One Small Change That Radically Shifted My Bible Reading and Prayers

For most of my life, reading the Bible has been about learning. Learning the context, learning the meaning, learning the doctrine, and hopefully applying it. Nothing wrong with that, but it never felt like a conversation. It was more like a monologue. God speaking, me highlighting. God speaking, me trying to remember what I read.

But recently I made one small change. I started having little conversations with God while I read.

I picked this up from a book called Experiencing Scripture as a Disciple of Jesus. It’s rooted in the Ignatian approach to Scripture. It sounds fancy, but it’s simple. You talk with God as you read. You ask Him questions. You ask yourself questions. You imagine what’s happening in the story. And then you respond.

It has made all the difference.

Now when I read Scripture, I’m not just absorbing it. I’m engaging with it. I’m present in it. I’ll read a line and ask God, “Why does that bother me?” or “What do you want me to see here?” or “Why am I ignoring this?” And sometimes it leads to painfully honest moments.

Like the other day. I got annoyed with a family member. I didn’t say anything out loud, but internally I was lit. So I asked God why. I listed out all the reasons I thought I was justified. And then I asked Him to show me what was in my heart. His answer came quietly but clearly: “I really just want it my way.”

I’ve started imagining myself in Scripture too. In John 21, when Peter is fresh off his betrayal and Jesus tells him to feed His sheep, Peter starts looking at John. Jesus tells him, “What is that to you? You follow me.” That scene wrecked me. Because if I’m honest, I’ve been Peter more than I care to admit. I’ve looked at other people’s lives and asked God why mine doesn’t look the same. I’ve made comparisons that lead to insecurity, not gratitude. And when I let the text confront me like that, I don’t just learn something. I change.

So here’s the challenge. Try it.

Read Mark 10:46-52. Slowly. Imaginatively. Put yourself in the shoes of Bartimaeus. You are the one crying out for Jesus in the middle of the crowd. He stops. He looks at you. And He asks, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Really sit in that.

What do you say? What’s behind your answer?

This isn’t Bible study. This is Bible encounter. And it might just change the way you read Scripture forever.

Let me know if you try it. Or better yet, write down what you hear.