Prayer without the Word

[HeartlandGal]

I have a friend whom at one time I used to do almost daily bible studies with. But through the course of serveral events she no longer has time to study her bible(either with me or on her own). In the past when either of us were confronted with a decision, we would pray together and also go to our bibles. Many times the answers came while reading our bibles. (Hope that makes sense)

Now that she no longer reads her bible (she says she simpy has not time for it) she instead will rely only on prayer and than whatever decision she makes must of been Gods will in her view. So now when she makes a very big decision, one that will effect her family or even other people, I will ask her if she has gone to God about it first. She will say "All I can do is pray about it", but if I were to ask her if she has searched her bible also for Gods will, she will reply "Prayer is all that is needed". She goes weeks sometimes now without opening her bible at all. I see her make choices that even a year ago she would never of made, but it is almost as if she does not see it anymore.

I know prayer is powerful and very important. But can we look away from what God wants for us in our lives if we don't study his Word also and rely only on prayer for all the answers? Or am I just being overly sensitive about this?

[RunCMD]

I may not be in the situation that your friend is in, but I must confess that I often feel conviction over not reading the Bible as often as I should... I'm sure I'm not alone. I do believe that Bible study should be a priority though, even if only for a little time each day. Something is always better than nothing. If your friend is too busy to read the Bible at all, I'd say she's too busy. Things you have a desire for, you usually make time for. With that said, a few things came to mind that I thought might be helpful...

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word
Ephesians 5:25,26 (NIV)

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands.
Psalm 119:9,10 (NIV)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)

So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
2 Thessalonians 2:15 (NIV)


The only secret of living Christ is occupation with Christ. And it is for this God has given us such abundant fulness in His Word. Another has well said that if the Bible were merely a guide-book to show the way to heaven, a very much smaller volume would have sufficed. Often the gospel has been clearly told out in a few-paged tract or booklet. But here is a book of over one thousand ordinary pages, and all of it "profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works;" and the one great subject of all its sixty-six parts is Christ.

He who feeds upon its sacred pages is feeding on Christ, for the Word written but declares the Word eternal. To "read, mark, learn and inwardly digest" this divinely-inspired unfolding of the person and work of Christ is the paramount requisite for the believer, if he would glorify God in his practical ways.

It is related that John Bunyan had written on the fly-leaf of his Bible, "This book will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this book." It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation...

H.A. Ironside
Holiness: The False and the True
Concluding Remarks on "The Higher Christian Life"
Pages 134 & 135


Look up all the passages of Scripture that prove that the instrument of our sanctification is the Word of God. You will find that there are very many. It is the Word of God that sanctifies the soul. The Spirit of God brings to our minds the commands and precepts and doctrines of truth (see John 14:26), and applies them with power. These are heard in the ear, and, being received in the heart, they work in us to will and to do of God's good pleasure (Phil. 2:13)... The truth is the sanctifier, and if we do not hear the truth, we will certainly not grow in sanctification. We only progress in sound living as we progress in sound understanding. "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Ps. 119:105).

Charles Spurgeon
The Key to Holiness
Threefold Sanctification
Page 59

Hope that helps.

[AnyDayNow]

...She will say "All I can do is pray about it", but if I were to ask her if she has searched her bible also for Gods will, she will reply "Prayer is all that is needed". She goes weeks sometimes now without opening her bible at all...

Years ago I was an Elder in a church and a man at one of our meertings said something similar to this. While no one, including myself, said anything to him at the time, I had to think about these two passages:

Romans 10:17 So faith {comes} from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

John 17:17 "Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.

Now I guess someone could say they can have an effective prayer life without the Word, but wouldn't prayer and the Word be more effective? :noidea

[adamis423]

I, too, think that the Word should not be ignored. I didn't read my Bible for a long time, and fell away from God!!!

There is power in the Word, it's God speaking to us. "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path."

[My Abba's Child]

I have a friend whom at one time I used to do almost daily bible studies with. But through the course of serveral events she no longer has time to study her bible(either with me or on her own). In the past when either of us were confronted with a decision, we would pray together and also go to our bibles. Many times the answers came while reading our bibles. (Hope that makes sense)

Now that she no longer reads her bible (she says she simpy has not time for it) she instead will rely only on prayer and than whatever decision she makes must of been Gods will in her view. So now when she makes a very big decision, one that will effect her family or even other people, I will ask her if she has gone to God about it first. She will say "All I can do is pray about it", but if I were to ask her if she has searched her bible also for Gods will, she will reply "Prayer is all that is needed". She goes weeks sometimes now without opening her bible at all. I see her make choices that even a year ago she would never of made, but it is almost as if she does not see it anymore.

I know prayer is powerful and very important. But can we look away from what God wants for us in our lives if we don't study his Word also and rely only on prayer for all the answers? Or am I just being overly sensitive about this?

I've heard it said that Satan doesn't really mind all that much if we read the Bible as long as we're not praying... and he doesn't care too much if we pray if we're not reading our Bible.

In His love,

[andy]

There are prayers and then there are "prayers".:heh

What I mean is that our daily prayer life is based on, strengthened by, and solidified through God's word.

Then there are what I call arrow or one liners. Examples: "Help me Lord?";
"Lord, give me strength"; "Save me Lord"; etc.

But in actuality, all prayers are based on God's word. Without the word of
God, we would not know our Father that well. When you don't know someone very well, you don't trust them as much.

And when we don't know the "Living Word", the Way, the Truth, and the Life....Jesus; we are not children of God anyway.

This is how I see it.:wave