The Church forcefully and specially exhorts all the Christian faithful to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of Sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles.
-Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2653
How to Allow God to Speak with You and Guide Your Life Daily Through Prayer using Scripture
Pope Leo XIII said, "In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet His children and talks with them." St. Ambrose says, "We have been given Sacred Scripture so that God and man may talk together; for we speak to Him when we pray; we hear Him when we read the divine saying."
Through Sacred Scripture the invisible God, out of the abundance of his love, speaks to men as friends so that he may invite and take them into fellowship with himself. In the sacred books, the Father who is in heaven meets his children with great love and speaks with them; and the force and power in the word of God is so great that it stands as the support and energy of the Church, the strength of faith for her sons, the food of the soul, the pure and everlasting source of spiritual life. Through these sacred books comes the "good news" that God is with us to free us from the darkness of sin and death, and to raise us up to life eternal."
It is through the Bible that we meet the Person of Jesus Christ. We come to learn who he is, how he lived, what he taught, what he has done for me, and it is through Scripture that I learn his plan of salvation and happiness for my life. Reflecting on this truth allowed St. Jerome to say, "Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ."
Simple 5 Step Method of Taking Scripture to Prayer
1. Give yourself to Jesus through the Hands of Mary.
Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you to pray and to help you hear him; to understand what he is asking of you; and for the grace to then do what he is asking of you.
2. Read a passage of the Bible slowly.
See yourself in the passage as one of the characters. Picture yourself in the scene speaking with Jesus and Jesus speaking to you for he is speaking to you right now through this passage.
3. Ask the Lord what he is saying to you today.
4. Remain silent and re-read the same passage two or three more times very slowly while thinking about this.
Be silent and listen as you slowly continue to go over the passage.
5. Make a resolution to do what the Lord asks of you.
Write it down, go back to it over the course of the day.
Adapted from: http://www.schooloffaith.com/
