Prayer before reading the Bible: 12 short prayers and how to use them
A prayer before reading the Bible asks God for three things: to open your eyes to what the passage says, to quiet your mind so you can hear it, and to help you do what it asks. It can be one line, like Psalm 119:18: "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law." That verse has been prayed before Bible reading for centuries, and it's a good place to start tonight.
Below: why Christians pray before they read, a prayer to pray now, 12 short prayers for different days, Bible verses you can pray word for word, a 15-minute read-and-pray routine, a prayer for after you read, and what to do when the passage feels dry.
A prayer before reading the Bible (pray it now)
Father, thank you that you speak, and that you have given me your word.
Before I read, I quiet my heart. Push away the noise of today: the lists, the worries, the phone. I'm here to listen.
Holy Spirit, you inspired these words. Open my eyes to see what is really here, not only what I expect to find. Where I don't understand, teach me. Where I'm comfortable, unsettle me. Where I'm hurting, comfort me.
Show me something true about you today, and one thing to do about it. Give me an honest heart that holds on to your word and bears fruit.
Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening. In Jesus' name, amen.
Each line comes from Scripture: "Speak; for your servant hears" is Samuel's answer to God (1 Samuel 3:10), and the honest heart that "holds it tightly, and produce[s] fruit" is from the parable of the sower (Luke 8:15). Read it slowly. It takes about a minute.
Why pray before you read the Bible?
You can read the Bible without praying first, and God can still speak. But Scripture itself gives good reasons to begin with prayer.
- Understanding is a gift. After his resurrection, Jesus "opened their minds, that they might understand the Scriptures" (Luke 24:45, WEB). The disciples had heard those Scriptures all their lives; they needed Jesus to open them.
- The Spirit teaches. Jesus promised that "the Holy Spirit... will teach you all things, and will remind you of all that I said to you" (John 14:26, WEB), and that he "will guide you into all truth" (John 16:13, WEB). Asking for that help is simply taking him at his word.
- We can ask for wisdom. "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (James 1:5, WEB).
- Reading is meant to lead to doing. "Be doers of the word, and not only hearers" (James 1:22, WEB). Ezra "set his heart to seek the LORD's law, and to do it, and to teach" (Ezra 7:10, WEB): seek first, then do, then teach.
- It turns study into a conversation. The Bible isn't only information about God. "The word of God is living and active" (Hebrews 4:12, WEB). Praying first reminds you that the author is in the room.
When Ezra read the law to the returned exiles, he "blessed the LORD, the great God," and the people answered "Amen, Amen" before the reading went on (Nehemiah 8:6, WEB). Then the Levites "read in the book... distinctly; and they gave the sense, so that they understood the reading" (Nehemiah 8:8, WEB). Worship, then reading, then understanding: the same order you can follow at your kitchen table.
12 short prayers before reading the Bible
Pick the one that fits the day. Each is short enough to pray in under a minute.
1. For open eyes
Lord, open my eyes to see wonderful things in your word today. I don't want to skim. Show me what I've missed before. Amen.
2. When your mind is busy
Father, my head is full. I hand you the things I'm carrying for the next fifteen minutes. Hold them, and help me listen to you instead of them. Amen.
3. When you're tired
Jesus, I'm worn out and I almost didn't open this. Thank you that you meet me here anyway. Let even a few verses be bread for me today. Amen.
4. Before a hard or confusing passage
Holy Spirit, this part of the Bible is hard for me. Keep me from bending it to say what I'd like, and from giving up on it. Give me patience to read it carefully, and humility to ask for help when I need it. Amen.
5. In a dry season
God, it has been a while since your word felt alive to me. I'm reading anyway, because you said your word does not return empty. Wake my heart up, in your time. Amen. (Isaiah 55:11)
6. When you need comfort
Lord, I come to your word hurting. You are the God of all comfort. Speak to me where I am, and let me hear your voice more loudly than my fear. Amen.
7. When you need guidance
Father, your word is a lamp to my feet. I have a decision in front of me. I'm not asking for a verse to pull out of context, but for a clearer mind and a heart that wants your way. Amen. (Psalm 119:105)
8. To obey, not only to know
Lord, I don't want to be a hearer only. Whatever you show me today, give me the courage to do it before the day is over. Amen.
9. For honesty about yourself
Search me, God, and know my heart. As I read, show me any way in me that grieves you, and lead me in the way everlasting. Amen. (Psalm 139:23–24)
10. Before reading with your family
Father, thank you for this time together. Help us listen to you and to each other. Let your word make sense to the youngest of us and be new to the oldest. Amen.
11. Before a group Bible study
Lord Jesus, you are here where we gather in your name. Keep us from showing off or hiding. Let us leave knowing you better and loving each other more. Amen.
12. Before reading a Psalm to pray it
God, these are the prayers you gave your people. Let me pray them as my own: the praise, the complaint, the trust. Teach me to talk to you the way the psalmists did. Amen.
