pray the scriptures

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pray thescriptures A 40-Day Prayer Experience

Kevin Johnson

5(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group)

Kevin, Johnson, Pray the ScripturesBethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group, © 2013. Used by permission.



© 2013 by Ke Johso

Pubshed by Behay House Pubshers11400 Hampshre Aeue SouhBoomgo, Mesoa 55438www.behayhouse.com

Behay House Pubshers s a dso o Baker Pubshg Group, Grad Rapds, Mchga

Pred he Ued Saes o Amerca

A rghs resered. No par o hs pubcao may be reproduced, sored a rerea

system, or transmitted in any orm or by any means—or example, electronic, photocopy,recordg—whou he pror wre permsso o he pubsher. The oy excepos bre quoaos pred reews.

Lbrary o Cogress Caaogg--Pubcao Daa Johso, Ke (Ke Waer)

Pray he scrpures : a 40-day prayer experece / Ke Johso.pages cm

Summary: “A uque 40-day prayer experece gudes readers he dsc-pe o prayg God’s ow words back o hm”—Proded by pubsher.

ISBN 978-0-7642-1103-4 (pbk. : ak. paper)

1. Prayer—Chrsay. I. Te.BV210.3.J64 2013242 .722—dc23 2013002248

Scrpture quotatos deted ESV are rom The Holy Bble, Eglsh Stadard Ver-so® (ESV®), copyrgh © 2001 by Crossway, a pubshg msry o Good NewsPubshers. Used by permsso. A rghs resered. ESV Tex Edo: 2007

Scrpure quoaos deed GW are rom God’s Word®. © 1995 God’s Word o heNaos. Used by permsso o Baker Pubshg Group.

Scrpture quotatos deted MSG are rom The Message by Eugee H. Peterso,

copyrgh © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permsso o NaPress Pub-shg Group. A rghs resered.

Scrpure quoaos deed NCV are rom he New Ceury Verso®. Copyrgh© 1987, 1988, 1991 by Word Publshg, a dso o Thomas Nelso, Ic. Used bypermsso. A rghs resered.

Scrpure quoaos deed NIV are rom he Hoy Bbe, New Ieraoa Ver-sion®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permissiono Zodera. A rghs resered wordwde. www.zodera.com

Scripture quotations identied NKJV are rom the New King James Version. Copyright

© 1982 by Thomas Neso, Ic. Used by permsso. A rghs resered.

Scrpure quoaos deed NLT are rom he Holy Bible, New Lg Trasao,copyrght © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tydale House Foudato. Used by permsso o Tydae House Pubshers, Ic., Caro Sream, Ios 60188. A rghs resered.

Coer desg by Da Ps

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

(Unpublished manuscript—copyright protected Baker Publishing Group)




