A Month of Praying the Word: Day 2

DAY 2

WHAT EXACTLY IS PRAYING THE WORD?

Praying the Word is a way to combine Bible reading and studying with prayer. In other words:

Prayer + Bible verse or passage = Praying the Word

It's reading a verse, or saying it from memory, to God in an attitude of prayer and then listening to what God has to say to us through it. If we do not hear anything, we repeat the verse in our minds. 

Another way of saying it is personalizing the verse or passage and praying it back to God. The catch is we need to listen fully to the Lord and pay attention to what goes on inside of us as we do this. We also need to remember that we need to listen far more than we talk. 

It sounds a little too simple, doesn't it? Well, it is. But, what it offers us is ripe with complexity. I do not know of a way to get closer to the Lord. I cannot stress this enough. I have not found anything more transforming in my life. I do not know of  a way to bring me closer to God and his Word. That's precisely why I am writing this book and sharing the sweetness of this practice with you. 

We have 29 days to gain full insight as to the riches this way of prayer and way of being in the Word can offer us. Let's get started.
PSALM 119:15 (AND A POSSIBLY BAD WORD)
Since we only have 29 days left, we are going to jump right in and get down to work--and I mean that in a very beautiful way. I guess I could also say, "Hold on! We're approaching the cliff!" You're about to see why I say this is the case.

Please read Psalm 119:15 in your favorite Bible. Then, make note of what it says in your journal. 

There is a word in this verse which is quite misunderstood in the Christian community. It brings up several connotations, most of which aren't good. As a matter of fact, there is a word there that makes some think it's evil. Is it? If God tells us to do it, is it evil? The Bible tells us to do this repeatedly. Any guesses? It's the word, 'Meditate.' Are you cringing or smiling? Which camp do you fall in? If you are cringing, please take note. 

This is what people think:

Meditation + Anything = Bad (Avoid)

Is this true? Let's sincerely ask this question. Does this add up? 

Know your reactions to every word in the Bible. Our biases and misunderstandings will add bias and misunderstanding to the very Word of God. All of us have them. There is no exception in that reality. We need to be aware so that we can work through them and gain new insight in the Bible. 

Let's get real. When you think of meditation, you imagine Eastern religions and witchcraft. Right? We see people in the lotus position, the 7 chakras, and we cringe. We know that stuff pulls our attention from the Lord and his Word. We know we must be careful not to get pulled in and we guard against it. This is all good. May we never change this reaction. However, biblical meditation is a very different animal. It has absolutely nothing to do with any of this. 

We are going to look at the word, 'meditate' and see what it really means in the biblical connotation. If you want to do a full study of the word, by the way, follow the instructions from this link: http://aloyalfaith.blogspot.com/2011/11/passage-study-template-morning-noon-and.html (That's what I am using as I share the study of this word with you.) 

The Hebrew word for meditate is SIYACH. What it means is: to consider, ponder, muse, talk of, and declare. 
--- Bibliography Information
1 Brown, Driver, Briggs and Gesenius. "Hebrew Lexicon entry for Siyach". "The KJV Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon". 
2 http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/kjv/siyach.html
3 http://concordances.org/hebrew/7878.htm

Or... It means to pray the Word in our ways of speaking today. 

~*~ Write in your journal what you think of the word 'meditate' now.

Re-read Psalm 119:15 with your new understanding (or your confirmed understanding). 

~*~ How does this verse speak to you?

~*~ How can you apply Psalm 119:15 to your life?

Now, let me give you a word of warning: Our biases keep us from doing what God mandates. That adds sin on top of sin. Sin for not doing it and sin because we do not trust the Word of God. Be careful. Know what they are as you read the Word of God so you do not keep bias and misunderstanding from seeking perfect communion with the Lord and an intimate relationship. 

Praying the Word is, in part, doing what Psalm 119:15 states. 

FOR THE REST OF THE DAY

~*~ Find 5 verses to write out in your journal and reflect on today and tonight. Read them whenever you have the chance throughout the day and night. Paraphrase them in your own words (just make sure you do not take anything out of context or add meaning to it that isn't really there). 

Regarding the 5 verses you find, if you are struggling with an issue, like loneliness, for example, then look up 5 verses on the subject. Look half up from the Old Testament and half up from the New Testament and then with the extra one, I recommend Psalm or Proverbs. 

~*~ Make sure to write what God says to you and what you say to God about these verses, what you learn, what you want to apply to your life, and about your life. 

TIP: Just before you fall asleep, read these verses. As you fall asleep, reflect on one of these and allow it to put you to sleep. Whenever you roll over or can't sleep, repeat the verse in your mind again until it puts you to sleep again. When your alarm goes off, repeat the verse. Then, make sure to write down everything in your journal that God said to you and you said to God through the night--if anything. Sometimes, it's just a feeling or an impression. 

ANOTHER TIP: The more journaling you do, the more you'll get out of this. God will continue over the next several days to share more with you about those verses--and then for months and years to come. If you don't get the progression written down, you will forget and who wants to forget one word God says to them? 

Stacy Duplease
Bible Study Writer & Blogger

A Loyal Faith

Find my books at/store: http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/hisfiction