I recently read a rather stunning article from Christianity Today entitled, ‘Yawning at the Word’ which talked about the trend in churches to read and quote Scripture less and less because people find it boring! (Not to worry, the author was not saying this was a good thing).
This came on the heels of reading a blog post by Tim Challies entitled, ‘Unleashing the Word’, which was about a new book of the same title, and the real need for there to be more public reading of Scripture in church worship services. (I would encourage you to take the time to read both articles)
This is both stunning and not surprising: stunning because we are talking about the logos, the Word of God that is living and active and is anointed to bring about change and transformation in us. It is not surprising though because it is exactly what Paul prophesied in 2 Timothy 4:3-4 :
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
Rather than simply ranting to denounce this issue, I am pleased to say that God is at work to raise up a people who love and cherish the Word of God. One of the foundational themes of the prayer movement that is stirring all over the earth is the centrality of praying the Bible. Youth, young adults and people of all ages by the thousands are being awakened to deep and powerful encounters with God through His Word.
At the International House of Prayer and at House of Prayer Edmonton, people are learning how to pray the Bible and meditate on it and internalize it, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in powerful ways.
There simply is nothing like encountering God through internalizing the Scriptures. Learning to pray the Bible and create a dialogue with the One who wrote it will transform the way we view Scripture. Instead of boring and dull, it becomes alive to us and we develop a passion for God like we have never known.
This is why I am so committed to praying the Bible and teaching others to pray it as well!
