A blessed morning to you. For our time of devotion today I'd like to talk about the relationship between God's Word (and the study of it) and prayer. Specifically, how can we use God’s Word to form our prayers? 

So let’s start in the book of 2 Timothy 3:14-17.

14  “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it, 15 and how from childhood you have known the sacred writings that are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work.”

Such a glorious portion of God's Word, isn't it?  And don't you love the phrase where it says “all scripture is inspired by God.”  That word in the Greek means “exhaled”.  In other words, God “breathed” out his very word to us. That means, of course, that when we study God's Word, when we study the Holy Scriptures, we are hearing God's voice, as God speaks to us. When we pray, we speak to God.  So when we read the scriptures we are hearing God's voice. When we pray, we are speaking to God.  

I think of 2 Chronicles 30:27.

“Then the priests and the Levites stood up and blessed the people, and their voice was heard; their prayer came to his holy dwelling in heaven.”

When we study God's Word, we hear his voice. When we pray, we speak to God.  How then can we use the Scriptures to form our speaking, our praying to God?

Luther came up with a very simple, helpful plan.  He said that when you study God’s Word and you want to use God’s Word as a basis for your prayers, ask yourself four questions.

The first question: What does this teach me to do?  That is the action component. So as you are studying God's Word, you asked the question, “What is this teaching me to do? What action is this teaching me, by the grace of God, to take?” 

The second question: What does this teach me to thank God for?  There's the thanksgiving component.   

The third question: What does this teach me to confess?  There’s the confession component. 

The fourth question:  What does this teach me to ask God for?  There’s the petition component. 

This is a very simple way to approach the study of God's Word, and to allow the Word to form your prayers; asking those four questions that revolve around action, thanksgiving, confession and petition… using God's Word to form our speaking to God.

Let's pray:  Gracious Heavenly Father, we give you thanks for this time in your Word. Your Word is truth.  We give you thanks, O Lord, that as we study your Word we hear your voice. And we give you thanks that you call us to speak to you, and you call us to pray.  Empower us Lord to use the treasure of your Word to form our prayers, as we ask the questions, “What does this teach me to do? What does this teach me to thank God for?  What does this teach me to confess?  And what does this teach me to ask God for?” Lord, use these questions as we study your Word to form our prayers. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

God's continued blessings to you!  Encourage someone!

Pastor Eibel