Becky lives in Texas with her husband and two sons. She is passionate about supporting people in drawing nearer to Christ using Scripture, prayer, and journaling.
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Use these prayers for knowledge to ask God for direction, understanding, clarity, and wisdom in whatever you may be going through.
We are so fortunate to have a God who has made Himself known to us through the Bible. We have the opportunity to grow in the knowledge of God, and to lean on His wisdom and understanding for the different areas of our daily lives. If you are in need of knowledge, there is no greater source to find it from than the one who is all-knowing.
Through steadfast prayer, we can bring out requests for knowledge, direction, understanding, clarity, and wisdom before God, knowing that He hears us. The Bible shows us that knowledge, wisdom, and understanding are virtues that we should seek after.
In Proverbs 1:7, we learn that true knowledge always begins with having reverence for God, or as many translations would describe it, the fear of the Lord. Through His word, we grow in wisdom, and He instructs us to live lives that honor Him, change us and bless others.
If you’re wondering how to ask God for knowledge, here are a few prayers to get you started.
Prayers for Knowledge
1. Prayer for the Gift of Knowledge
“For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.” – 2 Peter 1:5-7
Lord,
There is no one like You. You have no comparison when it comes to Your power, strength, wisdom, and beauty. It is just a wonderful mystery that I, a mere human, can know You, an all-knowing, all-seeing, and all-powerful God personally, as both my Father and my friend. I know that there is not a single thing that is hidden from Your sight.
You know every thought that crosses my mind, and every word that is on my lips before I even say a word. You hold all knowledge and wisdom, and there is no greater place for me to find knowledge than in Your word. It is with humility, and a desire to know You, and Your word better, that I ask You to bless me with the gift of knowledge.
Not a knowledge that impresses others, or a knowledge that leads to pride. But a knowledge that is pure, and that leads me to fall on my knees before You, a holy God.
Please grant me the eyes to understand Your word, and to put it into practice in my daily life. Help me to grow in my knowledge of Your character, and as a result, grow in my faith and trust in You. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
2. Prayer for Wisdom
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7
Lord of all wisdom,
There is no wisdom that can compete with Yours. The wisdom of the world seems foolish when it is held next to Your wisdom, knowledge and understanding. It is that wisdom that leads to peril, and whose end is destruction. But Your word says that the beginning of wisdom is in fearing the Lord.
Father, I ask that You would grow in me a reverence and honor for You like I have never experienced. Please help me to see You more clearly, and to be reminded daily of the shocking scandal of grace that has paved the way for me to be reconciled with You today.
The wisdom that You give is not that of years of experience but a wisdom that is poured into our hearts by Your Holy Spirit. It is a wisdom that helps us to make spirit-led decisions, and that puts the desires of the flesh aside.
My desire is to grow in that kind of wisdom. The wisdom that is pure, and that leads me to make decisions that consider others, and that honor You.
I ask that You would create in me, a heart that is thirsty for the deep foundations of Your word. Help me to study Your word diligently, and to allow it to shape my heart and actions.
May I taste, and see how good You are, and never stop drinking from Your life-giving well of words. In Jesus’ name, amen.
3. Prayer for Guidance in Decision Making
“For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:6
Dear God,
Today I am in need of Your guidance and direction for my life. It is so easy to make decisions without being prayerful and seeking Your wisdom and direction. Please forgive me for the many times that I have made rash decisions without turning to You first.
I know that I can rest in the fact that You are not only all-knowing but that You’re also sovereign over all things, even when I am unfaithful, or when I make mistakes. Please remove any thoughts that are causing confusion, or that are clouding my judgment.
Help me to grow in discernment, as Your word takes root in my heart and in my actions. Help me to trust You regardless of the outcome, knowing that You are with me and will never leave me or forsake me. Please help me to be surrounded by wise and discerning counsel.
If there are any voices that are a hindrance to the decisions that I have to make, I ask that You would help me to drown those out, and to listen for Your voice. Please remove any fear or anxiety from me that is keeping me paralyzed.
In my own strength and understanding, I know I can do nothing. So I look to You, asking that You would be my guide in the decisions that lie ahead and lead me to make the right decisions. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
4. Prayer for Direction and Clarity
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” – Psalm 32:8
Father,
You know more than anyone the inner conflict and restlessness that I have been experiencing. I don’t want to take steps that are not directed by You, or that do not honor You. Please help me to distinguish between the desires of my flesh and the leading of Your Spirit.
My prayer is that You would direct me, and make clear the path before me. If there are any doors that I should avoid walking through, I ask that You would make that evident to me.
If there are decisions that I need to make that are tough, I ask that You would strengthen me, and grant me courage. As I face this trial, and stage in my life, I ask that You would grant me peace and clarity where there is any confusion.
Help me to be attentive to the leading of Your Holy Spirit, and to be obedient in following through. Please keep me from leaning on my own understanding, and from making decisions that are solely based on my feelings. Remind me to seek Your word for wisdom, instruction, and direction in every area of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.
5. Prayer for Discernment
“The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” – Proverbs 18:15
Lord,
There are so many thoughts that are swimming around in my head at the moment. I am trying to figure out what to do, and what to think as well.
I am in need of Your wisdom and light to illuminate the dark and uncertain path in front of me. Sometimes it can be hard to discern what is right and what is wrong, which way to go and which way to avoid, what to believe or what to discard.
My own ability to discern is faulty, and many times my judgments may be far from reality. But, You Lord discern, and You judge rightly. I ask that You would bless me with godly discernment.
Help me to grow in the knowledge of Your word, and be filled with Your Spirit, so that I might be able to discern what is that perfect, and right will of Yours. Help me to be able to discern situations that I need to get away from, and doors that need to be shut.
Grant me an open heart to discern when I have been wrong about a situation or a person and need to extend grace or forgiveness. May I not only be a hearer of Your word but a doer who is led by Your word. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.