In the last article we talked about the importance of having the right mindset as we approach the word of God. The mindset we must have is to give the Bible the highest honour and regard as the true word of God. Many people base their entire lives off of prophetic words that they receive from people or off of counsel that they get from men. However, we must always give the highest honour to the truth of the scriptures as it is what we are to judge/test everything else by. In Isaiah 8:20 the LORD told Isaiah that if any one prophesies or counsels anything that is NOT according to the written scriptures, that it is proof that there is NO LIGHT in them. But how would somebody know if someone is spreading error and lies if they have not given the highest honour to the written scriptures and searched them to know the truth of God? Jesus himself based his entire life and ministry according to the written scriptures. He did not think himself above that which was written. So neither should we.

In this article I want to look at what may be the most important thing to prepare us to actually read the Bible: Deep Spiritual Prayer.

God is a Spirit and he wants to reveal himself to us spiritually (to our hearts, spirits, minds, and souls...). And so it is important that we prepare our hearts and spirits to enter into the word so that we might receive what God wants to give us. Below are some keys that can help prepare us to read the word:

1. Approach the LORD with honour and thanksgiving. Honour and worship the LORD for WHO HE IS and for the great things he has done! Truly meditate on him and his greatness until you find a spirit of thanksgiving and gratitude within your heart. Come lowly to the throne of grace, and he shall lift you up,.
2. Confess and Repent of any sins or transgressions that have not yet been dealt with. God is holy and it Is important that we approach him with clean hands and a pure heart. If there is anything that your conscience is troubling you about, confess it and ask God to help you overcome that sin so that you might walk in newness of life and please him. Also, it is good to just ask the LORD if there is anything that he is displeased with in you or if there is anything you need to make right and then just tarry before him and wait for him to bring those things to your heart and attention and then deal with them accordingly.
3. Ask God to give you ears to hear his word and a heart to receive and believe his word, a mind to understand his word, and a will to obey his word. Many people read the Bible for years as part of their daily task unto the LORD but don't have ears to hear what God wants to say to them. And so often most of they have little to no understanding of what they read. God wants us to bear good fruit for him but we must first be able to hear and receive and believe his word so that it might bring forth good fruit for his glory.
4. Ask the LORD to root out everything out of you that he hates, and to replace those things with the things that he loves. He hates pride, arrogance, uncleanness, lust, fornication, adultery, wrath, hate, idolatry, witchcraft, stubbornness, rebellion, blasphemy, drunkenness, excess, lies, manipulation, error, greed, covetousness, fears, unbelief, doubt, impatience, foolishness, slothfulness, wickedness, selfishness, etc... Ask God to truly reach deep within you and root all these things out so that the soil of your heart and the entirety of your soul might be good, clean, pure, and fertile so that his word might take full effect within you. He loves the opposites of those things and desires such virtues to be found within you as hid treasures unto the LORD; things such as: humility, meekness, purity, holiness, faithfulness, love, grace, submission, obedience, honour, true worship, sobriety, temperance, honesty, sincerity, truth, generosity, contentment, the fear of the LORD, power, faith, assurance, courage, patience, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, diligence and hard-work, righteousness, and serving others, etc... God has made us to become like Jesus Christ. And he is full of all these wonderful godly attributes and has no sin or iniquity within him.
5. Ask the LORD to reveal to you what he wants you to receive and for you to have HIS understanding, not your own. Many people spend hours searching the Bible for things that they are not ready yet to understand and that God does not yet want to reveal to them. Many spend hours studying end-times prophecies and they don't even know the basics of the doctrine of Christ or godly living. The Bible is a wonderful and fascinating book with so many things to learn and understand. However, there is an order to God's revelation, and the last thing we want to do is waste tons of time trying to figure something out that God will not yet show us and miss the thing that he is trying to clearly reveal to us. It would be foolish to try to teach someone multiplication before addition. It would make no sense to try to make someone a master of Calculus before mastering Algebra and Trigonometry. The LORD knows what you are ready to receive and what you need to learn for the current season and stage you are at. Ask him for his revelation and HIS understanding. Be patient and grow and you will be amazed at the grace of God. "Give us this day our daily bread."
6. Ask him to help you draw closer to him and see more of HIM and his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! Many read the Bible for a spiritual "pick-me-up" for their day. Many read the Bible to gain knowledge to be able to win spiritual arguments. Many pastors read the Bible to find support for their sermons. Many ready the Bible for wisdom for how to run their business or how to better their marriage. While none of these things are necessarily wrong, and while God may use the Bible for all these things, the ultimate purpose of the Bible is none of these things. The ultimate purpose of the Bible is so that we might KNOW the true living God and live a life of faith and godliness that will PLEASE HIM and bring forth good fruit for his glory! The entire scriptures were written to REVEAL the true God for those who want to sincerely know him and please him. And they were also written to reveal the Son of God JESUS and his amazing plan of redemption and salvation. Search the scriptures to draw closer to the Father and the Son. Ask God to reveal more of them to you so that you might love HIM with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. The more you see and hear of the living God, the more you will be in awe and will love him and desire to be true to him.

These are just a few prayer tips that can really help prepare your heart and spirit to enter the Bible. However, it is important to understand that this list is neither compulsory nor exhaustive. You do not need to pray these points as a vain ritual every time before you read. No, it is important that you have a real relationship with the living God and allow him to guide you in prayer. However, I have found that praying into these things with a sincere heart has yielded great fruits and it is my prayer that this list might be a help to you to prepare your heart in prayer with the LORD before you open his word.

Psalm 119:9-18

9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

12 Blessed art thou, O Lord: teach me thy statutes.

13 With my lips have I declared all the judgments of thy mouth.

14 I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, as much as in all riches.

15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways.

16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

17 Deal bountifully with thy servant, that I may live, and keep thy word.

18 Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.