Midweek: The Prayer Bible, NIV

In March of last year, I was given the opportunity to review Thomas Nelson's Prayer Bible. It is a beautiful reminder that Scripture should lead us to prayer, turning our focus to our Creator and Redeemer, breaking the terrible habit of reading Scripture with a what's-in-it-for-me mindset. 

This year, I received Thomas Nelson's NIV copy of The Prayer Bible. This particular edition is bound in a black and grey Leathersoft™ and comes with a lifetime guarantee. The text is printed in 8.5-point Comfort Print® with the words of Jesus are in red. It has a lovely presentation page, a satin ribbon bookmark, an introduction to each book of the Bible, and a 365-day reading plan. The back of this edition has a list of prayers from the Bible and articles entitled Why Read the Bible, Steps to Engage, and Scripture Engagement vs. Bible Study. A short essay on Spiritual Disciplines and Scripture Engagement explains just how being immersed in God's Word regularly equips us to apply those things we have gleaned from our reading, for our benefit and God's glory. In addition to these features, the most notable, and the asset for which this book is named, is the distribution of 1200 "prayer prompts" found frequently throughout the text. As we read about the instructions God gave for the building of His tabernacle, we are encouraged to examine our worship and ask God to help us worship in the manner He desires. Throughout the Psalms, prayer prompts challenge us to praise and cry out and repent with the psalmists to draw our heart into worship of and reliance on the Lord for all things. As we read through familiar passages of Scripture, prayer prompts work to slow us down and refocus our attention in novel ways. 

When we read Scripture, we are to apply what we learn and stand on the promises found in God's Word, but the Bible is revelation from Genesis to --well, Revelation. The Bible reveals who God is, and that should cause us to speak to Him and listen for His voice through prayer. Reading Scripture should be a cyclical practice: we pray for the Holy Spirit's guidance as we read, we pray in response to what we've read, and we meditate throughout the day on that. Thomas Nelson's The Prayer Bible is a wonderful way to begin and continue to engage in that habit. 

The copy I received gratis retails $59.99, but Amazon is currently listing it for $41.98, and Christianbook.com for $35.99