The Dynamite of Prayer and Scripture

In my message this past weekend at Eastbrook, “Praying with a Broken Heart,” I referenced a quote from Beth Moore about the dynamite power of combining Scripture and prayer together. I thought it would be helpful if I were to relate the quote more fully. It comes from her workbook Living Free: Learning to Pray God’s Word, where Moore writes:

“God has handed us two sticks of dynamite with which to demolish our strongholds: His Word and prayer. What is more powerful than two sticks of dynamite placed in separate locations? Two strapped together.”

Moore is drawing upon the words of the Apostle Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians: “The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds” (2 Corinthians 10:4). That word “power” comes from the Greek word with a range of meaning of ‘power’, ‘might’, and ‘capacity’. That word is dunamis/δύναμις from which our word dynamite has its roots. When we bring the inspired word of God into the place of prayer, there is something powerful that happens in our lives and in the world around us.

If we don’t know how to pray, or even if we do, it is a good practice to bring Scripture into our life of prayer. For me, I often return to Scripture in prayer. When I fall short of God’s desires in sin, I often prayer 1 John 1:9 back to the Lord something like this: “Lord, I confess my sin to you and I trust that, because of Jesus, You are faithful and just to forgive my sin. Thank You, Lord!” If I feel overwhelmed by life or troubles, I often turn to Psalm 46: “Lord, thank You that You are my refuge and strength, and a very present help in times of trouble. Lord, I feel like the world is quaking, even like the mountains are falling into the heart of the sea. Please bring me to the place of stillness in knowing that You are God.” In those times when I need wisdom, I often pray James 1: “Lord, in this situation, I need Your wisdom. You promised through James that if any of us lacks wisdom, we should ask and You would give it. Please grant that to me now.”

It is good to read and know Scripture. That in itself is powerful. But, as Beth Moore points out, when we bring Scripture into the realm of prayer there is a doubly explosive power of God that is released in us and in the world.