It is good to read a few verses from the Bible daily. Before reading the Bible, we need to pray for the blessings of the Holy Spirit so that we may comprehend the Word of God fully. The Word of God is so powerful as to remove all darkness and bondages from our lives. We need to believe firmly in the Word of God so that our lives may be transformed.
Father, anoint me with your Holy Spirit, so that as I read your eternal word, your word may penetrate my whole being and transform me. Grant me the blessing to be a faithful disciple in believing the Word of God and that I may be a light shining upon all who are in darkness. Amen
lordcalls.com
by Cindy Vander Haar
Scripture Prayer
Thank you for visiting Scripture Prayer for Marriages. To fully understand the principles of praying scripturally, please read the teaching “Why Pray Scripture?” .
Hearing God: As it is rare to hear an audible voice from God, one of the ways God will speak to us is through His written Word and a small still voice inside us. Before reviewing the scripture references below that address what the Bible says about marriage ask the Holy Spirit of revelation to join you. When certain verses capture your attention more than others, meditate and incorporate those into your personal daily prayer life.
Heavenly Father, we ask You to give complete knowledge of Your Will to this reader, and to give him/her Your spiritual wisdom and understanding as they seek You with all their hearts and lean not on their own understanding. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.
Marriage Scripture References
(All scripture is quoted from the King James Version unless otherwise noted.)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. James 4:7
Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. Jeremiah 3:33
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Psalms 119:105
Roll your works upon the Lord (commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and) so shall your plans be established and succeed. Proverbs 16:3 (AMP)
Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice. Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made know unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:4-8
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God.” Matthew 19:26 (AMP)
O keep me, Lord, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You. Psalm 25:20
Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 4:32
Be gentle and forbearing with one another and, if one has a difference (a grievance or complaint) against another, readily pardoning each other; even as the Lord has freely forgiven you, so must you also forgive. Colossians 3:13 (AMP)
But the fruit of the Holy Spirit (the work which His presence within accomplishes) is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law that can bring a charge. Galatians 5:22 (AMP)
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech that is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption…Let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) and quarreling (brawling, clamor, contention) and slander (evil speaking, abusive or blasphemous language) be banished from you, with all malice (spite, ill will, or baseness of any kind). And become useful and helpful and kind to one another, tenderhearted (compassionate, understanding, loving-hearted), forgiving one another (readily and freely) as God in Christ forgave you. Ephesians 4:29 (AMP)
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:19-20
Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. James 5:16
If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven—if there was anything to forgive—I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. 2 Corinthians 2:10 (NIV)
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. 1 John 1:9
If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. Luke 6:32 (NIV)
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14
…but one thing I do (it is my one aspiration) forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the supreme and heavenly prize to which God in Christ Jesus is calling us upward. Philippians 3:13 (AMP)
Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. Matthew 12:25 (NIV)
If I can speak in the tongues of men and even of angels, but have not love (that reasoning, intentional, spiritual devotion such as inspired by God’s love for and in us), I am only a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
And if I have prophetic powers (the gift of interpreting the divine will and purpose), and understand all the secret truths and mysteries and possess all knowledge, and if I have sufficient faith so that I can remove mountains, but have not love (God’s love in me) I am nothing (a useless nobody).
Even if I dole out all that I have to the poor in providing food, and if I surrender my body to be burned or in order that I may glory, but have not love (God’s love in me), I gain nothing.
Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God’s love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it (it pays no attention to a suffered wrong.)
It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures.
Love never fails (never fades out or becomes obsolete or comes to an end.)
….And so faith, hope, love abide (faith-conviction and belief respecting man’s relation to god and divine things; hope—joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation; love—true affection for God and man, growing out of God’s love for and in us), these three; but the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13 (AMP)
Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins. Proverbs 10:12
Finally, both of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
For, whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.
