In my recent blog post, “How I Decide What to Write in My Journal Every Day,” I shared a few things that shape my daily journal entries. Today, I want to zoom in on one of those things—personal revelation.
For me, personal revelation happens when I read my Bible and suddenly see something in a new light. Sometimes it’s a familiar word that stands out differently, making me pause and dig deeper. Has that ever happened to you? You read a passage you’ve seen before, but this time, it speaks to you in a way it never has?
That’s exactly what happened when I flipped through my 2020 journal. I found an entry that encouraged me even more today than it did back then. It’s about what I now call borrowed prayers—prayers straight from Scripture that I use to pray over my life and others.
What Are Borrowed Prayers?
Borrowed prayers happen when I read a passage in the Bible and feel compelled to pray those exact words over a situation, a loved one, or even myself. One of my favorites comes from Paul in Colossians 1:9-12. This is one of those prayers you can use for your spouse, kids, friends, co-workers—anyone who needs to be covered in God’s truth.
“Lord, I ask you to fill [insert name] with the knowledge of your will, through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives. I pray this in order that [insert name] may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please you in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to your glorious might so that [insert name] may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully give thanks to the Father, who has qualified him/her to share in the inheritance of your holy people in the kingdom of light.”
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
That prayer alone is powerful. But as I was reading, one word practically jumped off the page at me—QUALIFIED.
What Does It Mean to Be Qualified?
I couldn’t just move past it. I had to look up the definition:
Qualified (adjective)
- Having complied with specific requirements or precedent conditions: eligible. (Merriam-Webster)
- Having the standard of skill, knowledge, or ability necessary for doing or being something. (Cambridge)
Then, I took it a step further and looked up synonyms—because sometimes, just seeing different words helps the meaning sink in even more.
Here’s what I found:
And here’s the truth that hit me: I can only be all of these things in Christ.
So, I turned them into affirmations:
- In Christ, I am ready.
- In Christ, I am suitable for His purpose.
- In Christ, I am capable.
- In Christ, I am qualified.
You see where this is going? Just from studying one verse, I now had:
- A prayer
- Affirmations
- A proclamation of what I have in Christ
What Am I Qualified For?
Colossians 1:9-12 doesn’t just say we’re qualified—it tells us what we’re qualified for:
- To be filled with the knowledge of His will
- To live a life worthy of the Lord
- To please God in every way
- To bear fruit in every good work
- To grow in the knowledge of God
- To be strengthened with all power
- To have great endurance and patience
- To joyfully give thanks to the Father
- To share in the inheritance of His holy people
When I put it all together, I had a full-circle moment. From reading just few verses—I was praying it, declaring it, and letting it shape my mindset.
Your Personal Revelation Might Look Different
Maybe you dig deeper into God’s Word in a different way—and that’s the beauty of having a relationship with God, not just a religion. He meets us personally, showing us glimpses of His heart that are meant just for us.
So, whether you:
- Pray this borrowed prayer,
- Speak these affirmations over yourself or a loved one, or
- Proclaim these truths so your heart can hear them…
I pray that you remember this: You are QUALIFIED by heaven to enjoy all that God desires for you.
Let’s journal, pray, and believe it. 💛
