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God has transmitted his very substance into every Scripture, for it is God-breathed. It will empower you by its instruction and correction, giving you the strength to take the right direction and lead you deeper into the path of godliness.

2 Timothy 3:16 (TPT)

The Bible is God-breathed. It was written for us, and—as 2 Timothy points out—was intended to guide and grow us. The importance of engaging with Scripture can’t be overstated, but it can feel daunting or perfunctory depending on how it’s approached. 

Engaging with Scripture in new and different ways can be revelatory and inspirational. That’s how it was for me when I first tried Prayer of Recollection (POR). It’s a spiritual practice that encourages a meditative approach to the Word of God, viewing it through a quieter mind and more surrendered heart. It focuses on:

• Setting your physical space to support a distraction-free, meditative time.
• Daily reading of a short passage of Scripture. It’s not about the quantity of what you take in, but the quality.
• Applying questions about the passage to guide deep personalization of the reading.
• Reflecting on the verses in prayer.

My two favorite questions as I engage with the Bible are: What can I adore about God in this? and What if this teaching or belief were explosively true in my life? Pondering these questions has ignited within my heart tangible feelings of reverence and love for God. I’ve also experienced a deeper understanding of His love for humanity, even in verses I’ve read dozens of times.

POR also offers the opportunity to participate in community discussions—a place to share and learn from others on all kinds of topics, including ways God is speaking to you, suggestions on creating an effective physical space for the practice, and how to re-engage if you’ve stalled. It’s been encouraging and inspiring to hear others’ journeys.

It’s fitting that it’s called Prayer of Recollection because the whole practice feels like a prayer to me, as I think about, ask of, imagine, and wonder about God in a profound way the entire time.

Next Steps

• Consider Prayer of Recollection as a new way to engage with Scripture throughout 2022. You can learn more about POC here.
• Even if Prayer of Recollection doesn’t feel like the right fit for you, consider approaching Scripture in a new way this year, perhaps trying some of the ideas in this article.