How to Interact with Scripture
So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes (Daniel 9:3, NIV).
There are many prayers in the Old Testament, but Daniel’s prayer stands out as one of the most powerful. Daniel meditated on Scripture and his prayers reflected this. He allowed God to speak to him through his readings and then spoke back to God through his prayers.
God’s word, the Bible, is God speaking to us.
How can we respond? We can speak back to Him. When we read Scripture, we can pause, think about what He’s saying, and say something to Him in response. God desires a two-way conversation.
This may be foreign to you and you may wonder what to say. Take for example, that you read a passage of Scripture that is difficult to understand. Instead of skipping over it, you may stop and say, “God I find this passage confusing. Please help me to understand Your word.” Or you may read something that you have trouble believing. Take a moment to ask God to help you believe and increase your faith.
You may read a passage that moves you because of a demonstration of God’s power and majesty. Stop and take a moment to praise Him for who He is. Thank Him for the work He’s done on your behalf. Give Him the worship and thanksgiving that He’s worthy of.
Or you may read a passage that reminds you of a need you or someone else has. Stop and take a moment to lift that need to God and intercede on behalf of someone else.
Reading the Bible doesn’t need to be
just a quiet time of reflection.
We can read God’s word and talk with Him like Daniel did.
Prayer:
Dear Lord – Thank You for Your Word. It is life-saving, inspiring, and healing. I pray that You will remind me daily to read the Bible and pray back to you Your Word as it speaks to my heart. In Jesus name, I pray.
Tweetables:
Reading the Bible doesn’t need to be a quiet time of reflection. (tweet this)
How does God’s Word speak to us? (tweet this)
Kimberley Payne
Kimberley is a motivational speaker and author. Her writings relate raising a family, pursuing a healthy lifestyle, and everyday experiences to building a relationship with God. Through her work, Kimberley hopes to inspire people to live lives that glorify God. You can visit her website at www.kimberleypayne.com
