What Does It Mean To Pray-Read The Word?
To "Pray-Read" God's Word is a commitment to not just read the Bible for information but to meditate on it's promises and exhortations (or commands) in prayer - that is, in a two-way conversation with God where you are asking for insight and you are writing down what you hear. This is where we get to use the Bible as the conversational material in our prayer life. To do so, is to move from a purely "study mode" to a "dialogue mode" and begin to talk to Jesus, the Word made flesh, through His written Word.
How do You Pray-Read the Word?
Let's take the Bible verse: "And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus." - Philippians 4:19 NIV
As we read the Bible, we will look for two broad categories of Scripture and in order to do the following:
1. Promises to BELIEVE
Part of a passage that declares truths about God—what He has done and what He is like
Thank You... & Show Me More...
Thank You God (for that particular truth) - a declaration of thanksgiving and trust
Example: "Thank you, my Lord and my God that you will supply all my needs..."
Show Me More (about that particular truth) - seeking God for a particular deeper understanding
Example: "Lord, help me to sense and trust that You can and will supply all my needs. Show me how faithful you have been in my past. Show me ways I can align my thoughts and actions with this reality."
2. Commands to OBEY
Part of a passage that explicitly or implicitly shows commands or "exhortations" to obey
I Commit... & Help Me/Empower...
I Commit (to obey a particular truth in that passage) - you get to choose what you want to commit to do from this passage
Example: I commit to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances , even when I don't feel like it or the situation is not worthy of it.
Help Me/Empower Me (to obey that truth) - a request to God give you wisdom, motivation, and power to obey in specific areas and overcome any obstacles that gets in the way
Example: "Help me to rejoice in all circumstances. Give me the eyes to see each situation as you see it and not as the world sees it. Help me to pray constantly, trusting in you as opposed to my own efforts, as the solution to my problems. Help me to give thanks for everything, in the knowledge that you have everything under your control and that I can trust that you will work out all things for my good, in the end."
Pray-Read Example With a Bible Passage
BIBLE PASSAGE: " Good and upright is the Lord; therefore He instructs sinners in the way. He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble His way. All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep His covenant and his testimonies." - Psalm 25:8-10 ESV
PRAY-READ Example >
I Thank You that You are a good God who works for our good, by leading us in humility towards Your heart and Your ways. You are our Perfect Teacher and the Shepherd of our Souls and Your commitment to us, even in our wanderings, humbles us more and more until we are rightly submitted to You.
Show Me More how graciously You are leading me into Your ways. Let me see Your faithfulness, wisdom and care in my life, that comes with Your perfect leadership.
I Commit to follow Your ways all the days of my life and to be corrected and redirected, as needed, back into Your perfect ways.
Empower Me to seek Your ways and let go of any solutions that have come from my brokenness and waywardness. Help me to heal from my brokenness so that I can embrace Your ways fully.
PRAY-READ Reference Images to Download & Keep On Your Phone/Laptop (4 Languages - right click and "Save As")
ENGLISH
SPANISH/ESPAÑOL
PORTUGUESE/PORTUGUÊS
FRENCH/FRANÇAIS
ARABIC/عربى