A Prayer for a Full Understanding of God’s Word
By Andrea Herzer
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.” - Psalm 18:30
Since COVID-19 invaded our world, most of us have been following the advice of scientists, doctors, and governmental agencies. When they said, “do not wear masks,” we did not wear them. When they changed their minds and said, “wear masks,” we began wearing them. They speak; we act. Their life-saving advice is worth heeding, but the protocols are constantly changing.
Don’t you wish there was a source for accurate and reliable advice that, if followed, would guarantee your survival? The Bible is just that; it is a life-saving manual that has endured for thousands of years. It can preserve your life for eternity if you read what it says, believe it, and follow it. But how can you follow God’s Word if you do not understand what you are reading?
Before I accepted Jesus Christ into my life, reading the Bible was like reading another language. I quit trying to read it because I could not understand it. I needed a teacher! Here is what the Bible says about those who do not have the Holy Spirit as their teacher: “The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:14).
That described me! Does it describe you? Do you want the Holy Spirit to teach and instruct you in life, both now and for eternity? You must first receive Jesus as your Savior, then the Holy Spirit will come to live in your heart.
Pray this prayer: “Jesus, I have done wrong things in my life and I ask your forgiveness. I believe that you died to take the punishment for my sins upon yourself. I believe that you conquered death when you rose from the dead. You triumphed over death, and I will have eternal life in heaven because I believe in you. I invite you into my heart and life as my Lord and Savior; I am yours. Give me your Holy Spirit to comfort, guide, and teach me. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.”
If you have prayed that prayer in believing faith, you have received eternal life. It is my sincere hope and prayer that you fully embrace the message of God’s wonderful love for you through Jesus Christ. May you humbly accept and obey God’s Word; it is the only unchanging truth that has the power to save your life for eternity. (James 1:21)
You also received the Holy Spirit as a teacher and comforter in this life. Read the Bible daily to grow in your faith; pray this Scripture-filled prayer to get started:
Dear Lord,
Thank you that your Holy Spirit helps me to discern and understand your Word. Give me a hunger to feed my soul on Scripture every day, as you have said, “…man shall not live by bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4).
I recognize that living according to Scripture gives me a firm foundation for this life and the life to come because “your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens” (Psalm 119:89). Thank you that your Word is a lamp for my feet and a light for my path so that I can walk securely. (Psalm 119:105)
Please use Scripture to teach me, rebuke me, correct me, and train me in righteousness so that I can be completely equipped to do every good work you have prepared for me. (2 Timothy 3:16-17) Let me embrace your words of life more than I embrace my fears, my insecurities, and the lies that have ensnared me.
I know that “your hands formed me and made me” so I know that you can “give me understanding to learn your commands” and teach me the Scriptures. (Psalm 119:73) Please make your Word come alive in my heart; help me to remember it and act on it so that I will not sin against you. (Psalm 119: 11)
Open my ears to your Word, so when I hear it spoken aloud, I will receive it with joy. Use it to guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. (Psalm 25:5) Help me to obey your Word so I will fully understand it and be able to move on to maturity in my faith. (Hebrews 5:12) Place godly Bible teachers in my life, and grant me the opportunity to teach Biblical truth to others.
I pray these things through the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
Having spent the past two decades enduring life with multiple illnesses, including Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Andrea Herzer is intimately acquainted with the hardships that accompany debilitating health issues. She writes devotionals on her Facebook Group (Abundant Life for Abundant Illness) to help others find the pathway to living a life that overflows with the riches of God’s sustaining love even in the midst of pain and suffering. Andrea is currently completing her first devotional book, The Way Through Illness.
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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