Bible story
Josiah’s Reforms Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped bible story prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, when King Josiah heard Your Word read aloud, he tore his clothes. It broke his heart. He did not skim. He grieved, repented, and acted. Make me a Josiah the next time Your Word breaks through to me. I am tempted to skim and forget. I do not want to be that way. Let Your Word hit me deep. Let me respond with my whole life. Begin that change in me.
Amen.
How to pray it
- Read it slowly. Move through this prayer one line at a time, out loud if you can, letting each phrase land before the next.
- Make it personal. Pause where a line meets your day and name the person, fear, or hope it touches before God.
- Carry it with you. Keep one sentence with you — on your phone or in your pocket — and return to it when the day gets loud.
Verses to pray
Pray these slowly, one line at a time. Scripture quoted from a public-domain translation.
When the king had heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes.
2 Kings 22:11When the king had heard the words of the law, he tore his clothes.
2 Chronicles 34:19The king stood in his place and made a covenant before Yahweh, to walk after Yahweh, and to keep his commandments, his testimonies, and his statutes with all his heart and with all his soul, to perform the words of the covenant that were written in this book.
2 Chronicles 34:31
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray josiah’s reforms prayer?
Pray it whenever the words fit your moment — at the start of the day, in a hard stretch, or when you simply want to turn toward God.
Which Bible verses anchor this prayer?
This prayer is anchored in 2 Kings 22:11, 2 Chronicles 34:19, 2 Chronicles 34:31. The "Verses to pray" section above quotes them in full.
Can I save or share this prayer?
Yes. Use the Copy prayer button to copy the words, or open the Chosen Portion app to keep a daily prayer, devotional, and Scripture with you.