Using Scripture When You Don’t Know What to Pray

Prayer is foundational to the work of Bible translation. We’ve seen lives changed, hearts transformed and entire communities impacted as a result of people praying specifically that God would make Himself known among the nations! Prayer is powerful, and it is one way God has invited us to join Him in His work.

But how can we pray when we don’t know what to pray or, rather, what new things to pray for? Our prayer life can feel monotonous if we’re praying the same things over and over again. And that’s often the case when praying for a people group waiting for the Bible in their own language. Updates can be infrequent, and sometimes we may not know the specifics of a translation project, country or region.

Even with resources like the Global Prayer List and the Wycliffe Prayer Community, there may be specific communities on your heart that aren’t represented in these lists. Still, God knows every language and every people group, and He invites us to trust Him in prayer.

Thankfully He knows what is needed! When we use God’s own words by praying Scripture, we’re aligning ourselves with His heart and praying according to His will. What better way is there to give our prayer life new meaning?

So when words fail you, open up the Bible and allow God’s words to be your prayer. Here are a few tips that can help get you started:

Find a Quiet Place to Connect With God

Our lives are so busy, and our days are constantly filled with noise, responsibilities and distractions. It can be difficult to quiet our minds and hearts enough to fully engage in prayer. But intentionally setting aside time to find a quiet space helps us re-center and become more aware of God’s presence.

In that stillness, we can hear His voice more clearly and allow His Word to shape our thoughts, guide our prayers and renew our spirit. Whether it’s a peaceful corner of your home, a walk in nature or even a few moments of stillness in your car, creating space for uninterrupted connection with God helps make our prayers more focused and heartfelt.

Start With a Scripture to Prepare Your Heart

Begin your prayer time by focusing on a verse that draws you closer to God and opens your heart to His presence. Starting with Scripture helps center your thoughts on His truth and prepares your spirit to listen and respond. You might choose a verse that reminds you of God’s grace, His presence or His promises. Let these words guide you into a deeper conversation with God.

Some possible examples include:

• “Gracious God, I come boldly to Your throne. I need Your mercy and grace in my life” (Based on Hebrews 4:16).


• “Lord, I need You. Please open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in Your instructions” (Based on Psalm 119:18).


• “Lord Jesus, quiet my heart and let Your peace rule in me as I come before You today” (Based on Colossians 3:15).

Use a Verse or Passage to Shape Your Prayers

You can do this by praying the verse or passage back to God and inserting the name of a specific people group to make the prayer more personal. If you don’t know where to begin, the Book of Psalms has some great prayers! Whether you’re looking to declare God’s goodness, ask Him to listen or praise His holy name, there’s a psalm that can become your prayer.

Paul’s epistles also have some great encouragement and prayers too, like Colossians 1:3-13. It’s a wonderful example of a passage to pray for a community that is learning about God in their own language for the first time!

• “Lord, the whole earth is Yours, and everything in it! The world and all its people belong to You — including the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island. May these people understand the depth of Your love for them today” (Based on Psalm 24:1).


• “God, fill the hearts of the Ayoreo people with the knowledge of Your will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. Help them live lives that please You in every way” (Based on Colossians 1:9-10).


• “Let the Gela people of the Solomon Islands sing a new song to You, Lord! May Your praise be declared from the ends of the earth” (Based on Psalm 96:1-3).

Allow Imagery From Scripture to Influence Your Prayer

Revelation 7:9-10 paints a powerful picture of what is to come: all nations, people and languages gathered around the throne, worshipping God together. This vision gives us a glimpse of the future unity and diversity of God’s Kingdom.

As you reflect on this promise, allow it to inspire your prayers today. Ask God to bring that vision to life on earth by drawing more people into His family through the gift of Scripture in their own languages.

Here are a few ways you might pray:

• “Lord, may the Quechua people in South America join the great multitude praising You around the throne. Prepare their hearts for Your Word.”


• “God, I lift up the Deaf communities around the world. May Your Word in sign languages bring joy and transformation so they too are part of the worshipping crowd.”


• “Father, let the vision of Revelation 7:9 stir my heart to pray for the Koma people of Ghana. May they one day lift their voices in praise with Your Word in hand.”

Pray Scripture Personally and Specifically

Sometimes personalizing Scripture can help us connect more deeply with God’s heart for people groups around the world. When we insert the name of a specific community or nation into a verse, it becomes a powerful reminder that God’s love and plans extend to every language and people group.

“You have saved the Dukawa people of Nigeria, and You have called them to live a holy life. You did this, not because your children deserved it, but because it was Your plan from before the beginning of time — to show the Dukawa, and all of us, Your grace through Jesus Christ” (Based on 2 Timothy 1:9).

Pick a Verse and Declare It as Truth for a People Group or Nation

Scripture can include declarations of truth that apply to all people and nations. These verses can be turned into powerful prayers that proclaim God’s promises over entire communities.

As you read Scripture, ask God to highlight these truths and guide you in declaring them with boldness for those still waiting to encounter Him through His Word.

“Lord, Your Word says in Acts 2:21 that everyone who calls on Your name will be saved. I pray that the Roma people will call on Your name as a result of having Your Word in their own language. Save these people for Your glory!”

Ask the Holy Spirit to Help You Pray

Praying for a translation project or people group can feel overwhelming for many reasons, but God knows your heart! In Romans we see that the Holy Spirit actually prays on our behalf when we don’t know what to say. So allow the Holy Spirit to pray for you when you can’t think of what — or how — to pray yourself.

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. — Romans 8:26-27 (NLT)

God invites us to intimately connect with Him through prayer, and what better way to do that than to use His own words in the Bible? And as you pray Scripture, you’ll find new ways to talk to God too.

Praying With Trust and Hope

Even when updates on translation projects or specific communities are lacking, you can trust that God hears your prayers. He knows every detail of every language still waiting for Scripture, and He invites you to stand in the gap through prayer.

If you’re looking for ways to pray for specific communities, check out the Global Prayer List or join the Wycliffe Prayer Community.

God knows your heart, and He knows your desire to pray on behalf of people waiting for Scripture. Trust that as you faithfully commit to pray, He will be faithful in answering your prayers according to His perfect will.

Your prayers make a difference in bringing God’s Word to the nations. Let’s pray Scripture together and trust Him to do the rest.

Pray With Us

God is doing amazing things around the world, and you can be a part of seeing people encounter Him through Scripture in a language and format they clearly understand.

Join the work by praying with us and exploring more resources to deepen your engagement in prayer for Bible translation and missionaries worldwide.

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