Prayerfully Study the Word

Sunday comes around once a week. Without a doubt there is a message to be prepared whether that message be shared by me or by someone else. I confess there are certainly weeks where I feel less than inspired. Times when I open up my Bible and simply ask, “what am I going to say?” I struggle to discover an application of the text that is applicable to the lives of the people who will attend on Sunday morning.

But maybe I am asking the wrong person the wrong question. Rather than ask myself what I should say, I go back to asking God what he would have me say. Do you catch the difference? The difference is prayer. The difference is having a conversation with God instead of racking my brain to be creative.

Whether it is preparing a sermon or personally studying the word, we need to bathe the process in prayer. Make a conversation with him. “God what do you want me to hear? What do you want me to do? How do you want me to respond?” And then listen to him what he has to say through his word.

I am always amazed how God will speak to me through the Word when I enter into conversation with him and prayerfully study the word. Remember, don't just read the Bible to read the Bible.


Readings for next week:

June 08
1 Kings 3:3-4:34
Acts 6:1-15
Psalm 126:1-6
Proverbs 16:26-27

June 09
1 Kings 5:1-6:38
Acts 7:1-29
Psalm 127:1-5
Proverbs 16:28-30

June 10
1 Kings 7:1-50
Acts 7:30-50
Psalm 128:1-6
Proverbs 16:31-33

June 11
1 Kings 8:1-66
Acts 7:51-8:13
Psalm 129:1-8
Proverbs 17:1

June 12
1 Kings 9:1-10:29
Acts 8:14-40
Psalm 130:1-8
Proverbs 17:2-3

June 13
1 Kings 11:1-12:19
Acts 9:1-25
Psalm 131:1-3
Proverbs 17:4-5

June 14
1 Kings 12:20-13:34
Acts 9:26-43
Psalm 132:1-18
Proverbs 17:6