Taking you on a 31-day journey rooted in Christ's words in John 15, Praying the Scriptures for Your Life will help you find guidance and peace as you pray through life's trickiest issues, from relationships to finances to what to do with the pain of unanswered prayer. Discover how Scripture can be experienced, not just read!
In one of his last conversations with his disciples, Jesus urged his followers to "remain" in him. But what does it mean to remain in Christ in our daily lives? In Praying the Scriptures for Your Life, popular Bible teacher Jodie Berndt invites you to experience deeper intimacy with Christ as you allow his words from John 15 to transform your perspective as well as your prayers.
This reflective 31-day
Gives insight into what it means to abide with Christ every day.Guides you in how to pray the Scriptures and let them shape your choices.Covers topics ranging from relationships to faith to money management.Shows how closeness with Christ equips you to bear fruit through your prayers.Is a reminder that you are created for connection with your heavenly Father.Teaches how abiding is the key to abundance. Praying the Scriptures for Your Life is the latest addition to the bestselling Praying the Scriptures series. With short, easy-to-read chapters, the book invites you to read, reflect, and respond as you pray the Scriptures over every area of your life. Discover the peace that comes from abiding in Christ as you sink deep into his Word.
Jodie Berndt is an author and speaker. She has written or co-written seven books, including Praying the Scriptures for Your Children and Praying the Scriptures for Your Teenagers. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Virginia and is a former television writer and producer for CBN’s 700 Club. Jodie and her husband, Robbie, have four adult children.
I haven't read any of Jodie's books before and I was pleasantly surprised with how practical this one is. It starts with a foreword from Ann Voskamp and seriously, the price of the book is worth it just to read Ann's 3 pages. Then Jodie builds on Ann's relational emphasis of prayer in working through Jesus' abiding encouragement in John 15.
Each chapter is short, one to two pages of story and teaching, three great Scriptures, three leading questions for reflection and then a page of prayed verses. I particularly loved these prayed verses - they're written so you can simply pray them. And praying Scripture is so powerful. And they're not just taken from the Psalms but from throughout the Bible.
The early chapters focused on the words of John 15 and then the later ones looked at more regular, day-to-day matters and so there's a really good mix of topics in this book.
I just happened to come across this book with Faith Gateway for their 31 day prayer challenge. I had not heard of it (or the author) before, but I really loved it and I think I’m going to read her book for teens later this fall. She had a short chapter for each day, followed by scriptures to read on the topic, questions to reflect on and then prayers (from scripture) to respond with.
There is also an introduction from Ann Voscamp: “And real prayer isn’t about changing God’s mind, but about finding God’s heart, and letting His heart change our minds.”
And a chapter about abiding with God, which inspired this book (John chapter 15). To abide… “. . means to keep in fellowship with Christ so that His life can work in us and through us to produce fruit.” “To abide in Christ . . . is to renounce all life independent of Christ, and constantly to look to Him for the inflow of His life into us, and the outworking of His life through us.” RA Torrey
Then a chapter on Why Pray the Scriptures and How to Use this Book… then part 2 and the 31 days begin.
Topics include: prayers for your marriage, for your children, asking for help, suffering & grief
“And sometimes in his mercy he reveals the purpose in our pain. “This happened,” Paul writes after things got so bad that he and his companions were sure they would die, “that we might not rely on ourselves but on God.”4 day 12
Waiting on God : day 13 “Given the John 15 call to connection, I love the idea that waiting can actually link us—attach us—to God. - “The word patience,” he writes, “is derived from the Latin word for suffering.”2 It comes as no surprise, then, that when Scripture exhorts us to “wait for the LORD,” the very next words are, “Be strong, and let your heart take courage.” - He wants us to know he is good when the gift comes, before the gift comes, and even if the gift never comes. - And yet tucked right in the middle of all the despair we find this gem: “The LORD is good to those who wait for him.” - Plant your longings in my heart, Lord, and delight to fulfill them. (Proverbs 13:12)
Worry and fear Prayer is the antidote to worry and fear.
