Bible Marginalia- Praying the Scriptures

#5 in the Bible Marginalia Series

Looking at what is connecting for me in the

scriptural discipline of 

Bible journaling.

Finding that I like to add in copies

 of the visual prayers 

that I make and send

 to those in our ministry connections.

 I have copies of them all in a photo album,

 but wondered what it WOULD LOOK LIKE-

if they were also added

 in at the exact spot of reference in my Bible.

The index card prayer becomes

 an additional layer

 on the years of looking at specific texts.

The note on the back of these index cards-

explains that we have prayed

 this Scripture over the family.

They are "lifted up- to the Lord."

Reading God's Word as a prayer, 

a conversation,

 puts me in the right place for response.

 God's invitation is always first-

prayer- my response- follows.

Since learning about the tool

 of visual prayer from Sybil MacBeth,

my prayer life as been very blessed.

Her book- Praying in Color

was really a catalyst to give myself permission

 to add in the visual part to my Bible time.

 And as an educator,

 I know that kinesthetic action- movement- 

puts this into a different place in our memory.

 What we manipulate, move, touch,

 write, draw- is "added in" differently.

It also affects our ability for better recall.

Adding the prayers right into my Bible

 nudges me to continue to pray for the names

   as I page through my Bible.

 Perhaps, a bit more in learning-

to pray continually.

This book is a helpful tool
 to read more about 
praying the Scriptures.
 Here- Dietrich Bonhoeffer
gives some helpful guidelines
 from his own life lessons with this discipline.

Engaged with the WORD.
Truly the gift that Bible Marginalia
 brings to heart renovation.