A Bible Study Prayer

Praying is an act of humbling one’s self toward God. It is acknowledging that a person is relying upon God. When a Christian prays before his Bible study, he depends on God for all the knowledge, wisdom, and understanding he seeks and needs. A Christian can only acquire knowledge when he studies the Bible because God grants it to him. Studying your Bible also involves several other factors, including your ability to focus, actively learn, and retain information. Those are also some things you may want to include as you pray before studying the Bible.

Here is a quick prayer that you can pray not only when studying the Bible, but when you are studying other subject matters as well:

Father in heaven, give me the grace and wisdom that I need to study effectively and efficiently. Give me the grace not to learn passively, but to actively understand what I am studying and retain the information I have learned. Protect me from any distractions and give me the discipline to concentrate on what I’m studying through my study session. In the end, remind me that you are the source of everything, including knowledge and wisdom. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How do you pray before bible study?

Psalm 119:18

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.

You pray to God by asking God to open your eyes so that you may behold and see the wondrous things of His law or Word. When you dissect and study the Word of God deeply, you will be amazed by the things you get to learn about God. You get to see how one verse connects to the other, as well as how all those verses you have read connect to the bigger picture of redemption. For example, you will learn how Genesis 3 (the fall of man) has already foreshadowed the coming of Christ to save humanity. Also, when you get into the context of the Bible verse(s) that you are studying, which is crucial, you get to learn what they really mean and how to apply them properly. The Word of God comes from God’s Holy breath, so it is no wonder we get to see wonderful things when studying the Scriptures, because God breathes it out. It is God’s special revelation to us.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

What is a good prayer to say before reading the Bible?

We discussed above what can be a good prayer before you read your Bible. Based on Psalm 119:18, here is one prayer you can pray:

Father in heaven, I thank You for the privilege to study Your Word. Open my eyes as I study Your Word so that I may behold and see the wondrous things of it. Open my eyes that I may see Christ in every iota of the scriptures I read. Give me understanding so that I may comprehend what the scriptures are saying. Give me the grace to understand Your Word soundly. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Should I pray before or after reading the Bible?

James 1:22-25

22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

As discussed above, you should pray before you read or study the Bible. However, it is even better to pray before and after reading or studying the Bible. If before your Bible study you ask God for knowledge and understanding, after your study, you can ask God for the grace to apply those things that You have learned. Theology, or the knowledge that we acquire from studying our Bibles, should not only remain as information in our heads. We should apply what we know. For example, if we have learned from our study that one of the attributes of God is that He is holy, then we should apply that knowledge by striving to live a holy life, knowing that God is holy and hates sin. The practical application of what we learn is also an essential thing to pray for. Knowledge is not meant for us to exercise our brains, but rather to teach us so that we may live a life of obedience to God and grow in Christlikeness and holiness.

When you end your Bible study session, here is one of the simple prayers you can pray:

Father in heaven, I thank You for everything I have learned today from studying Your Word. Thank You for giving me knowledge and understanding. I pray that whatever knowledge I have acquired from studying Your Word will translate into a practical application, and I pray that my theology shall be evident in my life by living in holiness and obedience towards You. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

How do you pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding?

Heavenly Father, I pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. You are the source of it all. I pray for you to give me understanding as I seek more knowledge about who You are and the things of You, as well as the wisdom I need to apply that knowledge. Help me to always be rooted in the fear of You, for it is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom. Give me the grace to have an intelligent heart that acquires knowledge, so that the ear of the wise seeks it. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

The book of Proverbs is a good book to find verses about seeking wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Some of those verses are below:

Proverbs 9:10

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 18:15

The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge.

Proverbs 2:10

When wisdom entereth into thine heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul;

Proverbs 2:6

For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.

All wisdom, knowledge, and understanding come from the Lord. Therefore, it is from God whom we must always seek them. Humility also plays a big part in studying the Word of God. Regardless of the beliefs we have before studying the Word of God, we should yield to what the Word of God is saying. For example, we must live our lives according to God’s definition of good and evil, not our own. We follow what the scriptures say based on its context and proper interpretation and never use them out of context to support our own beliefs.