Transforming Prayer Through Engaging with Scripture

 

Summary

Praying the Bible is akin to consuming spiritual superfoods, offering profound benefits that surpass the mere act of praying from our own thoughts and emotions. The Bible, described as sweeter than honey, provides a rich source of spiritual nourishment. Praying the Bible is a practice deeply rooted in scripture itself, as seen in the prayers of Jonah, Daniel, Mary, and even Jesus. This method of prayer allows us to engage in a conversation with God, responding to His words rather than struggling to find our own. It builds our faith, as faith comes from hearing the word of Christ, and it transforms our prayers by aligning them with God's powerful and living word.

The Bible's power to change us and strengthen our prayers is evident in its ability to discern our thoughts and intentions, guiding us away from self-centeredness and towards God's higher ways. Praying the Bible also increases our confidence that God hears us, as we align our prayers with His will, knowing that He will answer in His perfect timing. This practice serves as a safeguard for our motives, preventing us from praying with selfish intentions. It ensures our prayers are well-rounded, covering a wide range of topics and needs that we might overlook on our own.

Moreover, praying the Bible provides structure, helping us stay focused and on track during prayer. It offers a path to follow, allowing us to pick up where we left off if distractions arise. This method can be as simple as freestyle prayer, responding naturally to scripture, or using structured approaches like the "three Rs"—rejoice, repent, and request. The Lord's Prayer can also serve as a template, guiding us through a comprehensive and focused prayer session.

Incorporating the practice of praying the Bible into our devotional routine can revolutionize our prayer life, anchoring us in God's word and aligning our hearts with His. As we engage with scripture in prayer, we become whole Christians, conformed to the image of our Savior, and equipped to face life's challenges with faith and confidence.

Key Takeaways:

1. Praying the Bible as a Biblical Practice: Praying the Bible is a time-honored practice seen throughout scripture, from Jonah to Jesus. It allows us to engage in a conversation with God, responding to His words rather than relying solely on our own thoughts. This practice roots our prayers in the rich soil of God's word, providing a foundation for meaningful and effective communication with Him. [01:55]

2. Building Faith Through Scripture: True prayer requires faith, and faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. By praying the Bible, we allow God's word to generate faith within us, stoking the fires of prayer and enabling us to approach God with confidence and trust. This practice strengthens our faith and aligns our prayers with God's will. [04:25]

3. Transformative Power of God's Word: The Bible is living and active, capable of discerning our thoughts and intentions. Praying the Bible transforms our prayers, guiding us away from self-centeredness and towards God's higher ways. It reveals areas in need of change and empowers us to pray in alignment with God's desires. [05:12]

4. Confidence in God's Response: Praying according to God's will, as revealed in scripture, assures us that God hears and answers our prayers. While His answers may not always align with our expectations, we can trust that He will respond in His perfect timing and way. This confidence encourages us to pray boldly and persistently. [08:20]

5. Structured and Focused Prayer: Praying the Bible provides structure, helping us stay focused and on track during prayer. Whether through freestyle prayer, the "three Rs," or using the Lord's Prayer as a template, this practice offers a path to follow, ensuring our prayers are comprehensive and aligned with God's word. [13:36]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:09] - Introduction to Praying the Bible
- [00:51] - Biblical Examples of Praying the Bible
- [02:09] - Engaging in Conversation with God
- [02:56] - Building Faith Through Scripture
- [04:40] - Transformative Power of God's Word
- [06:01] - Spiritual Battle and God's Word
- [07:47] - Confidence in God's Response
- [09:38] - Guardrails for Our Motives
- [10:33] - Well-Rounded Prayers
- [13:23] - Structure and Focus in Prayer
- [14:42] - Freestyle Prayer Method
- [15:47] - The Three Rs Method
- [18:57] - Using the Lord's Prayer
- [23:10] - Conclusion and Next Steps

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 1:5-6 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Observation Questions:
1. What examples from the Bible were given in the sermon to illustrate the practice of praying the Bible? [01:05]
2. How does the sermon describe the role of faith in prayer, and what scripture supports this? [03:15]
3. According to the sermon, what are some benefits of praying the Bible compared to praying from our own thoughts? [00:24]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the structure and focus that praying the Bible provides? [13:23]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the practice of praying the Bible help believers engage in a conversation with God, according to the sermon? [02:09]
2. In what ways does the sermon suggest that praying the Bible can transform our prayers and align them with God's will? [05:12]
3. How does the sermon explain the concept of confidence in God's response when we pray according to His will? [08:20]
4. What does the sermon imply about the importance of having well-rounded prayers, and how does praying the Bible contribute to this? [10:33]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to find the right words in prayer. How might praying the Bible have changed that experience? [02:25]
2. Consider your current prayer routine. How can you incorporate the practice of praying the Bible to build your faith and confidence in God's response? [04:25]
3. Identify a specific area in your life where you feel self-centeredness might be affecting your prayers. How can praying the Bible help you align your prayers with God's higher ways? [05:12]
4. Think about a recent prayer request you made. How might praying the Bible have provided structure or focus to that prayer? [13:36]
5. Choose a passage from the Bible that you find challenging. How can you use the "three Rs" method (rejoice, repent, request) to pray through this passage? [15:47]
6. Reflect on a situation where you felt your motives in prayer might not have been pure. How can praying the Bible serve as a safeguard for your motives? [09:38]
7. Consider a specific challenge you are facing. How can you use the Lord's Prayer as a template to pray through this situation? [18:57]

Devotional

Day 1: Engaging in Divine Dialogue
Praying the Bible is a practice that allows believers to engage in a meaningful conversation with God by responding to His words rather than relying solely on their own thoughts. This method is deeply rooted in scripture, as seen in the prayers of biblical figures like Jonah, Daniel, Mary, and Jesus. By praying the Bible, individuals root their prayers in the rich soil of God's word, providing a foundation for meaningful and effective communication with Him. This practice not only enriches the prayer experience but also ensures that the dialogue is grounded in divine truth, allowing for a more profound connection with God. [01:55]

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (Colossians 3:16, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent prayer you made. How can you incorporate a specific scripture into that prayer to deepen your conversation with God today?