Who is going to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear; do not be frightened. But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. 1 Peter 2:8-14 (NIV)
Husbands, love your wives (be affectionate and sympathetic with them) and do not be harsh or bitter or resentful toward them. Colossians 3:19 (AMP)
Young men likewise exhort to be sober minded. In all things showing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity; sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you. Titus 2:6-8
Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; While they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price. For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement. Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. 1 Peter 3:1-7
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it. Ephesians 5:25
Live joyfully with the wife whom you love all the days of your vain life which He has given you under the sun… Ecclesiastes 9:9 (AMP)
So ought men to love their wives as their own bodies. He that loveth his wife loveth himself. For no man ever yet hated his own flesh; but nourisheth and cherisheth it even as the Lord loves the church. For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother, and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh. This is a great mystery; but I speak concerning Christ and the church. Nevertheless, let everyone of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband. Ephesians 5:28-33
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord. Colossians 3:18
Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Proverbs 18:22
However, let each man of you (without exception) love his wife as (being in a sense) his very own self; and let the wife see that she respects and reverences her husband (that she notices him, regards him, honors him, prefers him, venerates, and esteems him; and that she defers to him, praises him, and loves and admires him exceedingly. Ephesians 5:33 (AMP)
House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD. Proverbs 19:14
Wives, be subject (be submissive and adapt yourselves) to your own husbands as a service to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife as Christ is the Head of the church. Himself the Savior of His body. Ephesians 5:22 (AMP)
The aged women likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things; That they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Titus 2:2-5
A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night. In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. Proverbs 31:10-31 (NIV)
For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. James 3:16
And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up (stimulate and incite) to love and helpful deeds and noble activities, not forsaking or neglecting to assemble together as believers, as it is the habit of some people, but admonishing (warning, urging, and encouraging) one another, and all the more faithfully as you see the day approaching. Hebrew 10:24-25
And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:11-15
But because of the temptation to impurity and to avoid immorality, let each man have his own wife and let each woman have her own husband. The husband should give to his wife her conjugal rights (goodwill, kindness, and what is due her as his wife) and likewise the wife to her husband. For the wife does not have exclusive authority and control over her own body, but the husband has his rights; likewise also the husband does not have exclusive authority and control over his body, but the wife has her rights. Do not refuse and deprive and defraud each other of your due marital rights, except perhaps by mutual consent for a time, so that you may devote yourselves unhindered to prayer. But afterwards resume marital relations, lest Satan tempt you to sin through you lack of restraint of sexual desire. But I am saying this more as a matter of permission and concession, not as a command or regulation. 1 Corinthians 7:2-6 (AMP)
Let your fountain of human life be blessed with the rewards of fidelity, and rejoice in the wife of your youth. Proverbs 5:18 (AMP)
Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another. Galatians 5:20-26
Who so loveth wisdom rejoiceth his father; but he that keepeth company with harlots spendeth his substance. Proverbs 29:3
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of the God abideth forever. 1 John 2:15-17
Do not be so deceived and misled! Evil companionships (communion, associations) corrupt and deprave good manners and morals and character. 1 Corinthians 15:33 (AMP)
O keep me, Lord, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed or disappointed, for my trust and my refuge are in You. Psalm 25:20
He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Psalms 147:3
Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. Psalms 91:14
And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: But if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 1 Corinthians 7:10-11, 14-16
Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: 1 Peter 1:22
Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law: but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judgest another? James 4:11-12
Where no wise guidance is, the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety. Proverbs 11:14 (AMP)
Hear counsel, receive instruction, and accept correction, that you may be wise in the time to come. Proverbs 19:20 (AMP)
Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man’s friend by hearty counsel. Proverbs 27:9
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. John 5:24
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Or else how can one enter into a strong man’s house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? And then he will spoil his house. Matthew 12:28, 29
And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Matthew 16:19
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Matthew 18:18-20
The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows.) John 10:10 (AMP)
I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven. Luke 10:19-20 (NIV)
…Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. Philippians 2:13 (NIV)
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised… Luke 4:18
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able, but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13
In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Philippians 1:4-6
But Jesus looked at them and said, With men this is impossible, but all things are possible with God. Matthew 19:26 (AMP)
Scripture Prayer for Marriages #1
Dear Lord,
We hold up our marriage to you. We understand that our union together is a picture of our relationship with you and it is Holy. We commit our marriage to You, Lord, that You would cause our thoughts to become agreeable with Your will and we would have success in our marriage relationship.
