Parable
Parable Of The Ten Virgins Prayer
A short, Scripture-shaped parable prayer for an ordinary moment of Christian faith.
The prayer
A prayer to pray now
Father, in Matthew 25:4, the wise ones took oil in their flasks along with their lamps. That was the whole difference. They did not have better lamps. They had reserves. The foolish virgins were not wicked. They were not ready. Their faith was enough for the big moment but not for the long wait. I see myself in them more than I want to. I have lived on borrowed oil for years. My parents' belief. A Sunday when I felt something. The high from last summer's retreat. When the long night came, I had nothing left of my own. Teach me to keep oil for the waiting. The reading I do early. The prayer I do quietly. The friends who refill me. Help me build these things into my life, not just enjoy them for a day. Then, when the wait is longer than I thought, my lamp will still be burning when You open the door. 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.
but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.
Matthew 25:4
Questions about this prayer
When should I pray parable of the ten virgins 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 Matthew 25:4. 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.