To he peope o Emmaus Road Church

as we wak he way ogeher





7

Contents

Iroduco 9

Day 1 John 10 —Jesus Your Shepherd 13 Day 2 Hebrews 10 —God’s Wecome 17

Day 3 Jeremiah 17 —De Sreams 21

Day 4 Romans 8 —God’s Pa 25

Day 5 Romans 8 —Usoppabe Loe 30

Day 6 Ephesians 2 —Led o Le 34

Day 7 1 John 1–2 —Geg Forgeess 38 Day 8 Jeremiah 29 —Secod Chaces 42

Day 9 1 Peter 1 —Thrg Tras 46

Day 10 Psalm 1 —Trppg Io S 50

Day 11 Matthew 22 —Loe God, Loe Peope 53

Day 12 John 14 —The Way 57

Day 13 Psalm 63 —Thrs or God 61

Day 14 Psalm 121 —Preparg or Worshp 65

Day 15 Psalm 84 —God’s Dweg 68





8

Coes

Day 16 Psalm 91 —God’s Rescue 74

Day 17 Matthew 11 —Le Freey ad Lghy 79

Day 18 Galatians 6 —Rgh-Szed Burdes 83

Day 19 Hebrews 4 —Fd Res 87

Day 20 Galatians 5 —Freedom Jesus 91

Day 21 Matthew 7 —The Narrow Way 95

Day 22 Ephesians 3 —Le Io Loe 100

Day 23 Ephesians 4 —Become New 104

Day 24 Ephesians 4–5 —Grow Up 108

Day 25 Philippians 4 —Fd Peace 112

Day 26 Philippians 4 —Be Coe 115

Day 27 Matthew 6 —Seek God 118

Day 28 Psalm 37 —Take Degh 122

Day 29 Psalm 19 —See God 126 Day 30 John 1 —Mee God 129

Day 31 Matthew 26 —The Oe Press 133

Day 32 Luke 23 —Jesus Des 137

Day 33 Mark 16 —Jesus Rses 141

Day 34 Titus 2–3 —Saed 145

Day 35 Philippians 2 —Sered 149 Day 36 Matthew 28 —Se 154

Day 37 Micah 6 —Bascs 157

Day 38 Isaiah 40 —Fresh Sregh 160

Day 39 John 15 —Abde 164

Day 40 John 15 —Bear Fru 167





9

Introduction

Back he eares days o he New Tesame church, Peer

ad Joh had the uortuate experece o beg caught

dog good. These cose reds ad oowers o Jesus were

headg o he empe o pray whe hey were coroed by

a ma uabe o wak sce brh. Whe he asked or moey,

they had othg to ge. But they commaded hm the

name o Jesus to rise up and walk. The man stood, then went

“wakg ad jumpg, ad prasg God” (Acs 3:8 niv).

The amazeme o he crowds upse he rug regous

eaders, who sezed Peer ad Joh ad ossed hem ja.Oce o tral, these two me poted out that they were

beg bued or he crme o kdess. Dumbouded, he

court ocals released them, orderg them to eer aga

meo Jesus.

Peer ad Joh mmedaey reured o her reds ad

repeated everything the chie priests and other leaders had told

them. Ater hearing these details, the ollowers o Jesus prayed

oudy ogeher (Acs 4:23–24). Ther words ormed as a -

stant and instinctive response to the press o real circumstances.





10

Iroduco

Their prayer started with worship. “Sovereign Lord . . . you

made he heaes ad he earh ad he sea, ad eeryhg

them” (Acts 4:24 niv). Opeg wth “Soereg Lord”was ke sayg “O God, who s charge o eeryhg” or

“O God, he ruer o a.” To say “You made he heaes ad

the earth” meas “You made eerythg there s—othg

exss ha dd’ come rom you.”

Ad he hey prayed, “You made he sea.” We mgh read

ha as “God, you creaed he beach ad sushe.” Or “Youmade ha oceasde pace where I wa o rere ad ee he

sad bewee my oes.” Bu he Hebrews dd’ hae happy

eelgs about large bodes o water. The sea meat chaos.

They were sayg, “God, you are maser o chaos ad eery-

thing we can’t control,” which ts the outrageous scene o Peter

ad Joh beg arresed ad hrow ja or dog kdess

the ame o Chrst. All o ths adds up to sayg, “God,you’re charge. You’re coro o hs suao we’re .”

The hese eary Chrsas dd a rgug hg. They

prayed the Scriptures, quoting Psalm 2:1–2 to God. What they

sad amouts to “You told us a log tme ago that people

woud oppose Jesus.” They prayed, “You spoke og ago by

the Holy Sprt through our acestor Dad, your serat,sayg, ‘Why were he aos so agry? Why dd hey wase

her me wh ue pas? The kgs o he earh prepared

or bae; he ruers gahered ogeher agas he Lord ad

agas hs Messah’” (Acs 4:25–26 nlt).

Praying Scripture

A o Scrpure ca each us o pray. I wroe Pray the Scrip-

tures Bible as an outfow o ministry and lie. The idea began





Iroduco

11

as a simple act o pairing Bible verses and prayer on posters or

peope o wader aroud ad poder durg worshp. Tha

exercse refected my ow habt o a momet-by-mometcoersao wh God, especay whe sudyg Scrpure.

As a ollower o Jesus, spiritual leader, and author determined

to make the Bble real ad releat to all ages, I deeloped

a ucoscous paer o respodg prayer o passages

I suded. Because God spoke o me, I spoke back o hm.

As a ex sep o Pray the Scriptures Bible, hs book whep you bud your ow hab o prayg Scrpure by ead-

g you to respod to orty daly Bble readgs. There are

passages remdg you o God’s usoppabe oe ad hs

pa o you o ew e. Ohers hep you express a crag

or God. Some ay dow pracca chaeges or you o obey.

Ohers e you rack wh Jesus as he moes rom hs garde

agoy o he cross ad resurreco ad beyod.

For each passage I prode a opeg thought. I sh

wh quesos o aswer o your ow or wh ohers. I he

mdde I sp up he Bbe passage ad ofer words ad shor

phrases to prompt you to pray Scripture back to God. Feel ree

o use hese promps or o respod wh your ow houghs.

Dare to share your prayers wth others, ad lste to whathey sad o God. There are hemes ha weae rom oe day

o he ex, bu you ca aso moe hrough he readgs

whaeer order you choose. Groups sudyg hs book ca

work hrough a ay comorabe pace.

Throughout this book you will engage in an uncomplicated

response to God’s words. Many passages move you to declare

who God s or what he has doe, s dog, or wll do. You

identiy wh a hough or eeg. Tha mgh promp you

o coness somehg ha’s come bewee you ad God or





12

o commit o g dferey. Or you mgh ask he Lord o

work you or mee a eed.

