Three Prayers of Illumination

In order to have any proper understanding of Scripture with spiritual eyes, we need the enablement of the Holy Spirit. This is why prayers of illumination are so important, especially before the preaching of God's Word, in order to enable the preacher or reader of God's Word to see the Scriptures properly. This blog will aim to equip the worship leader with a few examples of Biblical prayers of illumination.

Scripturally-Based Prayer of Illumination (Eph 1:16-19)

"Dear Heavenly Father, we bow our knees before you in thanksgiving for your abundant provisions, namely in Christ. We pray that you would give [preacher's name] the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation, that he may be properly able to understand and be affected by your words for us today. Open the eyes of our hearts as we hear your Word, that we may know the riches of our glorious inheritance with the saints. Open our eyes, so that we may see wondrous things from your Word. We humbly ask in your powerful name, amen."

Call and Response Prayer of Illumination (Ps 119)

Worship Leader: “Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord!”

Congregation: “Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Worship Leader: “We delight in your statues; we will not forget your word.”

Congregation: “Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Worship Leader: “You Lord are good and do good; teach us your statues.”

Congregation: “Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Worship Leader: “Turn our eyes from looking at worthless things; and give us life in your ways.”

Congregation: “Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Worship Leader: “Give us understanding, that we may keep your law and observe it with our whole heart.”

Congregation: “Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Worship Leader: “Our souls long for your salvation; we hope in your word, and the Word made flesh.”

Congregation: “Open our eyes, that we may behold wondrous things out of your law.”

Extended Prayer of Illumination

“Lord, our feet have wandered all the earth unsatisfied. We look for things to fill us, to find joy in, to satisfy us, to please us in the long term. We wander as the deer pants for water. We act as though physical bread can sustain us. But only the Bread of Life and the Living Water can satisfy our hunger and thirst. Lord, the young lions suffer want and hunger, but those who seek you in your Word lack no good thing (Ps 34:10). Help us to long for the pure milk of the word (1 Pet 2:2). Lord God you promise us that we become like the idols that we make and trust in (Ps 115:8). Guide us to your Word, that we may, with unveiled face, behold your glory and be transformed into your image through your revealed Word (2 Cor 3:18). Help us to tremble and treasure your Word as King Josiah, when he found the Law which had been lost for many years and recovered. Help us to hear your words in such a way that convict us as Josiah was convicted at the reading of your Law (2 Chron 34:19). We continually wander as sheep who have gone astray, but you guide our paths through your Word. We continually return to our own folly, but you light our path through your Word. We complain daily and are not satisfied with your gracious provisions in our life, but you continue to supply our every need of ours in Christ Jesus through your revelation (Phil 4:19). We humbly ask your Spirit to guide the preaching of your Word, to convict hearts, fill longings, raise affections, remind forgetful hearts, encourage the fainthearted, and to point us to the cross, where we find healing in Christ’s wounds (1 Pet 2:24). We pray this in your powerful name, amen.”