5 Simple Things To Pray Before Bible Study
To pray before Bible reading is an ancient and wise practice. It allows one to get their heart in the right place to hear from God and gives them the opportunity to speak to the author of the Bible Himself. So, what should one pray for when they read the Bible?
There are five things to pray before Bible Study: for eyes to be opened, guidance to the truth, unity with God, satisfaction in the gospel, and the ability to become a doer of God’s Word. Praying for these things creates a posture of humility that allows one to live a bible-based lifestyle for God every day.
So, what might a prayer like this look like? Let’s find out, but first let’s see what all should be included and why.
Why Pray Before Bible Reading?
Before we start into what to pray before Bible study, let’s take a moment to discover why we should pray before reading the Bible.
I’ll be honest, sometimes I’m in a hurry to read my Bible so I don’t always pray beforehand. But I find that those days I often get less out of reading my bible.
Has that happened to you? Why does it happen?
Prayer is not a magical formula that guarantees our Bible study time will go well. However, praying before we read or study the Bible does help us prepare properly. How? Well, when we pray before we open the Bible we,
- Slow down and focus on our relationship with God.
- Speak to the author of the Bible Himself–The Holy Spirit.
- Create a posture of humility and teachability.
All of this opens us up to the life-transforming abilities of reading and studying God’s word. So, what should we be praying for?
1. Pray For Your Eyes To Be Opened
“Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Psalm 119:18
First, we can pray for our eyes to be opened. God’s word is full of wonderful, exciting, and even intriguing mysteries. It’s full of amazing and awesome stories of God’s power and grace. In short, the Bible is a beautiful book.
Therefore, we should pray that God opens our eyes to see the beauty of the story the Bible tells and the truths it contains.
2. Pray To Be Guided Into Truth
“But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.” John 16:13
Second, we ought to pray that God’s Spirit guides us into truth. The world is full of half-truths and lies, but God’s word sheds light on where truth is found.
It is the Holy Spirit’s role to guide us into all the truth, to help us discern truth from fiction and reality from fantasy. When we pray to be guided into all truth, we are asking for our own misguided and inaccurate beliefs to fall away so that only truth remains.
3. Pray For Unity With God
“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11
Third, we are to pray for unity with God. God’s word shows us how we are to live in a right relationship with Him. Our dependence upon God should be at the center of our lives.
Thus, we should pray before we read the Bible that our focus remains on the instructions God is teaching us and not our worries or cares of the day. Our time of reading and studying the Scripture is for us to focus on our relationship with God.
4. Pray For Satisfaction In The Gospel
” And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
Fourth, we can pray for satisfaction in the gospel. The gospel is an infinite buffet of God’s grace and love. We, as believers, are meant to sit at this table to rest, to play, to be satisfied.
It is the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection that satisfies our deepest desire to love and be loved. Thus, we ought to pray that we be filled to the measure with all the fullness of God.
5. Pray To Become A Doer of The Word
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22
Lastly, we can pray that we become doers of the word. Reading and studying the Bible is life-transforming. We are caught up in the story and have a role to play in its telling.
Thus, we should pray that the Bible takes root in our hearts and blossoms in our life so that the good news of the gospel reaches everyone.
Example Prayer You Can Pray
So, what does it look like to pray for these things? Well, here is an example. Feel free to use it or create your own.
“Dear God, as I begin reading Your word, may You open my eyes that I may see the truth You wish to show me today. Please remove any distracting thoughts and help me focus on You in this moment.
I know that Your word is good, beautiful, and true. Help me to enjoy this time in Your word. May the truth of Your word fill me and pour out from my life so that others may see You through me today. Amen.”
Or check out these prayers you can pray before Bible reading, and after, to thank God.
Summary
When we take time to pray before Bible reading, we begin to recognize this moment for what it is–a special encounter with God. So, pray for…
- Your eyes to be opened,
- The Holy Spirit to guide you into truth,
- Unity with God,
- Satisfaction in the gospel, and
- Strength to become a doer of God’s word.
Then, after you do that, open up your Bible with expectation and excitement, and begin reading…
Want to start reading the Bible on your own? Well, check out these practical tips for reading the Bible or find the best book of the Bible to start reading.
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Building a Bible Study Routine Guide
Want to build a Bible study habit? Sign up for our monthly newsletter and we will send you our free Building a Bible Study Routine Guide. You’ll discover your ideal Bible study method and create a customized schedule. Plus, much more.
Here is what you can expect as a Bible Wonderlife subscriber:
-Welcome email with your Free Guide right now!
-Monthly emails with a brief devotional.
-Practical tips and helpful information for growing in your faith.
