A MONTH OF PRAYING THE WORD: Day 11: Part 3

PRAYING THE WORD EFFECTIVELY

In Part 2 today, I stressed that reading the Bible daily gives you yet another opportunity to Pray the Word. It helps you to get to the point that you pray without ceasing and to meditate on the Word of God morning, noon, and night. However, with Bible reading comes a couple of issues...

Let's be real. None of us read the Bible or know it like we could or should. Yes. even Bible scholars would agree with what I just said. The Bible is the Living Word. Every single time we read it, we go to the text with a new and different perspective. Therefore, every time we read it, we see it differently and learn new things about the Word of God. (Yes. Every time--even if you read the bible every 90 days.) 

Now, I hope you see why it is even more critical for you to be in the Word of God. Not only does that give you the opportunity to pray as you read it, but it will help you know the story of each verse, its context, and how to pray more effectively because of that knowledge. If you read a verse, but haven't read the Bible recently (if at all) from cover to cover, you could take it out of context and you could be disobeying God in the process. Let me drive this point home. 

WARNING! DANGER! DO NOT PULL FORWARD! HALT!

Read Matthew 5:30 at this time. 

Matthew 5:30 says to cut off your right hand and throw it away if it causes you to stumble. 

If you never read anything else from the Bible, you might take that literally! When it isn't literal. It's a figure of speech being used to make a point. You might think that this is an extreme example. But, it really isn't. If you haven't been in the Bible from cover to cover recently, you could be taking each and every verse you read out of context. Do you here the danger here? I wish I could flash neon signs in front of you and scream, "WARNING! WARNING! You are about to get hurt!" But, alas, I cannot. So, you need to do the same for yourself... as I am being with myself as I type this. 

BIBLE IN A YEAR 

So, this is where reading the Bible in a year comes in to the equation. 

Will you commit with me to read the Bible through this year? Please pray on it. See where God leads you with this endeavor. Keep in mind, you will NOT get as much out of Praying the Word unless you do--sometime. 

Commit to something at least. Whether it's the Bible in 90 days, 6 months, a year, 2 years, or 3 years... Commit. That will help your prayer life in ways I cannot even begin to express. 

PRAYING THE WORD

~*~ Read Psalm 119:9-32. Linger on 5 verses from there which speak to you the most. Pray these verses the next 24 hours. Make sure to journal everything you think, pray, and talk with God about. Also, journal what he says to you.

As you do that, make sure to ask God what HE wants you to commit to. Do not choose what you want. Also, do not commit to what you feel comfortable with. Make it a challenge, but a doable one. Go a little beyond your comfort zone. But, again  Commit. It will help you continue praying the Word and will bless your socks off! I promise. 

~*~ Journal what happens as you pray about what Bible reading plan you want to commit to and what happens between you and God the next 24 hours as you pray about that and pray the 5 verses from Psalm 119:9-32. 

Stacy Duplease
Bible Study Writer & Blogger
A Loyal Faith
Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction 

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