Sacred Reading - Word and Prayer United
We've spoken much of prayer during this week, but I want us to remember today that prayer without the Word of God is really a one-way conversation, where we talk and God has no real room to speak.
We should pray with our Bibles in front of us, and read the Bible during our prayer times to seek God's answers and His responses.
The Power of God's Word
Yes, there are times that He may speak to us by impressing something on our hearts, but the one way to really hear God's words is to read God's Word.
John Wesley, in the preface to his book of sermons which was published in 1746, wrote this: "O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God! Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book]. Here then I am, far from the busy ways of men. I sit down alone: only God is here. In His presence I open, I read His book."
Beautiful words from Wesley, and I wonder if we can claim the same passion for the Word of God? I wonder if we, when we awake in the morning, say "O give me that book! At any price, give me the book of God!" Or if the Bible takes a less important place in our daily routine.
Scripture as Our Guide
As we journey together this Lent, the Word has been our guide. Every day, I have quoted from Wesley, but I have also been sharing Scripture, to be sure that our themes and ideas are rooted in that book of God! It is essential that these devotions are deeply rooted in Scriptural truths, not just my opinions. I hope you are aware how careful I am to present Biblical truths to you in these devotions, even if I use different sources to illustrate them.
So, let's turn to Scripture now see how the Psalmist who wrote Psalm 119 valued God's word: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path... My soul is consumed with longing for your laws at all times." (Psalm 119:105, 20)
What consumes your soul? A longing for God's Word, His truth, His face? A desire to be close with Jesus? I am hoping that this time of fasting leading up to Easter is deepening our desire for Him, and for His powerful and life-giving words.
May we, like Wesley, be people of one book, consumed with a longing for God's Word. And may we, in reading and pondering His beautiful Word, fall more deeply in love with Him.
