Transformative Power of Praying the Bible

 

Summary

Praying the Bible is akin to consuming spiritual superfoods, offering profound benefits beyond our own limited resources. Just as superfoods like blueberries and kale provide more nutrients than ordinary foods, praying the Bible enriches our spiritual lives more than relying solely on our own thoughts and feelings. The Bible, described in Psalm 19:10 as sweeter than honey, is a powerful tool for prayer, as demonstrated by biblical figures like Jonah, Daniel, Mary, and Jesus, who all prayed using scripture. This practice is not new but has been a part of the spiritual journey for generations.

Praying the Bible helps us engage in a meaningful conversation with God. Many struggle with prayer because they don't know what to say, often repeating the same requests. However, when we pray the Bible, God initiates the conversation through His Word, and we respond, making prayer a dynamic dialogue rather than a monologue. This approach also builds our faith, as faith comes from hearing the Word of Christ. By praying scripture, we allow God's Word to generate faith within us, fueling our prayers.

Moreover, the Bible's power transforms us and strengthens our prayers. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as living and active, discerning our thoughts and intentions. It corrects our self-centered and misguided prayers, aligning them with God's will. This alignment increases our confidence that God hears us, as praying according to His will ensures that our prayers are effective. The Apostle John assures us that when we pray in line with God's will, He hears us, providing a profound sense of assurance.

Praying the Bible also serves as a safeguard for our motives. James warns against praying with wrong motives, which can render our prayers ineffective. By anchoring our prayers in scripture, we align our desires with God's heart, reducing the risk of selfish motives. Additionally, praying the Bible ensures our prayers are well-rounded, covering a broad spectrum of God's attributes, our sins, and the world's truths. This comprehensive approach prevents us from becoming discouraged when our specific requests aren't answered as we hope.

Finally, praying the Bible provides structure, helping us maintain focus during prayer. The path of scripture guides us, allowing us to pick up where we left off if distractions arise. This structure enables us to meditate on scripture throughout the day, continually bringing our thoughts back to God in prayer.

Key Takeaways:

- Praying the Bible enriches our spiritual lives, much like superfoods enrich our physical health. It offers a depth of spiritual nourishment that surpasses our own limited resources, as demonstrated by biblical figures who prayed using scripture. [00:59]

- Engaging in prayer through the Bible transforms it into a dynamic conversation with God. This approach alleviates the struggle of not knowing what to pray, as God initiates the dialogue through His Word, and we respond. [02:16]

- The Bible's power transforms us and strengthens our prayers, aligning them with God's will. This alignment increases our confidence that God hears us, as praying according to His will ensures that our prayers are effective. [04:32]

- Praying the Bible serves as a safeguard for our motives, aligning our desires with God's heart and reducing the risk of selfish motives. This practice ensures our prayers are well-rounded, covering a broad spectrum of God's attributes, our sins, and the world's truths. [09:39]

- The structure provided by praying the Bible helps maintain focus during prayer. This structure enables us to meditate on scripture throughout the day, continually bringing our thoughts back to God in prayer. [13:26]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:10] - Introduction to Praying the Bible
- [00:36] - The Bible as Spiritual Superfood
- [00:59] - Biblical Examples of Praying Scripture
- [02:16] - Prayer as a Conversation with God
- [03:12] - Building Faith Through Scripture
- [04:32] - The Transformative Power of God's Word
- [06:01] - Scripture in Times of Anxiety
- [07:25] - Spiritual Warfare and the Word
- [08:10] - Confidence in God's Hearing
- [09:39] - Guarding Our Motives
- [10:37] - Well-Rounded Prayers
- [12:02] - Embracing Suffering Through Scripture
- [13:26] - Structure and Focus in Prayer
- [14:02] - Conclusion and Encouragement

