Autumn, Daylight Savings, and Praying Through Scripture

It was like just yesterday that the sun was setting at 8pm, and now the sun is pretty much gone by 5pm. Daylight savings time shows no mercy. Still, hope you enjoyed that extra hour of sleep or at least laying-in-bed-and-staring-at-the-ceiling.

Great session of Depth today… we explored how to be authentic in our prayer through Scripture.

Prayer, the Reaction to Love’s Song

Once the gospel becomes fiery and real for you, the soul desires to articulate praise in response to our God, and the result is authentic worship!  Because we have seen and tasted the love song of the Savior, our hearts erupt in thankfulness for the gospel.  But the gospel does not heal and grow you simply by knowing the doctrine.  It is not less than that – but it takes more. The gospel must be ‘prayed in’ to the heart and experienced if it is to shape our whole lives.[1]

 

So how are we to pray? Many of you are wary of prayer because it seems repetitive, boring, and ineffective.  The truth is we are poor “pray-ers” because we disregard the guidance of scripture in shaping and guiding the words we use to pray.  Further, we overlook the power of scripture in training us how to listen for the voice of God.  Prayer is both words spoken and words received.  It is a conversation.  How can we hear the voice of God in prayer? By listening intently to his Word.

Learning to pray the scriptures

Before you begin, ask God to shed light upon His word.  While you read, you are looking for points of personal connection with the text.  Underline or circle words, phrases, and/or themes which register with you.  These, then, are the words and phrases you’ll use to guide your prayers.  What comes to mind may be positive or negative-it’s ok!  Remember that time in prayer ought to be personal and real.

The Practices of Grace

Spiritual renewal can be motivated and encouraged corporately.  But for it to take deep root, it must always be experienced personally.  Depth is designed to enable you to make use of the “practices of grace” with greater intensity and devotion while on your own.

But we’re pushing forward together.  The following steps will get everyone on the same page as we commit ourselves to a gospel-centered encounter with the living God.

Making use of ESV Online: Daily Bible Reading Plan

Step One: Go to www.esv.org

Step Two: Under the title Read it Online, click “Reading Plans.”

Step Three: Scroll down to “ESV Study Bible” and click “Email” as your format.

(There are other options, but minimally subscribe to email updates.)

Step Four: Enter your email address.

Step Five: Begin following the daily reading plan.  (NOTE: You don’t have to read on-line.  It might be preferable for you to use a standard bible.)

Step Six: Allow what you read to guide how you pray.

Supplemental Reading

Living the Cross-Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney

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[1] Tim Keller, “A Simple Way to Pray.”