Lead me through the City

How do you pray before you read the Bible?

I guess it depends on what you think the Bible is. If we approach the Bible as a list of rules, as if it really were, 'basic instructions before leaving earth,' we'll pray that we understand God's instruction. If we think of it as a how-to manual, we'll pray that we learn the rules and follow them. But if we view the Bible as an invitation to meet the living Christ, we might pray a bit differently.

We might pray, Father, lead me through the city and help me find my beloved, as in Song 5:2-10, because we need the Father's help to see the Son, and we don't believe that the Bible contains 65 books about Jesus, and one about us.

We might pray, Father, open  my eyes that i might see your glory in the face of Christ, as in 2 Corinthians 4:4-6, because we need help to see Jesus as the glorious Son of God, rather than a distraction or an inconvenience.

We might pray, Father help me to love Jesus the way you love Jesus, as in John 17:26. Because sanctification is loving Jesus more than anything else, and because the Father loves the reflection of His own glory in Jesus more than anything else, and because we join in our Lord when we pray this.

We might pray, satisfy my heart with your steadfast love, as in Psalm 90:14, because our sinful hearts wander away from the beautiful fruit we can enjoy, and desire what is bad for us, just like our first parents did.

We might pray, Father, would i eat the flesh of your Son and drink His blood, as in John 6:53, because this dependence and digestion of the Word of God leads to life.

We might pray, Father, would i be astonished at your love for me today, and would i marvel at Jesus, as in 2 Thessalonians 1:10, because there is no division between the Father's love for us, and His desire for the glory of His Son, and this is good news.

We might pray, Father, make me a green olive tree in your house, as in Psalm 52:8, so that we would offer nourishment and protection to those around us.

And after we have read, we might pray, Father, would my heart overflow with the pleasing theme of your Son, the King, as in Psalm 45:1, so that our good works would shine for your glory.

We have a God who loves and relates and speaks. We have a God who is there and not silent. The Bible is proof of that. Let's read our Bibles like that.