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Praying the Bible

Bible Reading:
1. Psalm 19:10 - "They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the honeycomb."
2. Hebrews 4:12 - "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
3. James 4:3 - "When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Observation Questions:
1. How does the sermon compare praying the Bible to consuming superfoods, and what benefits are highlighted? [00:10]
2. What examples from the Bible are given in the sermon to illustrate the practice of praying scripture? [00:59]
3. According to the sermon, how does praying the Bible transform prayer from a monologue into a dialogue with God? [02:29]
4. What role does the Bible play in aligning our prayers with God's will, as discussed in the sermon? [04:32]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that praying the Bible can build and strengthen one's faith? [04:16]
2. How does the sermon explain the concept of the Bible serving as a safeguard for our motives in prayer? [09:39]
3. What does the sermon imply about the importance of structure in prayer, and how does praying the Bible provide this structure? [13:26]
4. How does the sermon describe the impact of praying the Bible on our confidence that God hears our prayers? [08:10]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled with what to say in prayer. How might praying the Bible help you in similar situations in the future? [02:16]
2. Consider your current prayer habits. How can you incorporate scripture into your daily prayers to make them more dynamic and faith-building? [04:16]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where your motives might not align with God's will. How can praying the Bible help you realign your desires with God's heart? [09:39]
4. Think about a recent prayer request that wasn't answered as you hoped. How can praying the Bible help you maintain a well-rounded prayer life and prevent discouragement? [10:37]
5. What practical steps can you take to use the structure of scripture to maintain focus during your prayer time, especially when distractions arise? [13:26]
6. Choose a passage of scripture to meditate on this week. How will you use it to guide your prayers and bring your thoughts back to God throughout the day? [13:39]
7. Reflect on a specific challenge or anxiety you are facing. How can you use scripture to address this in prayer and seek God's guidance and peace? [06:01]

Devotional

Day 1: Spiritual Nourishment Through Scripture
Praying the Bible is likened to consuming spiritual superfoods, offering profound benefits that surpass our own limited resources. Just as superfoods like blueberries and kale provide more nutrients than ordinary foods, praying the Bible enriches our spiritual lives more than relying solely on our own thoughts and feelings. The Bible, described in Psalm 19:10 as sweeter than honey, is a powerful tool for prayer, as demonstrated by biblical figures like Jonah, Daniel, Mary, and Jesus, who all prayed using scripture. This practice is not new but has been a part of the spiritual journey for generations. By engaging with scripture in prayer, we tap into a depth of spiritual nourishment that strengthens and sustains us in ways we cannot achieve on our own. [00:59]

Psalm 19:10 (ESV): "More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb."

Reflection: What specific scripture can you incorporate into your prayer life today to enrich your spiritual nourishment?


Day 2: Dynamic Dialogue with God
Engaging in prayer through the Bible transforms it into a dynamic conversation with God. Many struggle with prayer because they don't know what to say, often repeating the same requests. However, when we pray the Bible, God initiates the conversation through His Word, and we respond, making prayer a dynamic dialogue rather than a monologue. This approach alleviates the struggle of not knowing what to pray, as God initiates the dialogue through His Word, and we respond. By allowing scripture to guide our prayers, we open ourselves to a more profound and meaningful interaction with God, where His Word shapes our thoughts and responses. [02:16]

Isaiah 55:11 (ESV): "So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it."

Reflection: How can you allow God's Word to initiate a conversation with Him today, transforming your prayer from a monologue to a dialogue?


Day 3: Aligning with God's Will
The Bible's power transforms us and strengthens our prayers, aligning them with God's will. Hebrews 4:12 describes the Word of God as living and active, discerning our thoughts and intentions. It corrects our self-centered and misguided prayers, aligning them with God's will. This alignment increases our confidence that God hears us, as praying according to His will ensures that our prayers are effective. The Apostle John assures us that when we pray in line with God's will, He hears us, providing a profound sense of assurance. By praying scripture, we allow God's Word to generate faith within us, fueling our prayers and aligning them with His divine purpose. [04:32]

1 John 5:14-15 (ESV): "And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him."

Reflection: What specific area of your life needs alignment with God's will, and how can you use scripture to guide your prayers in this area today?


