"Read Your Bible and Pray!"

I had the privilege of growing up in an excellent Christian home. We were the kind of family that was in the church building “whenever the doors are open.” I remember reading the Bible (KJV) from a very early age. And how about “Bible Drills”? and “Bible Clubs”? In that context, whenever the subject of spiritual growth (spiritual formation/transformation) came up the advice was clear and simple: Read your Bible and pray!

It seemed too simple somehow. And yet, so true. The regular, consistent practice of communicating with God through Bible reading and prayer is, in fact, the key element in our spiritual development. But we can make it too simple by reducing it to a set pattern or practice. It’s possible to read the Bible without ever engaging your mind. It’s possible to pray without ever involving your heart. So why is reading your Bible and praying so significant to your transformation, and what does it really mean in our real lives?

In 2004, Willow Creek Community Church did an extensive study of the “catalysts” of spiritual growth, asking the question, “What are the consistent elements and practices that drive the process of spiritual transformation for Christ followers?” They discovered several key ideas: (1) the most consistent driving force in a believer’s spiritual development is “Reflection on Scripture,” when respondents answered “frequent” or “daily” to the statement, “I reflect on the meaning of Scripture in my life”; and (2) the second most important spiritual catalyst comes from a “frequent” or “daily” agreement with the statement, “I pray to seek guidance for my life.” Read your Bible and pray! Easy, right?

So how is that working for us? And if we are consistently communicating with God by reflecting on Scripture and praying to seek guidance, why aren’t we more transformed? Anyone who has ever had a serious relationship with someone can testify to how important, tricky, and scary communication can be. The “typical” communication barriers between men and women have become well known. Communication challenges also exist between young and old, rich and poor, very educated and very uneducated, between various ethnic/cultural communities, etc., etc. Learning how to effectively communicate with another person is the most important key to a growing, healthy, happy relationship with them. But good communication is hard work and requires diligence, commitment and patience. All too many don’t take the time to develop good communication skills. Others who have experienced failed relationships are afraid to try again. However, anyone can master communication skills and grow in interpersonal relationships.

So what does that have to do with reading your Bible and praying? These two spiritual practices are a way of saying, “Grow in your ability to communicate with God.” And remember: Good communication requires commitment and persistence. And good communication goes both ways. If, as some have taught, 93% of all communication is non-verbal, developing good communication skills requires much more than the ability to understand words, both for human relationships and our relationship with our Father-Creator.

Prayer is not just a matter of words; prayer is not just mind-to-mind communication. Prayer is a matter of the heart. Remember what Jesus taught about prayer in his famous sermon: “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 5:5-8). Prayer is not public religiosity; prayer is about your personal relationship with God. Prayer is not about using the right words often enough; prayer is about your heart connection with the Father.  Prayer is not a way to manipulate God; prayer is intimacy with God.

Granted, Jesus did refer to the words involved in prayer (see Matthew 6:9-13). But even those words reflect the deep longing in the heart of a Christ-follower, communicating personal needs to a personal God. The words of prayer flow from the heart of the pray-er to the heart of God. Those words also reflect God’s heart-desire to commune with his children, to listen to their requests, and to bring encouragement and strength.

I believe God is speaking to us all the time – in our hearts, in the world around us, in Scripture. The simple fact is this: we have a hearing problem. We are seldom listening to God. Even when we listen we tend to do so through the grid of our self-centeredness. The first and most important communication skill is learning how to listen. “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Samuel 3:9). Having a regular, consistent practice of prayer and Bible reading is an excellent foundation for your relationship with the Father. To build on that foundation, take some time this week to listen. Read a short passage of Scripture slowly, prayerfully, listening to what God wants to say to you in that passage. Find some extra time to pray and focus on praising, then listening. And see if you heart is not strengthened and the spiritual development of your soul encouraged. It's just that simple – read your Bible and pray!