What Does the Bible Say About Prayer?

What Happens When We Pray

The next thing to consider beyond when and how to pray is what happens to us when we pray and what happens Spiritually when we pray. As we learned in Philippians 4:6-9, there are considerations to keep in mind when praying. However, when we pray, God does something in response.

(Philippians 4:6-9 KJV) “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. (7) And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (8) Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. (9) Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.”

Notice that when we pray in this manner, God gives us peace beyond all understanding (Philippians 4:7) and keeps our “hearts and MINDS” through Christ Jesus. This means He guards our heart and thoughts. We see this idea continued through the remaining verses, which tell us that when we pray, keeping our thoughts on God’s promises, He will take away the things that trouble our minds.

God promises that he will protect our minds from things that make our minds unsound. He tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” A sound mind is a mind that is sane, able to deal with life issues, and free from fear. When we keep our thoughts on the Lord, He gives us perfect peace (Isaiah 26:3).

When we focus our thoughts on the things in Philippians 4:8-9, we are told the same, that we will have peace. These things are things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, things of good report; things of virtue, things of praise (Philippians 4:8). The key to this is that when we focus our thoughts and prayers on these things, it replaces the thoughts that give us trouble. The best way to arm ourselves with things that we can think about is to memorize verses that mention these things. Some examples are as follows:

True: Psalms 19:19; Psalms 119:160; Jeremiah 10:10; Matthew 22:16; John 4:23; John 17:17; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; 2 Timothy 2:15; 1 John 3:18

Honest: Romans 12:17; 2 Corinthians 8:21; 1 Peter 2:11-12; 1 Timothy 2:1-2

Just: Psalms 89:14; Proverbs 3:33; Proverbs 4:18; Proverbs 10:6; Proverbs 20:7; Romans 1:17; Romans 7:12; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38; 1 Peter 3:18; 1 John 1:9

Pure: Psalms 12:6; Psalms 119:140; Proverbs 15:26; Proverbs 21:8; Proverbs 30:5; Matthew 5:8; 1 Timothy 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:22; Hebrews 10:22; James 1:27; 1 John 3:2-3

Lovely or beautiful: Isaiah 52:7; Romans 10:13-15

Good Report: Proverbs 15:30; Hebrews 11:1-2; Hebrews 11:39

Virtue: Proverbs 12:4; Proverbs 31:10; 2 Peter 1:2-5

Praise: Psalms 7:17; Psalms 9:13-14; Psalms 28:7; Psalms 33:1-2; Psalms 44:8; Psalms 48:10; Psalms 56:4; Psalms 112:1