The most dangerous thing we can do when choosing scripture is to choose with our flesh.  We know what we want and we’ll set out to find a scripture or two that, we think, will get it for us.  

I was teaching Prayer Mapping to a group of women’s ministry leaders.  During the break, a woman approached me and was all excited.  “I’m going to write a prayer map for my marriage,” she said.  

While that sounded like something to applaud, the Holy Spirit must have nudged me to ask more questions.  “How so,” I asked.  “Tell me more about your situation.” 

She went on to explain. “My husband left me for another woman a few years ago.  I have been hurt and angry.  But I believe God has shown me that He will come back to me.  My prayer map will target this ~ finding scriptures that will cause him to leave his new wife and return to me.” 

I cringed inside, knowing how easily she could extract promises from Jeremiah and other O.T. texts about God restoring, rebuilding, etc.  I asked her if she was open to my feedback.  She nodded.  I warned her. “Please don’t do that! That’s actually a form of witchcraft, to twist God’s words to bring about something God is actually against.”  She looked shocked.  

I continued. “God’s will is for him to be a righteous husband to his new wife.  God has a another future for you, first to heal your heart, and then to show you the new path He has for you.”  Thankfully, I felt she listened with an open heart. 

Nothing carries more weight than quoting God’s words.  We need to be careful before we actually do it.  Not only does it need to be in context, but we must wait on the Lord to show us what ‘word’ to stand on.  Jesus said that He did nothing without His Father’s direction.  That would have included how he answered the devil during the temptation period in the desert.  The scriptures He chose, He didn’t choose alone.  God showed Him and He followed the lead.  

You will decree a thing and it will be established for you.  Job 22:28