Praying Back Scriptures
Let’s acknowledge the fact that there is a revival stirring in the hearts of Christians all around us. If you take time to analyse your surroundings, you won’t miss an event on prayer, worship, or a conference. There’s always a church next door, a women’s group meeting somewhere, or even better, a street worship gathering. This serves as an encouragement—not to lose hope. The Lord is stirring our hearts back to Him, just before His return.
Yet, even in this revival, false prophets will arise. They’ll use Scripture, worship, and even prayers to lure Christians away from worshipping the true God.
In these times, we need to learn how to identify deception.
But here’s the challenge—prayer has become, for some, an escapade in search of a powerful experience.
I recently had a conversation with someone who told me they had attended a worship conference because they were seeking to “experience” God. I was sad.
We live in a world constantly chasing emotional stimulation. We take trips for new experiences. We explore restaurants to delight our palates with different dishes and cuisines. Everyone is looking for something fresh. In the same way, many are seeking an experience with the Holy Spirit. But the Holy Spirit wasn’t given to us for experience—it was given for equipment.
Jesus told His disciples that they would be baptized in the Holy Spirit. He never said it would be a wonderful experience; He said they would receive power to be His witnesses.
Furthermore, the New Testament tells us that when we gather for worship, it should be to edify one another—not just to express ourselves.
This popular phrase “express yourself” has shaped how many approach the Holy Spirit—not for empowerment, but for a personal experience. That’s not the intent.
We’ve also seen a theology spreading around territorial spirits—suggesting one must hunt them down and bind them before embarking on any journey. Truth is, there’s no biblical backing for this—except in Daniel 9, where Daniel is told about territorial powers. But even then, he’s not instructed to engage them. That war was not his. Jesus told us to go and make disciples—not to hunt down spirits. In fact, both Jesus and Paul dealt with spirits after they manifested—not by actively pursuing them.
And still, even as we embrace sound doctrine, we must remember that doctrine itself is not dynamic. One can have correct theological views about the Holy Spirit, even teach them, and yet never experience His power. Some people may look like they have all the right answers—but if we rely only on intellect, faith becomes just an acceptance of truth rather than a vibrant, Spirit-filled walk. It becomes purely doctrinal.
Can you imagine if everything about God was written systematically in the Bible? Think about it—Book 1: God the Father. Book 2: Jesus. Book 3: Holy Spirit. Book 4: Angels. Book 5: Demons.
Let me pause and laugh a little…
But seriously—why do we have to look in multiple places to learn what God says about marriage, finances, worship, etc.?
Simple. God wasn’t trying to communicate logic—He was communicating life.
He gave us His Word in life situations. That’s why His teachings are scattered throughout Scripture—woven into real human experiences.
That’s how we introduced Praying Back Scriptures in our prayer group.
We realised that things are moving fast, and it’s easy to be deceived—even to the point of entertaining demons without knowing it. We also understood that speaking in tongues varies: it could be divine, fleshly, or even satanic. Because we wanted to be sure, we chose to trust in God’s Word.
“’Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word.”
Where did the idea come from?
Praying back Scriptures is rooted in the CBR (Consistent Bible Reading) plan.
It’s about petitioning God based on what He has already said in His Word. God listens when we pray—and even more when we pray His Word, because His Word is His will.
1 John 5:14 (NIV)
“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.”
God watches over His Word to perform it.
As you pray, the Holy Spirit may bring fresh thoughts to your mind, illuminating Scripture with great insight—just as He did with Daniel.
Daniel 9:2 (NIV)
“I, Daniel, understood from the Scriptures, according to the word of the Lord given to Jeremiah the prophet…”
Daniel 9:22 (NIV)
“He instructed me and said to me, ‘Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.’”
This makes praying back Scriptures a powerful method of meditation.
While praying back Scripture, you might laugh or weep as the Holy Spirit reveals the Father’s thoughts toward you. At other times, you may plead for the grace to do what His Word asks of you as a condition for receiving His promises.
(As borrowed from the CBR materials)
Let me end with an excerpt from Draw the Circle by Mark Batterson:
“The request (prayer) is not granted simply because of repeated requests. Prayer is answered to preserve God’s good name. After all, it’s not our reputation that is on the line; it’s His. So God doesn’t answer prayer just to give us what we want—He answers prayer to bring glory to His name. The beauty of obedience is this: it relieves us of responsibility. It takes all the pressure off of us and places it squarely on God’s sovereign shoulders.”
So, welcome to She Prays, She Connects—a prayer group that believes in the power of Scripture-led intercession.