Day 4: Safeguarding Our Motives
Praying the Bible serves as a safeguard for our motives, aligning our desires with God's heart and reducing the risk of selfish motives. James warns against praying with wrong motives, which can render our prayers ineffective. By anchoring our prayers in scripture, we align our desires with God's heart, reducing the risk of selfish motives. Additionally, praying the Bible ensures our prayers are well-rounded, covering a broad spectrum of God's attributes, our sins, and the world's truths. This comprehensive approach prevents us from becoming discouraged when our specific requests aren't answered as we hope. [09:39]

James 4:3 (ESV): "You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent prayer request. How can you use scripture to examine and purify your motives, ensuring they align with God's heart?


Day 5: Structure and Focus in Prayer
The structure provided by praying the Bible helps maintain focus during prayer. The path of scripture guides us, allowing us to pick up where we left off if distractions arise. This structure enables us to meditate on scripture throughout the day, continually bringing our thoughts back to God in prayer. By following the structure of scripture, we can maintain a disciplined and focused prayer life, even amidst the distractions of daily life. This practice not only enhances our prayer life but also deepens our meditation on God's Word, allowing it to permeate our thoughts and actions throughout the day. [13:26]

Psalm 119:105 (ESV): "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."

Reflection: What specific scripture can you use today to structure your prayer time, helping you maintain focus and discipline in your spiritual practice?

Quotes

Praying the Bible answers that God starts the conversation by speaking to us through his word and praying the Bible is simply responding to the conversation that God our father has already started. This is a great practical relief for me. I don't need to wait until I'm especially inspired or sharp to approach God In Prayer. [00:24:59]

The Bible is adamant true prayer requires true faith. Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God and this clearly applies to prayer. Without faith, it is impossible to please God In Prayer. That's what James writes in his epistle. James shares a glorious truth if any of you lacks wisdom let him ask God who gives generously to all without reproach. [00:30:12]

The word of God is powerful to bring change. Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of Soul and Spirit, of joints and marrow, and Discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Bible will discern our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts. [00:46:19]

The Apostle John shows us what happens when we pray according to God's will. This is the confidence that we have toward him that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. God hears us when we pray according to his will. This gives us confidence to pray. We know God will hear us. We know God will answer us. [00:48:01]

James the Apostle wrote to the church on wrong motives in prayer. He said you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly to spend it on your passions. This means praying with sinful motives can render our prayers ineffective. But praying the Bible will serve as guard rails for us to keep us from veering off into the ditch of bad motives. [00:51:59]

As we pray through God's word we will be taught, for proved, corrected, trained in righteousness, and equipped for every good work. Think of it this way: there are so many attributes of God to adore, so many types of sins we need to fight, so many truths about our world that we need to believe. [00:55:43]

Imagine you have a chronic illness that has produced great suffering for you. The good and natural prayer in such a situation is God take away this illness, but praying only that over the weeks, the months, and the years would get any of us tired and discouraged if we haven't received the answer that we're looking for. [00:57:30]

Later you read James 1:12. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial for when he has stood the test he will receive the Crown of Life. And you pray God help me remain steadfast under trial and help me remember that you bless the man who remains steadfast when things get tough. [01:01:26]

The beauty of reading the Bible and praying as you go is that you have so much fodder for your prayers. You may find that learning to pray the Bible means you can literally spend all day meditating on scripture and bringing it back to God In Prayer. [01:06:57]

Praying the Bible helps us focus by giving a structure. We have the path of scripture to follow in prayer. We know the steps right in front of us. It's the next verse or the next passage and we take those steps. And when distractions take us off the path we just get right back on it and pick up where we left off. [01:07:58]

We don't need to believe the lie that interrupted prayers don't count, not at all. And you know this from life when you're distracted while talking to a friend or a loved one you can usually pick right back up where you left off. [01:09:08]

The power of God's word changes us and strengthens our prayers. That's the fourth reason to pray the Bible. The fifth reason to pray the Bible is that it will increase our confidence that God hears our prayers. We know that the word of God reveals the will of God. [00:47:38]

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Transcript
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