Day 2: Faith Through the Word
True prayer requires faith, and faith comes from hearing the word of Christ. By praying the Bible, believers allow God's word to generate faith within them, stoking the fires of prayer and enabling them to approach God with confidence and trust. This practice strengthens faith and aligns prayers with God's will, creating a powerful synergy between the believer's desires and God's purposes. As individuals immerse themselves in scripture, they find their faith being built up, allowing them to pray with greater assurance and expectation. [04:25]

"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17, ESV)

Reflection: Identify a scripture that speaks to an area where your faith needs strengthening. How can you incorporate this scripture into your prayers to build your faith today?


Day 3: Transformation Through Scripture
The Bible is living and active, capable of discerning thoughts and intentions. Praying the Bible transforms prayers, guiding believers away from self-centeredness and towards God's higher ways. It reveals areas in need of change and empowers individuals to pray in alignment with God's desires. By engaging with scripture in prayer, believers open themselves to the transformative power of God's word, allowing it to shape their hearts and minds according to His will. This transformation leads to a more authentic and God-centered prayer life. [05:12]

"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent prayer where your intentions may have been self-centered. How can you use scripture to realign your prayers with God's higher ways today?


Day 4: Confidence in Divine Response
Praying according to God's will, as revealed in scripture, assures believers that God hears and answers their prayers. While His answers may not always align with their expectations, they can trust that He will respond in His perfect timing and way. This confidence encourages believers to pray boldly and persistently, knowing that their prayers are heard and valued by God. By aligning their prayers with scripture, individuals can approach God with the assurance that He is attentive to their needs and desires. [08:20]

"And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us." (1 John 5:14, ESV)

Reflection: Consider a prayer request you have been hesitant to bring before God. How can you use scripture to gain confidence in God's response to this request today?


Day 5: Structured and Focused Prayer
Praying the Bible provides structure, helping believers stay focused and on track during prayer. Whether through freestyle prayer, the "three Rs," or using the Lord's Prayer as a template, this practice offers a path to follow, ensuring prayers are comprehensive and aligned with God's word. By incorporating structure into their prayer life, individuals can maintain focus and avoid distractions, allowing for a more intentional and meaningful prayer experience. This structured approach ensures that all aspects of life are brought before God in prayer. [13:36]

"Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving." (Colossians 4:2, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on your current prayer routine. How can you incorporate a structured approach, such as the "three Rs" or the Lord's Prayer, to enhance your focus and comprehensiveness in prayer today?

Quotes

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. No, I just open the Bible, read What God Says in his word, and respond. It's that simple. [00:02:35]

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, and it will be given him. [00:02:58]

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 of marrow, and Discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. The Bible will discern our thoughts and the intentions of our hearts. [00:04:40]

Praying according to God's will, as revealed in scripture, assures us that God hears and answers our prayers. While His answers may not always align with our expectations, we can trust that He will respond in His perfect timing and way. This confidence encourages us to pray boldly and persistently. [00:08:01]

Praying the Bible provides structure, helping us stay focused and on track during prayer. Whether through freestyle prayer, the "three Rs," or using the Lord's Prayer as a template, this practice offers a path to follow, ensuring our prayers are comprehensive and aligned with God's word. [00:13:23]

Praying the Bible will serve as guard rails for us to keep us from veering off into the ditch of bad motives. We can trust the wisdom of scripture and pray in Freedom and in confidence. Yes, our hearts may still lead us to ask God for things from a heart with tainted motives, or we may misuse or misinterpret a portion of scripture and pray for something that we shouldn't. [00:09:38]

As we read and pray the Bible over a long period of time, we come across many wonderful truths about suffering that we can take to God In Prayer. You might read Psalm 119:71, "it is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes," so you pray, "Father, I'm not in a place yet where I can pray this with the psalmist, but I pray that you would teach me your statutes and cause them to be my great Delight in this trial." [00:11:49]

I love how A.W. Tozer put it: nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian. And over time, as we engage all of God's word and allow it to shape our hearts, our attitudes, and our prayers, God will make us whole Christians and conform us to the image of our Savior. [00:13:01]

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. [00:13:23]

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. [00:14:02]

The first method to pray the Bible is freestyle, or to put it another way, just like Freestyle swimming, there are no hard and fast rules for praying the Bible. Yes, we always want to interpret scripture well, but don't let a lack of confidence in the way you read the Bible intimidate you. [00:14:42]

The second way to pray the Lord's Prayer is to use it as a general template for prayer. One time Martin Luther's Barber asked him for practical advice on prayer. In response, Luther wrote the short book called "A Simple Way to Pray," and in that book, Luther recommended using the Lord's Prayer as a template, going petition by petition, filling in specific praises and requests as you go. [00:19:57]

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Transcript
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