times; it should permeate daily living. Instead of viewing it as another religious duty, integrate it into everyday moments and routines.
Throughout the day, recall verses you’ve prayed, allowing them to shape your thoughts and responses. When facing challenges, actively seek relevant Scripture to guide your petitions and perspective.
This transforms ordinary situations into opportunities for ongoing communion with God. For example, a difficult conversation can be approached with verses on grace and forgiveness. Consistent application fosters a heart attuned to God’s Word and a life increasingly shaped by His will, moving beyond rote prayer.