I've heard it said that prayer and Bible study are two sides of a conversation. In prayer, we pour our hearts out to God and then He speaks through His word. If we're trying to get by with just one, communication breaks down.

 

I know you've heard, and maybe even said, "I prayed, but I don't know what God's telling me to do." Then there's "I never get anything out of it when I read the Bible." Those are sure signs that only half of a conversation is taking place.

 

Looking for an example in my notebooks, I ran across a 'conversation' I had a few years ago. I had made some strides in writing and was entering a dangerous area of success. I asked God, is it wrong to want to be successful? I want to write what He gives me, and I want that to reach as many people as possible, but when does it cross over into ego?

 

So after asking God these questions in prayer, a few days later, He started answering them as I read:

 

Psalm 110  v.1 The Lord said to my Lord,   “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Success depends a lot on timing. Christ has to wait for God's timing, for the fulfillment of His purposes.  So it is making me more Christ-like to learn to wait for His timing.  Christ waits patiently, confidently because He is that assured of God.

 

v.4  The Lord has sworn  And will not relent,

God's purposes WILL be accomplished.  I need to submit to whatever those may be and to wait patiently and confidently for them to unfold.  

 

Joshua 1:8  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Granted- My definition of success may not be how God defines it.  

 

This particular conversation is far from over, as "success" in my writing career is continually refined. 

 

As you read and study, bear in mind God desires to have a divine conversation with you, a two-sided conversation.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amen.

 

It comes from the Hebrew word for firm or trustworthy, and by the time of the New Testament church, the congregation spoke the word at the end of a public prayer.

 

Amen. So be it. Let it be done.

 

In Revelation 3:14, Jesus calls Himself the Amen. 

 

Amen isn't just a tag at the end of my prayers. It's an affirmation that I understand I have asked the Sovereign Lord of all to move on my behalf and it testifies to my confidence in Him. It means I am assured of God's faithfulness, and His character, so my prayers are a done deal.

 

Amen!

My friends, you bless me in so many ways, ways you'll never know.

 

A prayer for you-

 

 

The Lord bless you and keep you; 

 

the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious to you; 

 

the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace.

 

Amen.

 

 

I've heard it said that prayer and Bible study are two sides of a conversation. In prayer, we pour our hearts out to God, and then He speaks through His word. If we're trying to get by with just one of those, communication breaks down.

 

I know you've heard, and maybe even said, "I prayed, but I don't know what God's telling me to do." Or, "I never get anything out of it when I read the Bible." Those are sure signs that only half of a conversation is taking place.

 

Looking for an example in my notebooks, I ran across a 'conversation' I had a few years ago. I had made some strides in writing and was entering a dangerous area of success. I asked God, is it wrong to want to be successful? I want to write what He gives me, and I want that to reach as many people as possible, but when does it cross over into ego? So after asking God these questions in prayer, a few days later, He started answering them as I read:

 

Psalm 110:1 The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”

Success depends a lot on timing. Christ has to wait for God's timing, for the fulfillment of His purposes.  So it is making me more Christ-like to learn to wait for His timing.  Christ waits patiently, confidently because He is that assured of God.

 

Psalm 110:4  The Lord has sworn and will not relent,

God's purposes WILL be accomplished.  I need to submit to whatever those may be and to wait patiently and confidently for them to unfold.  

 

Joshua 1:8  This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

My definition of success may not be how God defines it.  

 

 

 

 

There is a beautiful story in Mark 2 about four guys and their persistence in getting their paralyzed friend to Jesus. They knew Jesus could heal him. They just had to get him there. However, the crowds were huge and nobody would budge to let them through. Undeterred, they got some rope, climbed up on the roof (with their friend), pulled the roof back and lowered the man right down in front of Jesus. Verse 5 says, "When Jesus saw their faith…" Not just the paralyzed man's faith, but the friends' faith too. And in verse 12, the man was healed.

 

I've had times in my life when I needed my friends to carry me into the presence of Jesus. I've also had other times, when I've been privileged to do the carrying. I'd say that in the body of Christ, that's the way it should work. If we aren't on the mat, in need of Jesus' touch, we need to be lifting someone who is.

 

 

I'm sure you've heard the expression "If you aim at nothing, you're guaranteed to hit it."

 

With that in mind, what is your goal, your expectation, when you sit down to study?

 

Keeping a resolution? Checking it off your list? Getting all your "good Christian" points for the day?

 

I admit, most of the time when I study my goal is "get the lesson ready". I lose sight of the amazing fact that studying God's word is a live conversation with the Creator of the universe. However, I also know that taking a few minutes to begin the conversation (in prayer) before opening my Bible changes everything. If you practice this, your study time will become an intimate exchange rather than a routine lecture.

 

So as you sit down for your next study time, lay out all the issues on your heart – the things that kept you up the night before, the things you dread for today, decisions you have to make, encounters you expect, anything. Then watch as your Bible study begins to address those concerns. If you're a note-taker, you might keep a record of your questions and the answers God gives as a permanent testimony.