Being a seminary student, I study a few hours every day. Whether it is reading, writing a paper, or preparing for an exam there is always something to do during the semester. It is a privilege to be able to gain this knowledge for use in ministry. I have been thinking about something said by a few professors at the SBTS School of Theology Orientation luncheon. They emphasized how students should not just be studying to gain knowledge but to grow spiritually as well. Our acquiring of theological information and facts must not stop at our head. It must penetrate our heart as well. I thought it might be helpful to think through some ways we can do this.
1 Pray.
A. Pray before you read or study.
Give the time you are about to spend learning about God, the gospel, the Bible, the church, etc. to God. Pray that He would give you understanding and wisdom as you study. Ask the Lord to teach you more about Himself as you studying. Remember the time you spend investing in this time will have an impact on you and will most likely have an impact on those you minister to. Ask the Lord that you would be a good steward with the time you spend studying and that you would remain focused and disciplined. It seems like an obvious thing to do, but so often it is overlooked.
B. Pray while you study.
When you come upon something which is difficult to grasp ask for the Lord’s assistance. I have found many times that what I am learning makes me want to praise God. Express praise to God in prayer.
C. Pray for ministries you participate in (current and future).
We are learning for a reason. This reason is bigger than just passing a class. It is done for the glory of God and the furthering of the Kingdom. Pray about how you can incorporate what you are learning into ministry. Seek to find ways your gaining of knowledge can apply to your life and to others lives. Then pray the Lord would accomplish this as you desire to obey the Word of God.
Prayer is just one aspect of how one can study with sanctification in view. I am sure there is much more one could say about praying while you study. I hope these brief thoughts spark your interest and you think about how you can incorporate prayer into your learning. In future posts we will look at other ways to studying for our sanctification.
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