Powlison’s Prayer
I was recently speaking to our youth about the necessity of slowing down and approaching their personal time with the Lord in His Word prayerfully and patiently. That discussion rose out of a statement in the April 2 installment of Faith’s Checkbook by Charles Spurgeon where he wrote: “Not by hasty reading but by deep meditation we profit by the Word of God.”
In chapter 2 of David Powlison’s book, Seeing With New Eyes, he explores some practical implications of Ephesians. As he prepares to take us into the Word he tells us, “We must lean hard on God” (p. 36). He gives the following prayer which I in turn give to you in hopes that this will help you develop or maintain a prayerful, patient and expectant mindset as you approach your Lord in His Word:
Our heavenly Father, you have spoken such wonderful things. They are true, but we stumble in the dark. Overcome our hearing-impaired, sight-impaired, mind-impaired, heart-impaired natures. Our God, you let us glimpse what is true and right, holy and perfect, what is worthy of adoration. You give us a glimpse of Christ Himself. Paul blazed with light in Christ, and we want to blaze with light also. Make us know you better. Help us, our Father, we pray in the name of your Son, Jesus, who has brought us into life. Amen.
May the Lord, in His grace and by the power of His Spirit, give you some rich, personal time with Himself through the Scriptures today.
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Sweet, I get to be the first comment. Lord willing, the youth will take advantage of this resource you have provided.
In reference to your lesson, I’m looking forward to combining my meditation with journaling. What a wonderful way to analyze the Word and grow. I’m also glad we discussed some negatives involved, so I will know to be careful and to make it a truly God focused time. Take care and God bless.
~Tim
Tim - April 4, 2008 at 11:08 am
There are so many helpful resources out there (hopefully some links are soon to come) but the best resource by far is humble, patient reliance upon the Holy Spirit as you compare Scripture with Scripture. The Lord is at work, brother! Gospel blessings.
Jason - April 4, 2008 at 12:17 pm
Jason – I’m glad to see you blogging. I like Powlinson’s prayerful recognition of our need for illumination as we read and study Scripture. I recently came across a Scripture that links divine help and human reflection.
2Tim. 2:7 Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this. (NIV)
2Tim. 2:7 Consider what I say, for the Lord will give you understanding in everything.
(NASB)
I like the combination of “the Lord will give you understanding”, and reflect/consider what I am saying. Thanks for sharing the Powlinson prayer.
Larry Kirk - April 4, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Thanks, Larry. What hope! The Lord Himself promises to increase our understanding. What a needed assurance! It is such a profound truth, but as so many other things on this journey, so easy to lose sight of. Our 21st century pace is a potent catalyst for our preexisting tendency toward thoughtless ritualism or flat out escape. We need to steep in gospel grace. I like how Eugene Peterson paraphrases 1 Peter 1:18 in The Message when he writes, “Life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God.”
Here’s to ever deepening gospel awareness! Thanks for your encouragement.
Jason - April 4, 2008 at 3:40 pm