Prayer and Bible study are powerful tools for connecting us with God and one another. When we pray with people, we demonstrate that we care and that God cares. When we open God’s Word together, we hear His plan to love us into relationship with Him through Jesus.
What are practical ways to connect through prayer and Bible study? Take these actions together:
- Bible study. Open God’s Word together. Examine the context. Together seek to understand what God’s message was to the original hearers. What was the point of the passage? Then seek to apply that message or point to life today. Finally seek to understand God’s personal message to each of you.
- Response. When you opened God’s Word, He spoke. Now, what is your response to what God said in Bible study? This is your opportunity to agree with Him, to confess to Him, and to make requests of Him in response. Speak, write, or pray your response to Him.
- Commit. God spoke. You responded, but God expects change as a result of the encounter with Him in His Word. What does He want you to do, and are you willing to do what He expects? Are you willing to commit to change? Tell Him in prayer or writing.
- Obey. To this point, you have not carried out the change that God desires. It is important to review your response to His expectations over the next few days. Are you making progress? Bottom line: did I do what God expected? This is where the encouragement of a friend or reviewing a journal can help us to keep our commitments to God.
Model for disciples listening to God in Bible study. Then a response becomes natural, like two halves of a conversation. That conversation with God and each other continues as we move together toward obedience.
These steps of prayer and Bible study offer great opportunities for connecting with God and our disciples. They allow us to demonstrate transparency. We become encouragers and cheerleaders. Connections matter. Be revolutionary!
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