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Pray Scriptures for Your Disciple
When you see a challenging character trait in the person you are discipling, consider finding verses you could use to guide your prayers for him or her. We know we’re safe appealing to God based on what He’s already said.
Let’s say your disciple has difficulty with harsh speech. Go to your Bible concordance or use a computer program and look up the topic. You may need to use corollary words, such as speak, tongue, or words. Find verses that show a promise, a plea, or a principle. Then write down these verses in your prayer journal or whatever you use to guide your prayer time. Reword the verses into prayers for your disciple.
For example, here are some verses one could use to pray for a person who struggles with harsh speech:
He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity (Proverbs 21:23). - Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and a gentle tongue can break a bone (Proverbs 25:15).
- Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).
- Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone (Colossians 4:6).
- With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we
curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth
come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be (James 3:9,10).
Here are some other Scripture-based prayers to pray for the person you disciple:
- That your disciple would pray about everything and be thankful under all circumstances:
- Philippians 4:6
- 1 Thessalonians 5:18
- That your disciple would see wonderful truths reading God’s Word:
- Psalm 119:18
- That your disciple would grow in understanding of who Jesus is:
- Colossians 1:15-17
- That your disciple would be rooted and built up in Christ, strengthened in faith, and thankful:
- Colossians 2:6,7
- That the blood of the Lamb would break Satan’s stronghold on your disciple’s life:
- 1 Peter 1:18,19
- That your disciple would bear fruit that would last and see God answer prayer:
- John 15:16
- That your disciple would consider everything a loss compared to knowing Christ:
- Philippians 3:7,8
- That your disciple would seek God with his or her whole heart:
- Deuteronomy 4:29
- Jeremiah 24:6,7
- That your disciple would reflect the glory of Christ to a world that desperately needs to see a clearer view of who God really is:
- 2 Corinthians 3:18
- 2 Corinthians 5:15
Adapted from The Adventure of Discipling Others by Ron Bennett and John Purvis, copyright 2003. Used with permission. Learn more about a variety of bookmarks with Scripture-based prayers and the Pray! Prayer Journal to help you grow as a prayer warrior when you visit NavPress at www.navpress.com.
