Meditation - Cultivating our Hearts
“You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (John 5:39-40).
It is not enough to simply know the Bible, we must come to a place where we actually meet God in the Scriptures. I learned to do this by using the Bible as a basis for my prayers. IHOP (prayer not pancakes) is a treasure trove of resources in this area. [ihop.org, mikebickle.org]
[Excerpt from “Walking in the Spirit: Feeding Our Spirit on God’s Word” by Mike Bickle
2008-03-19]
Today, read Psalm 103 and pray it back to God in writing. As much as possible I would use the actual words from the verse so that they become embedded in your prayer language (this is Bible memorization made easy). Writing out our prayers is a tool forcing ourselves to be specific in the language we use.
For example:
Read:
“1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” (Ps 103:1, NIV)
Pray:
Father, I ask for grace to praise you with everything I am. I want everything in my life to praise you and bring you glory. There is no other name worthy of my praise.
Then move on to the next verse.
It is not enough to simply know the Bible, we must come to a place where we actually meet God in the Scriptures. I learned to do this by using the Bible as a basis for my prayers. IHOP (prayer not pancakes) is a treasure trove of resources in this area. [ihop.org, mikebickle.org]
[Excerpt from “Walking in the Spirit: Feeding Our Spirit on God’s Word” by Mike Bickle
2008-03-19]
- Two broad categories of truth related to pray-reading the Word (meditating on Scripture): First, Scriptures that focus on exhorting us “to believe” God’s Word. For example, use Scriptures that declare that God loves, forgives, leads, protects, or provides for us, etc. Second, Scriptures that focus on exhorting us “to obey” God’s Word. For example, use Scriptures that command us to bridle our tongue, serve one another, humble ourselves, give time and money to Him, etc.
- We actively dialogue with God by praying truths back to Him that exhort us “to believe” His Word. Spiritual warfare: we speak these truths against Satan’s attack on our lives.
- First, we thank God for a particular truth. We turn these truths into simple declarations of thanksgiving or trust. For example, we declare, “Thank you that You love me or have forgiven me. I trust that You will lead, provide and protect me.
- Second, we ask God to reveal (release) particular truths to us. Ask God to release a spirit of revelation (Eph. 1:17). For example, pray, “Father, reveal to me the certainty of Your provision, how much You love me, forgive me, or how I have ravished Your heart. Father, I ask You to release Your promised guidance, provision, and protection, etc.
- We actively dialogue with God by praying truths back to Him that exhort us “to obey” His Word. Spiritual warfare: we speak these truths against Satan’s attack on our lives.
- First, we commit ourselves to obey God in the specific way set forth in a biblical person or passage. Make simple declarations of your resolve to obey the Word or imitate the faith of the godly. For example, declare, “I set my heart to love You and obey You with my speech, time and money, etc. or, I set my heart to love you like David, endure hardship like Paul, pray like Daniel or do miracles like the apostles in the Book of Acts.”
- Second, we ask God to empower us to obey a particular truth or imitate the example of the godly. Ask God for help to obey in specific areas. For example, pray, “Father help me to love You, to bridle my speech, or to use my time and money in full obedience.” Pray, “lead me away from temptation (Mt. 6:13) or deliver me from the works of the evil one” (Jn. 17:15), or, “Father, I resolve to love You more, or give me power to love you like David, endure hardship like Paul, pray like Daniel or do miracles like the first apostles.”
Today, read Psalm 103 and pray it back to God in writing. As much as possible I would use the actual words from the verse so that they become embedded in your prayer language (this is Bible memorization made easy). Writing out our prayers is a tool forcing ourselves to be specific in the language we use.
For example:
Read:
“1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.” (Ps 103:1, NIV)
Pray:
Father, I ask for grace to praise you with everything I am. I want everything in my life to praise you and bring you glory. There is no other name worthy of my praise.
Then move on to the next verse.