The Word and Prayer

George Muller, a spiritual giant of the 19th century and a great man of prayer, was influenced by an 18th century preacher who stood in the spotlight of religious life in America as a great evangelist.  George Whitefield is known for many things, but one of them is his prayer life.  He has an unusual discipline which brought together the Scripture and prayer.  "I began to read the Bible upon my knees; laying aside all other books and praying over...every line and word," he said.  While I have heard of praying the Scripture, this particular discipline was a new one for me to consider.   

I love to be in the room when someone is praying the Scripture.  It is one thing to quote Scripture while praying as some do when they pray and acknowledge something the Scripture says as a way of enforcing their request from God and another when someone speaks life into the Word as if it something not memorized, but something which has a voice that speaks more of the heart than the head.  Several times in the last year I have been blessed by being present in the sanctuary when someone led the congregation in such a prayer.  

There are obviously many ways of bringing together the Word and prayer.  I have a friend who lives in Korea.  She recently celebrated her 90th birthday.  I met her years ago when she came to visit her daughter who was a Minister of Music in the church I was serving.  Many years before her 90th birthday she began the practice of hand writing and copying the Scripture as a part of her quiet time with the Lord.  If I recall correctly she not too long ago finished her sixth journey through the Word and has gone back to Genesis again.  I have been blessed many times by the prayers of this saintly woman who brings together the Word and prayer in her spiritual journey.