Praying about the words you say, to love God’s Word, hearing God’s voice
resting in God - day 19 “When Jesus offers rest for the weary and burdened, it’s not like he says, “Come take a nap.” He says, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me.”2 I don’t know much about farming, but to me, wearing a yoke implies action of some sort. Pulling a cart. Plowing a field. Doing work.” - That sounded appealing. I liked how Jesus linked rest—real rest—to walking and working with him. To living a life marked by purpose. To living freely and lightly—not straining or striving, but moving to the “unforced rhythms of grace” as we “keep company” with the Lord. - Rest, then—real rest—is maybe not so much ceasing activity as it is adopting a posture of trust, one where we increasingly depend not on our own strength but on God’s. Reflect: Where have you been striving to be productive apart from the Lord? Respond: When I am tired and worn out, show me how to take a real rest. - Help me observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
Using your gifts, praying about your work and purpose, praying about financial decisions, asking for wisdom and guidance, bring joy-full, praying for health and healing, trusting God in the face of unanswered prayer, sharing your faith, praying for the little things and living with greater gratitude.
This has been my favourite devotional. Each day covers different life topics, with stories, reflections and responses. I absolutely loved being guided through scriptures / praying the scriptures over my life, my family, and so many important aspects of my life.
I know sometimes we can get tongue-tied or we ramble or we don’t have words to pray. We can all have those kind of days. The prompts in this devotional can help you get your thoughts on order and say the words you wish to say.
An example from the book:
“Dear Heavenly…
Equip me to obey your new command to love one another. Show me how to love others, especially ____________, the way you have loved me. John 13:34
May my love be more than just words and speech; let me demonstrate true love by my actions. 1 John 3:18
I want to do everything in love. 1 Corinthians 16:14
Give me the desire and the ability to love my enemies, do good to those who hate me, bless those who curse me, and pray for those who mistreat me. Luke 6:27-28
Make me completely humble and gentle. Help me be patient, bearing with others, including _________, in love. Ephesians 4:2
… “
It has a few more scriptures to pray through but this is the idea and everyday ends with a prayer.
The stories a short and witty and full of wisdom. I enjoyed all of them! I highly recommend this book to everyone.
I am on to another one or Jodie Bernt’s books “Praying the Scriptures for Your Adult Children”.
"If Christians got as excited about staying connected to Christ as we did about coming to him in the first place, we’d experience more power. We’d feel more joy. We’d become people of impact. The deepest cry of our souls—for an encounter with Jesus that will sustain us even when our hearts fail and our prayers feel empty and flat—would be satisfied."
What an encouragement to come before God and connect with the one who loves us and created us.
An very helpful book that walks you through many common topics of prayer and how to use scripture to pray over them. I worked through the book with a small group of other ladies, and it let to many fruitful conversations and mutual encouragement. Definitely recommend doing it with a group, although I'm sure it would be helpful reading alone as well.
This book is important and special. If you are someone who struggles with practical application of scripture to prayer or just need a spiritual reset, this is book for you. I believe that I will come back to this one often!
For 31 days you have a short chapter to read with a specific topic - asking for help; praying for friends, etc. At the end of each chapter their are verses to reflect on and a prayer full of scriptures to pray about that days topic. I enjoyed this study.
Excellent book on prayer. It pushed me to pray differently and to pray about different things. Also pushed me to pray based off of Scripture way more. I highly recommend this book.
I really enjoyed this devotional. I read the book over several months, breaking up the 30 days in little bites. Based on John 15, Jodi takes you through abiding in the Vine through the ups and downs of daily life. It was practical, heart-felt and often humorous (think duct tape). I highly recommend the book.
I love all the books. I’ve read by Jodie Berndt on prayer, but this one won’t be my favorite. And although it was written as prayers to pray for yourself, everything here to be prayed for other people too. I’ll be using this book as a reference often.
Have you ever thought about praying Scripture over your life? I mean actually taking Bible Verses and using them as your prayer. You could pray for yourself, your kids, your family, or your loved ones. If so, I want to recommend Jodie Berndt’s book, Praying the Scriptures for Your Life. I love how she takes verses and makes them into beautiful prayers. I highly recommend this book.
If you want to hear more about this book, you can check out my conversation with Jodie on episode 106 on the Depth Podcast. https://jodirosser.com/depth-podcast-...