Praying the Scriptures

I am often asked for a way to pray that is meaningful. Usually, those asking get lost in their thoughts or even drift off to sleep.  So, here is a short, 15-minute prayer regimen that may be meaningful for you.

One of the guiding prayers for my life is Psalm 25:4-5.  Daily, I pray this prayer asking God for direction and affirmation.  I want to invite you to a process for personal reflection.

Make yourself comfortable and begin with a bit of silence.

Choose a shorter text that is a favorite or that intrigues you.  Read the passage slowly and listen for a word or phrase that jumps out at you or grabs your heart!   

God is teaching you to listen, to seek, to discover.  

Next, ask God to reveal “Why this word/phrase, God?”  Slowly pray and ponder the word/phrase.  Let this interact with your inner world of concerns, memories, and ideas.  Don’t worry if your mind might wander.  Memories or thoughts are important parts of yourself.  Allow this inner pondering to invite you into dialogue with God.

Interact with God personally, knowing God knows, loves, and accepts you.  And give to God what you have discovered in yourself during your experience.  

As you end your prayers, rest in God’s embrace for a moment.  And ponder this passage and word or phrase at any point when God invites you to return to your pondering.

Rejoice in the knowledge that God is with you in both words and silence, in spiritual activity and inner receptivity.  God continually shows us the pathway we should walk.  God constantly guides our footsteps.  Thanks be to God!

So, now that you have the process, practice, practice, practice.  Listen, listen, listen.  Pray, pray, pray!