We agree to be kind and tenderhearted toward each other according to Your word, forgiving one another and blessing one another. We choose to speak the truth in love and listen well to each other. Make us strong where we are weak, Lord.
Help us to pray together, to trust in You and walk in obedience to Your word so that we may have peace and joy in our marriage. Give us revelation of Your great love and an understanding of how to love each other. Teach (husband) how to love (wife) like Christ loves the church and teach (wife) to honor and respect (husband).
Forgive us for our self-centeredness, anger, lust, and foolishness. Give us your patience and help us not to blame and accuse one another. Help us to see You as our source of acceptance, healing, justification, and provision.
Bring healing to our lives, Lord. Comfort and mend those areas where our hearts are broken. and deliver us from rejection and sorrow. Have mercy on us, Lord, and put Your mercy in our hearts for one another. Today we choose openly to receive your healing, love, forgiveness, acceptance, favor, harmony, unity, truth, patience, kindness, joy, and faithfulness and self-control into our lives.
Help us to remember that our bodies are not our own—that they belong to each other and to You. We choose not to deprive each other of sexual love and to remain faithful to our mates alone.
We ask that you remove the blinders from our eyes so we can see the truth and walk courageously in it. We resist the enemy that would try to destroy our marriage. We bind the powers of divorce, division, seduction, rejection, judgment, criticism, addiction, control, self-pity, harshness, unkindness, lying and deception. We put to death the words we have spoken against one another. We forgive each other for past offenses. We agree that the enemy is bound away from this marriage and invite the Holy Spirit into our lives.
Lord, surround us with Godly counsel. Separate us from those who would seduce us into ungodliness. Give us Godly, loving, Christian friends and a church family where we can worship You and grow in the knowledge of Your will. Thank you for teachers, preachers, apostles, evangelists, prophets, and other gifted people who minister to us and help us to mature in You. Draw us into Your word so that we can be cleansed and receive wisdom for our lives.
Lord, thank You for your faithfulness. Thank you that you watch over Your Word to perform it. Thank you that You are at work within us causing us to desire and to do your will. You are the Lord, Almighty, and if You are for us, who can be against us? We love you, Lord, and we entrust our marriage to you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Scripture Prayer #2 For Other’s Marriage
Lord,
I hold this couple, (husband) and (wife) before You and ask for Your presence and mercy in their lives. If they do not know You, Lord, reveal Your unfailing love to them. Teach them to pray together, to trust in You and walk in obedience to Your Word so that they may have Your peace and joy in their marriage.
We pray that they will be kind and tenderhearted toward each other, forgiving one another and blessing one another. We pray that they would speak the truth in love and listen well to each other.
Draw them into Your Word that they would be cleansed and receive wisdom for their lives. Give them revelation of Your great love towards them and an understanding of how to love each other. Teach him to love his wife like Christ loves the church and teach her to honor and respect him.
Surround them with Godly counsel. Separate them from those who would seduce them into ungodliness. Give them Godly, loving, Christian friends and a church family where they can worship You and grow in Your love for one another. Bring forth laborers to minister to them.
Forgive them for their selfishness, anger, lust, and foolishness. Put a stop to any blaming and accusing. Help them to look to You as their source of acceptance, healing, justification and provision.
Bring healing to their lives. Comfort them and mend their broken hearts and deliver them from rejection and sorrow. Have mercy on them, Lord.
We stand in the gap for them. We resist the enemy on their behalf. We bind the powers of division, divorce, seduction, rejection, judgment, criticism, addiction, control, self-pity, harshness, unkindness, lying and deception. We thank you, Lord, that the blinders are removed from their eyes and they can see the truth and walk in it. Give them courage and show them how to resist evil.
