| How
to Pray With Scripture
To make the most of this opportunity to grow
in your relationship with God, I recommend that you set aside at least twenty minutes
every day for prayer. For most people, first thing in the morning works best. That way,
the fruit of their prayer nourishes them all day. If early morning is not possible, find
another time that will work for you. And, of course, if you want to go beyond twenty
minutes, that would be wonderful!.
Having chosen your time, you should be faithful to the disciplines
of solitude and silence. While there is a time and a place for communal prayer, this time
is to be spend alone with God, to develop your own friendship with him so you will be able
to share this with others in communal prayer. Try to find a place where it will be quiet.
Get away from the phone, and turn off the TV and radio. Tell your family that unless there
is an emergency, you do not want to be disturbed.
For your time of silence and solitude with God, I recommend the
following method of praying with Scripture:
- Quieting. Take a few moment to settle in. Find a comfortable position,
and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in this time of prayer. Let your mind become calm by
noticing your bodily sensations, the sound in the room around you, the rhythm and feel of
your own breathing. Do not be disturbed if your mind does not become completely silence.
It hardly ever will.
Listing. When you are ready, pick up the Bible and read the psalm for
the day. This will help to direct your thoughts toward God. Pause briefly, and then read
the short commentary on the Gospel of the day. Now read the Gospel slowly and prayerfully,
as though it were a letter from God to you. If a particular word or phrase from the
passage speaks to you, pause with it for a while, repeating this word or phrase in your
mind or on your lips. Let its meaning penetrate you deeply.
Prayer. When you are ready, tell God in your own words what this word
or passage means to you. It can be in the form of a feeling, a question, a petition, or
maybe just loving silence. Continue reading the passage, pausing at meaningful words and
phrase and responding in prayer until you have finished the reading, or until you are out
of time.
Reflection. If time permits, or if you find few words or phrase that
hold your attention for very long, consider the questions and suggestions for meditation.
You might find it beneficial to record your responses in a journal or notebook.
Resolution. As a result of this time of quieting, listening, praying,
and reflecting, what will you strive to do (or not to do) today? A suggested resolution
– in the form of a prayer for a particular grace – is provided for most days.
Loving silence. Conclude your prayer time by resting in the awareness
of God’s love for you. You do not need to say anything during this time. Just open
your heart and your mind to God, and allow the fruit of your prayer to take root in your
being. If you enjoy this experience of resting in God, extend your prayer time to allow it
to deepen.
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