#1 Two Kinds of Prayer
“For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
You know you should “Read your Bible.” It’s foundational. But I want to offer a deeper invitation—one that goes beyond daily reading plans or memorization. I want to invite you to let the Word read you.
That’s not just a clever turn of phrase. It’s one of the most powerful and freeing spiritual disciplines you can develop. When you engage scripture in this way—open, honest, and present—you allow God’s Word to reveal your true beliefs, even the ones you don’t realize you hold. That’s where transformation begins.
Scripture Is Alive
Hebrews 4:12 tells us, “For the Word of God is living and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit… and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” That word “discerner” doesn’t just mean judge or analyze—it means the Word helps you see yourself clearly.
Think of it this way: we’re not just reading scripture for information—we’re reading it for revelation. And not just revelation about God’s character (though that’s essential)—but also revelation about what’s going on inside us. Because let’s be honest: you can know truth intellectually and still live bound by beliefs you picked up from trauma, religion, upbringing, or emotional survival strategies.
My Story: From Survival to Transformation
For me, growing up without a healthy example of faith left some deep grooves in my thinking. I wasn’t raised in church. I wasn’t taught how to renew my mind or steward my emotions. My dad was wild, and I followed in his footsteps for a while. The model I inherited was: do what you want, just don’t get caught. Morality wasn’t even part of the equation.
Even after I got saved and started growing in Christ, I carried broken thinking into every area of life—relationships, emotions, even finances. I didn’t know it at first. I thought I was doing better. But under the surface, I was still reacting out of old patterns that didn’t reflect the new heart God had given me.
That’s the thing about transformation: it’s not just behavior modification. It’s mind/heart renewal.
And that happens when you allow the Word to show you what you actually believe—especially in the areas where you’re stuck or repeating painful cycles.
Your Heart Is the Filter
Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” That’s not just poetic language. It’s a spiritual and psychological truth. Your heart—your deep belief system—is the filter through which you interpret life. It’s where you believe, where you fear, where you resist, and where you respond.
Even as believers with a new nature in Christ, we can still operate out of old beliefs if we don’t renew our minds and allow truth to reshape our perceptions and self-image.
This is why you can be saved and still live stuck in cycles that don’t reflect who you are in Christ. It’s why you can know all the right verses and still live with fear, insecurity, guilt, or shame.
Knowing the Word isn’t the same as letting the Word do its work in you.
What It Looks Like to Let the Word Read You
Letting the Word read you means reading scripture slowly, with the Holy Spirit, and paying attention to your internal reactions.
When you read that God is your provider—do you believe it, does it feel true?
When you read that you are righteous in Christ—do you feel unworthy?
When you read that perfect love casts out fear—do you still brace for rejection?
Those emotional responses aren’t just passing thoughts. They’re indicators of what your heart actually believes. And that’s not something to be ashamed of. It’s something to bring into the light.
Jesus already took judgment on Himself. This process isn’t about earning anything. It’s about stepping into what’s already been given.
I like to say it like this: the Word of God is like a spiritual X-ray. It shows you what’s healed and what still needs alignment.
The Word Discerns—and Then It Empowers
The beauty of this process is that the Word doesn’t just expose—it empowers. Once the Word shows you the thought patterns and beliefs that are out of alignment with Christ, it also provides the truth that replaces them.
That’s what repentance really is. Not groveling or beating yourself up. Repentance means to change your mind—to align your thoughts with God’s truth.
So when the Word shows you an area where your heart isn’t in sync with the Spirit, that’s not a moment for condemnation. That’s an invitation into freedom.
And this is where the real work begins—what scripture calls the “put off, put on” process. You put off the old thought, the old pattern, the old belief. And you put on truth. You rehearse it. You plant it. You let it saturate your inner world until it becomes your new instinct.
This is what Paul meant in Romans 12:2 when he said to be “transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Transformation doesn’t come from trying harder—it comes from thinking different. And thinking different comes from letting the Word shape your heart.
