Praying About It

This book of instruction must not depart from your mouth; you are to meditate on it day and night so that you may carefully observe everything written in it. For then you will prosper and succeed in whatever you do.  Joshua 1:8 CSB

Start this week, my friends. As you read the Bible look for verses and passages that stick out to you. Maybe you’ll happen upon a verse or passage that you feel drawn to, that you feel a tug or a pull to sit with. Welcome that feeling; it’s Holy Spirit! 

He wants you to meditate on this passage. Read it, study it, and then really reflect on it, consider what it says to you about God, yourself, and the world around you, ponder how you can apply it, walk in it, experience it, and grow in faith, hope, and love through it, and then . . . pray on it.

Colossians 3:16-17 NASB Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.

Reading the Bible has to do with understanding what God has to say to you. The idea is not that we would read and then not know anything about what we just read, or read it and say, “There, I read my verse or my chapter for today.”

The idea of reading His living word is to grasp God’s message to us, to give diligence to our study of the “word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). “Be diligent” means that when you open the Word, you give yourself fully to it. You take the Bible seriously. 

2 Timothy 2:14-15 NASB Remind them of these things, and solemnly charge them in the presence of God not to wrangle about words, which is useless and leads to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

The Word, living and active, reaches into the deepest places of our heart. Wisdom, insight, and understanding begin to stretch us, correct us, blossom within and overflow into our daily life, as well as the lives of those around us.

The opening up of our hearts and souls to Holy Spirit’s wisdom and understanding brings peace and rejoicing. It turns our heart toward God and away from empty pursuits and worldly satisfactions. It gives life to our entire existence. 

Psalms 119:129-135 NASB Your testimonies are wonderful; Therefore my soul observes them. The unfolding of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth wide and panted, For I longed for Your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, After Your manner with those who love Your name. Establish my footsteps in Your word, And do not let any iniquity have dominion over me. Redeem me from the oppression of man, That I may keep Your precepts. Make Your face shine upon Your servant, And teach me Your statutes.

This is not for a small few. This unfolding of God’s Truth is available to every heart hungry to know Jesus Christ and experience the power of the living, breathing Word of God in their lives. 

As we continue to sit at the feet of Jesus, come with a heart of deep expectation for what the truths of Scripture can bring to life in our own heart and the transformation that will come as we openly receive what Holy Spirit brings.