We loose Your healing, love, forgiveness, acceptance, favor, harmony, unity, truth, patience, kindness, joy, and faithfulness and self-control into their lives.
Lord, thank you that all things are possible with You. Thank you that You watch over Your Word to perform it. Thank you for Your great and precious promises and Your mighty love that covers all. We look forward to seeing Your hand at work in their marriage relationship.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11
Scripture Prayer for Marriages was written to lift up and encourage the body of believers; sharing your testimony is one of the ways that we continue to overcome the enemy.
If this teaching on Scripture Prayer for Marriages has impacted your life, we invite you to share your testimony
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Reading through the chapter “Marginal Writing in a Digital Age” in Writing in the Margins, one passage really spoke to me:
It is precisely because so much has changed, in this day and age, that we need that sacred text. When lulled by the trance of the screen, all the more do we need that transcendent dimension in our lives. When we are beguiled by our ability to “shape worlds” through gaming or voting online, all the more do we need a deeper understanding of the story that reveals God at work shaping our world and our lives.
Recently I had a conversation with an eight-year-old that left me feeling unsettled. He told me that he believed in science, not God. I’ve heard this said before, but hearing the words bolding spoken from such a young person was most unexpected. He seemed to know little about the God in whom he did not believe. (A book of Bible stories is in his future!)
Shortly after, I was outside playing with my three-year-old daughter. She carried my thin travel Bible outside. (Randomly, she told me she needed the book to know how to make rainbows.) When she got busy doing something else, I had one of those moments. I was just sitting with a Bible in my hand, praying for a verse to pray for this boy, and I opened the Bible right to Psalm 49. The Psalm speaks to me of the deep understanding, which is better than riches. I wrote a prayer for the young boy:
Praying for a young friend to know the wisdom that is better than gold and the understanding that is better than silver.
Praying now that he will also come to know hope and the peace that comes from knowing God.
journalingthebible.com
A Prayer to Pray before Studying God’s Word
By Christina Patterson
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” – James 1:5
The Bible compares the Word of God to a double-edged sword showing its ability to cut the heart and change lives forever. (Hebrews 4:12) Whenever I pick up my Bible I feel the weight of this sword and its power. It makes me feel like a little girl holding a weapon too big to carry. Handling something so powerful is exciting yet intimidating at the same time.
So I never go into studying God’s Word lightly. We never should. The Word of God has the power to change minds, heal hearts, and cut out sin. However, something so powerful handled the wrong way can also cause harm. I never want to be the one using God’s Word to cause hurt, pain, or confusion. And I’m sure you don’t either.
For this reason, before I open my Bible and heart to the Word of God I first open my mouth in prayer to request specific things from God. And over years of studying my Bible God has faithfully answered this prayer. I want to share my prayer with you in hopes it will increase the quality of your time in God’s Word and help you to handle it’s truths with clarity and confidence.
I always start off praying for discernment and wisdom. James 1:5 tells us:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (NIV)
Coming across a scripture I do not understand can be discouraging. But I’ve found that unlocking the mysteries of scripture starts with prayer. All wisdom, knowledge, and correct understating come from God and He is ready to grant us understanding if we are willing to ask. This also ensures that I am receiving God’s understanding and intention about a scripture and that I am not relying on my own understanding.
Let’s Pray:
“Lord, thank you for this time you’ve given me to open your Word and discover who you are. Thank you that you don’t leave us in the dark about who you are and what you are doing in the world, but that you have revealed yourself and your will through the Bible, your sacred words to us. Lord, I need wisdom as I read your Word. You promise us in James 1:5 that we only have to ask for wisdom to receive it. Lord, please give me your wisdom now as I approach your word. Help me discern the truth of this text. Help me not rely on my own understanding. Thank you God for the clarity, encouragement and hope your Word brings. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.”
Editor’s Note: Portions of this devotional were taken from Christina Patterson’s article, 3 Prayers You Should Pray before Reading Your Bible. You can find that article in full here.
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