You Were Made to Hear God
I want to emphasize this: you were designed to hear God. When your heart is filled with the Word, your natural intuition becomes a reliable guide. You stop wondering, “Is that me or is that God?”—because your inner world has been renewed and aligned with His truth.
Jesus said His sheep hear His voice (John 10:27). That’s not limited to mystical moments of hearing an audible voice. Often, it looks like scripture rising up in your heart at the exact moment you need it. It looks like wisdom shaped by truth, peace that surpasses understanding, and clarity that comes from knowing the Father’s heart.
You don’t have to chase revival, chase goosebumps, or wait for a sign. If you’ll let the Word of God live in you richly, you’ll carry the voice of God everywhere you go.
Letting the Word read you is not about hyper-introspection. It’s not about perfectionism or performance. It’s about partnering with the Holy Spirit to see what’s in your heart, and then letting the Word reshape that space.
It’s slower than most of us like. But it’s deeper than we often go. And the fruit is lasting transformation.
So I’ll leave you with this: open the Word. Read it slowly. Pay attention to how you respond. Be honest with God. Let the Word discern your heart. And then let the Spirit guide you into truth.
Because that’s where you’ll find peace. That’s where you’ll find purpose. That’s where you’ll experience real change—from the inside out.
So let’s do that together. Below is a guided meditation through Psalm 139. This is just one technique, make it your own. Don’t rush. Let the Word speak. Let your heart respond. And pay attention to what rises up—because that’s where God wants to meet you.
Guided Meditation: Let the Word Read You (Psalm 139:1–12)
Settle in.
Find a quiet place. Take a deep breath. Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal, not just teach.
Remember: The Word of God (Christ in you) is alive. It goes into every aspect of your being; spirit, soul, and body. It will discern the deep thoughts, beliefs, and motivations of your heart. And if you will let it, it will shape you into the image of a child of God, just like Jesus.
Say out loud: “Jesus, I trust You. Search me with Your Word.”
Psalm 139:1
O Lord, You have searched me and known me.
Pause.
Ask: Do I believe God really knows me?
What emotions or thoughts surface when I say “God knows me”?
Do I feel seen… or exposed? Safe… or afraid?
Psalm 139:2
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
Ask: What do I believe about God’s awareness of my daily life?
Do I feel like He understands me—or misunderstands me?
Am I trying to hide any thoughts from Him?
Psalm 139:3
You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.
Let this one sink in.
Ask: What does it mean that He knows all my ways?
Do I feel comforted by that—or exposed?
If He sees it all, how do I think He feels about me?
Psalm 139:4
For there is not a word on my tongue, but behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
Ask: How do I feel about God knowing my unspoken words?
Does that stir up peace or discomfort?
Am I willing to let Him shape how I speak—and why?
Psalm 139:5
You have hedged me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me.
Ask: Do I feel protected or trapped?
Do I want His hand on me—or do I feel the need to resist?
What would it take to fully trust His boundaries as safety?
Psalm 139:6
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it.
Ask: Am I comfortable with the mystery of God’s closeness?
Can I rest in His wonder—or do I try to figure everything out?
Psalm 139:7
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
Ask: Is this comforting—or intimidating?
Do I want God close at all times?
Or are there parts of me I still try to keep hidden?
Psalm 139:9–10
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me.
Ask: Do I believe He’ll lead me even in my messiest places?
What’s my first reaction to the idea that He follows me even there?
Can I accept that even in my darkest moments, His hand is still guiding?
“Father, thank You for Your Word that knows me better than I know myself. I don’t want to hide anymore. I want to be transformed. Show me what I believe. Show me what needs to be renewed. I trust You to lead me into truth, peace, and wholeness. I receive Your hand upon me, and I surrender to Your love working in me. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Transformation doesn’t come from trying harder. It comes from seeing clearer.
Let the Word show you what’s really going on in your heart.
And then trust the Spirit of God to lead you out of it and into life.
You were made to perceive Him. Let His Word fill your heart so that your intuition becomes a trustworthy guide, echoing His truth, peace, and love.
You’re not stuck. You’re not too far gone. You’re not behind.
You’re right on time for freedom. Let the Word read you.
