10 Prayers to Ignite Your Passion For God

It may be because of a season of busyness, heartbreak, or trials, but have you suddenly found that your time with God is less of a priority, or your desire for God is not what it once was?

After the birth of my fourth child, my plate was full, and my energy was low. I loved the Lord, but I battled against viewing my time with Him as one more demand on my schedule, one more thing I “had” to fit in. I didn’t have much “quiet” or “time” to have quiet time, and when I tried, I fell asleep! Soon, condemnation crept in and made me feel further from the One I loved more than anyone or anything.

If you find yourself in such a season and long to grow closer to Him in spite of it and even because of it, be encouraged: you may feel far from God, but He is not far from you.

If you are hurting, He is close to the brokenhearted.

If you are going through a trial, He longs to show His strength in your weakness, right here, right now.

And if you’d describe life as beyond busy, there’s a purpose in the pressing, just as there was for the apostle Paul: that you would no longer rely on yourself, but on Him (see 1 Corinthians 1:9).

If you are grateful to know that God is with you and has a plan for this season but wonder what practical steps you can take to experience the passion you once had, remember this: You can’t force or conjure up the work of the Spirit. You can, however, respond to His work in you:

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him” (Philippians 2:13 NLT).

When we humble ourselves before our mighty God and acknowledge our total dependence on Him to work in us, we realize that even our longing to grow in Him is because of Him. Our desire to know Him more is evidence of His Spirit at work in our lives.

One of my favorite ways to position my heart for His Spirit to ignite a passion to know Him more is to pray the Scriptures. Psalm 119 is a great place to start.

Ten Scripture-Based Prayers to Ignite a Passion for God:

1) “I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws” (Psalm 119:7 NIV).

Lord, help me to learn Your laws. Give me a desire and hunger to be in Your Word so that I may learn from You, know You, and understand Your ways. Amen.

2) “I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me” (Psalm 119:8 NIV).

Lord, help me to obey Your Word. I know that You will never leave me nor forsake me. I know that You are with me every day and know all my ways, struggles, and weaknesses. Through the Holy Spirit, create in me a desire to obey. Amen.

3) “I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands” (Psalm 119:10 NIV).

Lord, please help me to seek You with all of my heart. When I’m feeling so divided and torn and like I’m being pulled in a million directions by the needs of those around me, help me to remember that You are mine, and I am Yours. Please strengthen me to seek You with all that I am. Amen.

4) “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you” (Psalm 119:11 NIV).

Lord, help me to hide Your Word in my heart. As I read or listen to Your Word, please make the soil of my heart good soil: soil that will receive Your Word and allow it to grow. Amen.

5) “I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches” (Psalm 119: 14 NIV).

Lord, help me to rejoice in Your Word more than anything in this world. Please help me to remember that this world and everything in it is passing away. I see how I can be drawn to the things of this world, so I ask that Your Spirit would draw me even more to the Word and that I would yield. May my greatest joy be in Your Word. Amen.

6) “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways” (Psalm 119:15 NIV).

Lord, my mind is always busy. I am always thinking about something or someone, what to do next, or what still needs to be done. Would You please help me to meditate on Your Word and Your ways throughout the day? Amen.

7) “I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word” (Psalm 119:16 NIV).

Lord, I want to delight in Your Word above all else! Please help me not to neglect it. Help me to see it as the necessity that I know it truly is. Amen.

8) “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law” (Psalm 119:18 NIV).

Lord, open my eyes to see wonderful things in Your Word! Your Word shows me Christ, and there is no one more wonderful than Him. Your Word shows me how to live the way You want me to live, and there is nothing more wonderful than that. Please open my eyes so that I may see such wonders. Amen.

9) “My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times” (Psalm 119:20 NIV).

Lord, I pray that my soul is consumed with longing for You and Your Word. I can long for so many things these days. Please help me to long for You above all else. Amen.

10) “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors” (Psalm 119:24 NIV).

Lord, may I delight in Your Word above all else. Please help me turn to Your Word for counsel. May I not first turn to friends, family, or social media. While I recognize that some good counsel can come from them, may I seek Yours more. Amen.

What a joy it is to cooperate with God as He creates in us a longing to know Him more. If these simple prayers have encouraged you, the good news is that this is just the beginning. Spend time praying through Psalm 119, and you will find yourself saying, as the psalmist did, “How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey”!