My prayer s that by the ed o ths book you wll haegrow your ow oe-o-oe coersato wth God by

usg Scrpture as the ultmate gude to prayer—a way to

process your ow e crcumsaces ad ge oce o your

ow sprua oggs, wodergs, ad worshp.

Ke Johso

kejohsobooks.com





13

1 John 10

Jesus Your Shepherd

Picture yoursel as a sheep ceasing your struggle, nding rest

cradled the arms o your shepherd. The shepherd sats-

es your huger ad thrst (Psalm 23:1–2) ad rescues you

rom os ad wouded paces (Ezeke 34:15–16). He przes

you ke o oher. He s whoy uke hees who harm you

secrey . . . robbers who aack you opey . . . hred hads

who abado you whe trouble ears. The shepherd ges

you a ame, ad you ollow hs uque call. You scatter at

he oce o a mposer. Mome by mome, he shepherdwaks ahead o you, gudg you o ush pasure ad guard-

g you rom dager ee a he prce o hs ow e. As you

pray Joh 10, dscoer wha Jesus was o each you abou

hmse—ad abou you.

John 10:2–5 GW

[Jesus said,] “The one who enters through the gate is the

shepherd. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the





Day 1

14

sheep respond to his voice. He calls his sheep by name

and leads them out of the pen. After he has brought out

all his sheep, he walks ahead of them. The sheep follow

him because they recognize his voice. They won’t follow

a stranger. Instead, they will run away from a stranger

because they don’t recognize his voice.”

Jesus, you are my shepherd. You . . .

Jesus, I am your sheep. I . . .

John 10:7–10 GW

Jesus emphasized, “I can guarantee this truth: I am the gate

for the sheep. All who came before I did were thieves or

robbers. However, the sheep didn’t respond to them. I am

the gate. Those who enter the sheep pen through me will

be saved. They will go in and out of the sheep pen and

nd food. A thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy. But I

came so that my sheep will have life and so that they will

have everything they need.”





Joh 10—Jesus Your Shepherd

15

So many people live like thieves and robbers. They . . .

You came to . . .

John 10:11–14 GW

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives his life

for the sheep. A hired hand isn’t a shepherd and doesn’t

own the sheep. When he sees a wolf coming, he aban-

dons the sheep and quickly runs away. So the wolf drags

the sheep away and scatters the ock. The hired hand is

concerned about what he’s going to get paid and not about

the sheep. I am the good shepherd.”

You are the good shepherd. You . . .





Day 1

16

Some people act like hired hands. They . . .

Refect + Pray + Discuss

1. As a sheep—wha do you ear? As a sheep—wha doyou eed rom Jesus your shepherd?

2. How hae peope aced oward you ke hees or rob-bers or hred hads? How s Jesus so much more ha

hose peope?

3. Wha kd o e does Jesus og o ge you? Wha doyou hk ha e ooks ke?





17

2Hebrews 10

God’s Welcome

God es you o come cose. Ee whe you ee ey

distant rom the Lord, you have an open invitation to enter his

presence. On your own you are unable to approach God (He-

brews 1:3), bu he deah o Jesus o he cross permaey

opeed a ew way. Jesus pures your ss ad washes away

your ags, makg you o sad he hoy presece o

the King o the universe, condent that you are welcome both

to worshp ad to ask or what you eed. Eterg boldly

does’ mea approachg he a-poweru God brashy orwth mpatet demads that he bed to your wll. Hoor

hm. Fee awe a beg ear hm. Ad remember ha you e

hs presece ee whe you are’t prayg. As you pray

Hebrews 10, ejoy beg cose o your Lord.

Hebrews 10:19–20 NIV

Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have condence

to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a





Day 2

18

new and living way opened for us through the curtain,

that is, his body . . .

I’m sometimes araid to come to you because . . .

The death o Jesus . . .


. . . and since we have a great priest over the house of God,

let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the

full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled

to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having ourbodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly

to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

I’m confdent to enter your holy presence because . . .





Hebrews 10—God’s Wecome

19

Since you are aithul, I won’t give up hope that . . .


And let us consider how we may spur one another on to-

ward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together,

as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one

another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

I need your ollowers to help me . . .

Inspire and empower my spiritual riendships with . . .





Day 2

20

Refect + Pray + Discuss

1. Wha keeps you rom approachg God codey?

2. How does Jesus break dow hose barrers?

3. Who ecourages you o ejoy coseess wh God addo good? How ca you deepe hose reaoshps?

Kevin Johnson Pray the Scriptures

pray the scriptures

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