One-Word Prayers: Asking God to Act

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As the old man hovered over the words on the scroll before him, understanding flooded his mind like morning sunlight spilling over the horizon. He and his people had been in captivity for over sixty years; the words of the prophet Jeremiah had predicted seventy. Freedom was drawing near. Donning sackcloth and dusting himself with ashes, Daniel sought the face of the Lord and prayed on behalf of his people.

“We do not present our pleas before you because of our righteousness,” he whispered, “but because of your great mercy.” 1

His prayer is found in Chapter 9 of the Book of Daniel; it's a passionate prayer that uses many words to confess the sins of his people, plead for forgiveness, and petition the Lord to bring about the end of their captivity.  

However, as this moment came to life for me in the pages of my morning reading, I was struck by the power of the single action words in Daniel’s prayer. Though his posture is one of humility and repentance, his pleas are filled with both desperation and confidence in his mighty God.

Lord, listen! Lord, forgive! Lord, hear and act! -Daniel 9:19

There is Power in a One-Word Prayer

Not many of us are as eloquent or as bold as Daniel. Sometimes our prayers are lengthy and articulate, sometimes filled with passion and emotion. Sometimes a situation is too overwhelming even to verbalize; other times, we can clutter our prayers with unnecessary words.

There is power in the right word at the right moment. Guided by God’s own words spoken through Jeremiah, Daniel used words of action in his prayer, issuing direct pleas specific to his people, place, and time, based on what he knew to be true about his God.

The writers of Psalms often used verbs as they cried out to the Lord as well—words like arise, answer, contend, deliver, save, judge, and turn. Each one was a call to action to the God they believed was listening.

We, too, can condense our petitions into one-word prayers spoken with confidence and trust. A one-word prayer, prayed from a humble heart, can be powerful—not because of the word itself, but because of the trust embedded in it for the one whose strength stands behind it. When we are familiar with God’s attributes and limitless ability, we know that these one-word pleas are heard by a God who cannot be contained, let alone described by the mere words of man.   

How to Pray with a Single Word

Jesus himself told his followers to ask, seek, and knock (Matthew 7:7), one-word commands that encourage us to pursue God’s strength and provision. But are we allowed to command the Lord? To demand action from him? In Philippians 4:6, Paul urges us to present our requests to God and to let go of our anxious thoughts, reminding us that the Lord will exchange them for a peace that surpasses understanding.

The God who spoke the world into being bends near to hear our prayers. Whether they are wordy, weepy, mumbled, or shouted, he knows what we are saying. What comfort to know that he can discern our heart's motivation and untangle the emotions behind each word.

So, how does one consolidate so many cares and concerns into a single word request?  Here’s what I do when concerned with a particular person or situation and want to intercede: I bow my head, take a minute to reflect on what's happening, and ask the Holy Spirit to show me what is needed and how to pray. That’s when the one-words come to mind. I know what God can do because the Bible informs my thinking, so I ask him to act accordingly.

Where there is bitterness: heal

When someone is lost: rescue

For the lonely one: comfort

When there is a practical need: provide

For the one under spiritual attack: contend

When I need wisdom: reveal

Let God Provide the Word

Ecclesiastes 5:2-3 says, "Never be rash with your mouth nor let your heart be quick to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you upon earth; therefore, let your words be few. For dreams come with many cares, and a fool’s voice with many words."

Using too many words often enables us to weave our selfish desires and our trust in earthly solutions into the prayer. A one-word prayer is not only concise, it is focused completely on the only one who can respond with ultimate wisdom and power.

When we feel the excruciating drive to do something, yet feel powerless in our human weakness, we can ask God to act. His word is living and active (Hebrews 4:12) because he is living and active. These prayers of action allow us to relinquish the responsibility to someone bigger, more capable, who sees what we cannot and can do what we’re unable to do. With a single word, we confess, “I can’t, Lord, but you can.”

Image by Dallas Penner on Unsplash

This practice is just one way to present our requests to God; it does not guarantee a particular outcome. It’s a way to streamline our petitions, especially when we feel overwhelmed by all the details. Thankfully, God already knows them.

If you’d like to try it, start with the Psalms and search the Scriptures for action words straight from the mouths and pens of God’s writers. Join in with the Holy Spirit, who voices the prayers we can’t (Romans 8:26) according to the will of God (v.27), and with Jesus, who ever lives to intercede for us (Hebrews 7:25).

Below is a sample list of powerful action words that can be used as one-word prayers. I’ve listed a few Scriptures for each that show God’s desire and ability to do that very thing. See what other verses you can find for each word!

Hear: Micah 7:7; Psalm 39:12, 143:1

Heal: Psalm 147:3; Jeremiah 17:14

Save: Isaiah 33:22; Luke 19:10; John 3:17; Hebrews 7:25

Comfort: Psalm 94:19; Isaiah 51:12; 2 Cor. 1:3-4, 7:6

Draw: John 6:44, 12:32; James 4:8

Call: 1 Thess. 5:24, 2 Thess. 2:14

Provide: Psalm 145:15-16; Isaiah 58:11; Matthew 6:26, 33; Romans 8:32

Carry/Sustain: Psalm 55:22; Isaiah 46:4; Psalm 73:26; Psalm 107:9; Philippians 4:19

Act: Psalm 37:5; 1 Kings 8:39

Strengthen: Psalm 119:28, Isaiah 41:10

Calm: Psalm 55:22; 1 Peter 5:7; Zephaniah 3:17

Contend: Psalm 35:1; Isaiah 49:25

Protect: Psalm 41:2; 1 John 5:18

When in doubt, remember the best one-word prayer of all. It’s not a verb, it's the living and active Name above all names: Jesus. 

Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.

-Matthew 7:7-11

1. Daniel 9:18