Over the years, God has changed me from timid, hurting, and self-involved; to one who knows his love and shares his love with others.
How has this happened? A big part is through praying with the Bible. By doing so regularly, God’s Word has made itself at home within me.
As we dwell in the Word and it lives in us, it comes alive within us. “For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires” (Hebrews 4:12).
What happens then? We begin to experience those uncanny moments of coming across a passage and feeling God’s Word burn into our hearts. God comforts us when we’re hurting as we read a line of the Psalms. He convicts us with his teaching from the Sermon on the Mount. As you read the Scriptures, pause before you delve into them and ask God to speak to you. He loves to respond when we seek him.
Why not take a few moments to explore the Bible prayerfully?
Maybe God is waiting for you to take the time to seek him out. You could rest in God’s presence and open her.BIBLE on your phone. Ask God through his Spirit to bring to mind something from his Word just for you – for right now.
A well-loved phrase from one of the New Testament letters might pop into your head, or maybe a portion from a song or hymn based on a passage from the Bible, or even the chapter and verse reference of a Scripture text itself. Wait and receive, and then weigh how the text applies to your life and whether you’ve heard from God.
After a breakup, I needed a practice that wouldn’t overwhelm me but would penetrate to the tender places within. I began writing out verses, adding my name again and again so that the words would move from my head to my heart: “Amy, I am leaving you with a gift – peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give you is a gift the world cannot give. So Amy, don’t be troubled or afraid.’ (John 14:27).
I recommend this simple practice, which can have profound results. Wonder where to start? Here are some suggestions:
Matthew 6:25-34 (Don’t worry)
John 14:15-21 (The Promised Holy Spirit)
John 17:20-26 (Jesus’ prayer for us)
Finally, I encourage you to rewrite a passage in your own words. Writing out a passage of Scripture can move us naturally to pray about concerns in our lives. One example is Paul’s prayer from Ephesians 1:17-19.
I rewrote this prayer he prayed for the church of Ephesus, “I ask that you would give me your Spirit of wisdom and revelation that I might know you better. Open the eyes of my heart and enlighten me, that I might know the hope to which you have called me.”
I trust and pray that as God dwells within you through his Word, that you too will be made more like Jesus.
*For deeper reflection, listen to Hebrews 4 today.
