Psalm 26:6-7
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
Most Christians would agree that reading the Bible is important. Yet, most Christians also find it extremely difficult to do this consistently. Even those who do read consistently often find times where the Bible is hard to understand. Personally, there have been times where I read something and it just does not register at all. I will stare at the passage and nothing will come from it. I am sure you can empathize if this has happened to you. What I have begun to do is say a short prayer over my mind every time I read. My prayer comes from Psalm 119:18: Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. This helps my spirit focus on receiving what God has for me at that appointed time of reading.
God revealed to me that praying before we read is a lot like washing our hands before we eat. In our physical bodies, washing our hands is an important act. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that hand washing is probably the single most important measure in preventing and stopping the transmission of some very serious illnesses (reference below). The University of Maine also suggests that people should wash their hands 1) before touching food, or 2) as often as needed.
While we can’t rub soap on our spirit (not even going to attempt to go there), we can prepare our minds to be free from “contamination” when we read. We can adopt the University of Maine’s physical standards to our spiritual condition and wash our minds –
1) Before we read God’s Word. This is the spiritual “food” for the believer (Jeremiah 15:16 below). Cleansing our mind with prayer can help to remove the distractions and allow us to receive the specific truth or lesson God wants for us during that time.
2) As often as needed. This prayer can also help in secular atmospheres. When reading for work, class, or leisure, I have often confessed, “Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from THIS (law, text, assignment, etc.)!”
All the Bible reading in the world does no good without proper understanding. In order to understand, we should cleanse our minds of anything that would prevent God’s word from penetrating our hearts. Let's wash our minds with prayer before reading in order to see good things from what we read and prevent negativity. We need to confess our desires to hear God’s voice “cleanly” through His Word. He will reveal Himself and we will be surprised at how much we can receive by simply “washing our hands”.
Lord, I pray that our eyes are opened to see the wonderful things in Your law. I pray that Your Word becomes milk and meat in our lives. That we can drink and eat of it and be strengthened to serve You. As we attempt to digest Your Word, Lord please prepare our hearts and minds. In addition, God please prevent any contamination from things that are not like You. When we are reading other materials, let us be able to sift out Your truths in order to remain pleasing to You. Give us the wisdom to retain and also the wisdom to release. I pray that as we make vows and resolutions to read Your Word more consistently, You bathe us in Your blessings and cleanse us with Your care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 that I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works.
Most Christians would agree that reading the Bible is important. Yet, most Christians also find it extremely difficult to do this consistently. Even those who do read consistently often find times where the Bible is hard to understand. Personally, there have been times where I read something and it just does not register at all. I will stare at the passage and nothing will come from it. I am sure you can empathize if this has happened to you. What I have begun to do is say a short prayer over my mind every time I read. My prayer comes from Psalm 119:18: Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. This helps my spirit focus on receiving what God has for me at that appointed time of reading.
God revealed to me that praying before we read is a lot like washing our hands before we eat. In our physical bodies, washing our hands is an important act. In fact, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reported that hand washing is probably the single most important measure in preventing and stopping the transmission of some very serious illnesses (reference below). The University of Maine also suggests that people should wash their hands 1) before touching food, or 2) as often as needed.
While we can’t rub soap on our spirit (not even going to attempt to go there), we can prepare our minds to be free from “contamination” when we read. We can adopt the University of Maine’s physical standards to our spiritual condition and wash our minds –
1) Before we read God’s Word. This is the spiritual “food” for the believer (Jeremiah 15:16 below). Cleansing our mind with prayer can help to remove the distractions and allow us to receive the specific truth or lesson God wants for us during that time.
2) As often as needed. This prayer can also help in secular atmospheres. When reading for work, class, or leisure, I have often confessed, “Lord, open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from THIS (law, text, assignment, etc.)!”
All the Bible reading in the world does no good without proper understanding. In order to understand, we should cleanse our minds of anything that would prevent God’s word from penetrating our hearts. Let's wash our minds with prayer before reading in order to see good things from what we read and prevent negativity. We need to confess our desires to hear God’s voice “cleanly” through His Word. He will reveal Himself and we will be surprised at how much we can receive by simply “washing our hands”.
Lord, I pray that our eyes are opened to see the wonderful things in Your law. I pray that Your Word becomes milk and meat in our lives. That we can drink and eat of it and be strengthened to serve You. As we attempt to digest Your Word, Lord please prepare our hearts and minds. In addition, God please prevent any contamination from things that are not like You. When we are reading other materials, let us be able to sift out Your truths in order to remain pleasing to You. Give us the wisdom to retain and also the wisdom to release. I pray that as we make vows and resolutions to read Your Word more consistently, You bathe us in Your blessings and cleanse us with Your care. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Rinsing,
Jeremy
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/4067.htm
Jeremiah 15:16 - Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.
