Pray the Bible
Do you commune with God when you read the scriptures and when you pray?
Or, has reading scripture become a task to check off your list?
Has prayer become a one-dimensional exercise of cataloging your wishes?
In his mercy, the Lord has appointed for us these dual disciplines — what Pastor David Mathis calls habits of grace — so that we would have genuine fellowship with God, through his Son Jesus, and by the aid of his Spirit.
But if reading scripture and prayer have become regrettably impersonal or shallow, I encourage and exhort you, brothers and sisters, to bring these two disciplines together in this way: pray the Bible.
We should read God’s Word in a posture of prayer.
When we read the horrors of human depravity, we should pray, “Lord, have mercy.” When we see God’s deliverance of his people, we should pray, “Lord, deliver us also!” When we read of God’s abundant provision, we should pray, “Lord, thank you for your extraordinary kindness.” And when we encounter the commands of Jesus, we should pray, “Lord, give me a heart of joyful obedience.”
This miracle of genuine fellowship with God happens only by a work of the Holy Spirit.
And this reminds us of our need to confess our sins…
Prayer of Confession
Father, your Word is righteous and true, reviving our souls and giving us wisdom. It is more precious than gold, and sweeter than honey.
We ask that you remove our hearts of stone and give each of us a heart of flesh. Please send your Spirit to meet us when we read your word. By the blood of your Son, Jesus, may we draw us near with confidence and abide with you. Would you meet us now in this time of silent confession.