A Prayer About Understanding

When I am confused about Scripture

PRECIOUS SAVIOR,

While you taught on this earth, you gathered a wide variety of people, from the obsessively religious to the completely secular. You promised the disciples that you would give understanding to everyone who truly listened to your teaching. I admit that sometimes my heart isn’t open when I peruse Scripture. Instead, I am reading to just cross another daily Bible reading off my list. Forgive me. I want to hear you. Please speak to me and increase my understanding. And please keep me from being like the Pharisees, who used Scripture against others and to bolster their own position, taking your words out of context. They pretended to listen, but their ears and minds were closed. I am a novice at Bible study, but I want to grow in understanding the Word. Lead me to godly teachers and mature believers who can help me learn of you. And for those passages that seem too difficult for me, give me patience and insight as your Spirit illuminates them.

[Jesus’] disciples came and asked him, “Why do you use parables when you talk to the people?” He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven, but others are not. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Matthew 13:10-12