PRAYING TO HAVE OUR HEARTS OPEN TO GOD'S GOOD WORD

 HEARTS OPEN TO GOD’S GOOD WORD

We take time to read God’s Word each day because we want the truth of God to seep into our souls and go deeply into our being.  Sometimes we have to slow down and read and reread and think about what we’ve read in order for the words to actually touch our hearts and do us some good. 

We get the most out of our time when we ask God’s Spirit to speak to us about it each time we read it.  Then it’s good to pray about what we have been reading and ask God to make it come alive in our lives.  Listen to these ways God wants His Word to be alive in us.

You have been taught the holy Scriptures from childhood, and they have given you the wisdom to receive the salvation that comes by trusting in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.

2 Timothy 3:15-17

Thank You Lord for wisdom we can have as we take time to read and think about Your Word.  We need to know what is true.  We don’t want to break our necks, so to speak, so we also want to know as quickly as possible what is going wrong in our lives.  Help us to submit to Your understanding of things, admit when we are wrong, and be willing to be corrected so we do what is right.

The Bible says:

All your words are true; all your righteous laws are eternal.  Psalm 119:160

Jesus prayed:

Make them holy by your truth; teach them your word, which is truth  John 17:17

Write Your Words on our heart, Holy Spirit.  Help us to be inspired by how wonderful God is, how reliable His words to us are, and how helpful each word is so we can act safely and securely in the will of God.

I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

Help us today to take time to do what the old Anglican prayer encourages us to do as we pray:

Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.