A Prayer During Bible Study

Whether we have already finished school or are still pursuing our education, including elementary up to post-graduate studies, one thing is for sure: Regardless of what we are studying, we depend on God for the grace, strength, wisdom, and understanding that we need for whatever it is that we are to learn. In (Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and for him are all things.     To him be the glory forever! Amen.), it is written that from God, through God, and to God are all things. As we study, God is our source, He is the means, and He is the end goal. We study for Him (Colossians 3:23-24). It is the same dependence on God that we have for Bible study. We come before God’s throne of grace and ask Him for the grace and mercy that we need; we present to Him our prayer requests as we study His Word (Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Philippians 4:6-7).

Heavenly Father, I come to You for the strength, wisdom, and understanding that I need so that I may study and know more about Your Word and the riches of it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The Source of Understanding

Why do we pray during Bible study? We pray because God is the source of all understanding, including the understanding of His Word. As mentioned before, it is the same when it comes to praying as it is when studying at school; we come before God in humility and dependence on Him for the understanding, wisdom, and everything else we need so that we may have a productive study. The same applies to Bible studies.

That is why Psalm 119, which is known for how it portrays the importance and essence of God’s Word to a believer’s life, teaches us how to come to God and ask Him for understanding when it comes to His Word as we study. In Psalm 119:18, the psalmist prays to God to open his eyes to behold the wondrous things of His law. We can only see the riches, the depth, and the wondrous things in the Word of God if God opens our eyes to see them. Psalm 119:27 shows us praying and asking God for the understanding of His Word so that we may meditate on it. Psalm 119:34 also teaches us the value of asking God to understand His Word so we may see it wholeheartedly. We cannot observe or accomplish something that we don’t understand.

Another good example that we have in the Bible is Daniel. In Daniel 2:17-18, where King Nebuchadnezzar orders the execution of all wise men because no one can interpret and understand his dream, Daniel asks his friends to seek God and His mercy to understand such a dream. As we study the Bible, we are to do the same—come to God in prayer during Bible study, whether as a group or individually, and ask Him for the understanding we need as we read His Word.

 

 

Not Forgetting Diligence

While understanding, wisdom, and knowledge are attributes we can ask God for during Bible study, mere knowledge and understanding are useless if we don’t have the diligence to study God’s Word. The same truth applies even in the world. Even if one is a genius, he or she won’t learn or understand anything if they are too lazy to stand up, pick up the book, and study to understand. So, while indeed praying and asking God for understanding is essential during a Bible study because it is He Who opens our eyes to the wondrous things of His Word, it is also good to pray and ask God for grace and to help us to also be diligent when it comes to studying His Word.

Studying God’s Word is essential for us to grow in godliness, prayer, and fellowship with other believers. So, as we pursue godliness through reading and understanding His Word, we are to meet our responsibility and be faithful to it (1 Timothy 4:7-8; 2 Peter 1:5-7; 2 Timothy 2:15).

Praying During a Bible Study

As we have our Bible study, we can simply follow the passages from Psalm 119 that we have given above (Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes that I may see     wonderful things in your law.; 

Psalm 119:27; Psalm 119:34 Give me understanding, so that I may keep your law     and obey it with all my heart.). The heart behind the prayer is to be humble and dependent on God when it comes to studying the Bible and asking Him for the understanding of it. As we pray for understanding, we can ask God for grace to help us and be diligent.

Father in heaven, as I study Your Word, give me an understanding of the passage I will study. Open my eyes to its wonders and how rich Your Word is. May such understanding make its way into my life. Help me apply what I understand and learn from studying Your Word, and may I grow in spiritual maturity. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

In the end, the goal of seeking to understand God’s Word and the things of God is not just to expand our minds but also to enlarge our hearts. The end goal is to grow in spiritual maturity and conformity to Christ (Romans 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.).