The early records of church history include several writings that give a view into the early church practice of the intimate relationship between God's Word and prayer. The letter Clement to the Corinthians written near the close of the first century concludes with a prayer "full of Scriptural reminiscences" and "nourished with memories of the psalms, prophets, Gospels, and apostolic writings." Phrase by phrase the Word of God was turned into prayer.

"… open the eyes of our hearts [cf., Eph. 1:18], that we may know Thee [cf., Phil. 3:10], who alone abidest Highest in the lofty, Holy in the holy [ cf., Isa. 57:15]; who layest low the insolence of the proud [cf., Isa. 13:11], who scatterest the imaginings of nations [cf., Psa. 2:1, 9]; who settest the lowly on high [cf., Job 5:11], and bringest the lofty low [cf., Isa 10:33]; who makest rich and makest poor; who killest and makest alive [cf., 1 Sam. 2:6-7]; … Let all the Gentiles know that Thou art God alone [cf., 2 Kings 19:15]. And Jesus Christ is Thy Son [cf., Matt. 3:17], and we are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture [cf., Psa. 79:13].