Bible verses to pray before reading Scripture
The safest prayers before reading the Bible come from the Bible. These can be prayed word for word (World English Bible).
| Verse | Pray it as | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Psalm 119:18 | "Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law." | Every day |
| Psalm 119:12 | "Blessed are you, LORD. Teach me your statutes." | Starting with praise |
| Psalm 119:27 | "Let me understand the teaching of your precepts! Then I will meditate on your wondrous works." | Hard passages |
| Psalm 119:34 | "Give me understanding, and I will keep your law. Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart." | Wanting to obey |
| Psalm 119:36 | "Turn my heart toward your statutes, not toward selfish gain." | A distracted heart |
| Psalm 119:130 | "The entrance of your words gives light. It gives understanding to the simple." | Feeling out of your depth |
| 1 Samuel 3:10 | "Speak; for your servant hears." | A one-line start |
| Psalm 19:14 | "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, LORD, my rock, and my redeemer." | Before meditating on a verse |
| Ephesians 1:17–18 | Pray for "a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him," with "the eyes of your hearts enlightened." | Praying for a group or family |
| Psalm 139:23–24 | "Search me, God, and know my heart... lead me in the everlasting way." | Confession before reading |
Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible, and almost all of its 176 verses are about God's word. If you want a different one-line prayer every day for a month, read through it and underline every request.
A 15-minute read-and-pray routine
Prayer before reading works best when it isn't a box to tick but the first step in a simple shape. Here is one that fits a morning coffee or a quiet evening.
| Minutes | Step | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 | Settle | Phone face down or in another room. Sit. Take a few slow breaths. "Lord, I'm here." |
| 1–2 | Pray before reading | One of the prayers above, or Psalm 119:18. |
| 2–8 | Read | A short passage: one chapter, or 10–20 verses. Read it twice, the second time slower. Out loud helps. |
| 8–11 | Notice | Ask three questions: What does this say about God? What does it say about people (about me)? Is there something to do, believe, stop or start? |
| 11–14 | Pray it back | Turn what you noticed into prayer: thank God for what's true, confess what it shows you, ask for help to obey. |
| 14–15 | Carry one line | Write one verse or phrase on a card or in your phone to read again at lunch. |
If you're new to this, five minutes is fine: pray one line, read one Psalm, pray one line back. Our guide on how long to pray each day has plans from 5 to 30 minutes. And if you'd like someone to lead you, our free day 1 reads a Psalm aloud and guides you through ten minutes of prayer with it: play day 1 free.
Where it fits in your day
Most people read the Bible at one of three times, and each has its own prayer.
- Morning. "LORD, in the morning you will hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly" (Psalm 5:3, WEB). Pray before reading, then let the passage shape the prayer you take into work. Our morning prayer to start your day and morning prayer before work follow on naturally from a short reading.
- Lunch or a break. A single Psalm and one line of prayer. Good for people whose mornings belong to children or an early shift.
- Evening. The day is done, so you can read without rushing. End with a prayer before bed, and if you read with your children, our evening prayer for family has a 10-minute plan that includes a short reading.
The best time is the one you'll keep. Tie it to something you already do every day: the first cup of coffee, the bus ride, the moment the kids are asleep.
A prayer for after you read
Praying after reading is as old as praying before. It closes the loop: you asked God to speak, now you answer.
Lord, thank you for speaking through your word. Plant what I read today deep in me, so that I remember it when I need it. Where you showed me something to change, give me the courage to change it. Where you showed me your love, let me rest in it. Let your word dwell in me richly today. In Jesus' name, amen.
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly" is Colossians 3:16. "I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you" (Psalm 119:11, WEB) is a good verse to pray when you've read something you want to keep.
What to do when the passage doesn't "speak"
Some days you pray, read and feel nothing. That's normal, and it isn't a sign you did it wrong.
- Remember what reading is for. Not every meal is memorable, but every meal feeds you. "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of God's mouth" (Matthew 4:4, WEB). Faithful reading over months shapes you more than any single day.
- Read less, slower. If a chapter washed past you, read three verses five times. Ask what each word is doing there.
- Ask a plain question. "What does this passage tell me about who God is?" There's always an answer, even in the genealogies.
- Write one sentence. Putting a thought on paper often brings it into focus. Our prayer journal prompts give you a starting line.
- Read with others. Some passages open up only in conversation. The Bereans "received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily" (Acts 17:11, WEB), together.
- Don't hunt for feelings. The goal is to know God, not to have an experience. Feelings come and go; the word stays true.
Common mistakes
- Treating the prayer as a lucky charm. Praying first doesn't guarantee an insight. It's an honest request, not a key that unlocks the page.
- Praying for a sign and opening at random. Flipping the Bible open and pointing at a verse to decide something isn't how Scripture asks to be read. Read passages in their setting.
- A long prayer that leaves no time to read. If you only have ten minutes, pray one line and give the rest to the text.
- Skipping prayer after reading. The prayer before asks God to speak. The prayer after is your reply. Don't hang up early.
- Reading on your phone with notifications on. If you use a Bible app, turn on do-not-disturb first. That one change protects more quiet times than any prayer.
Prayers before reading the Bible with children
Children can learn this habit early. Keep it very short and let them say it with you.
- Ages 3–6: "God, open my ears and my eyes. Amen." Have them cup their hands by their ears and then open them like a book.
- Ages 7–11: "Dear God, help me understand your story and love you more. Amen." Let them choose which of two short prayers to pray.
- Teens: Teach them Psalm 119:18 and ask them to pray it before their own reading. Ask, without pressure, what they noticed.
After the reading, ask one question ("Who was brave in this story?" "What did Jesus do?") and pray one sentence about it together. Our guide on how to pray for your children has verses to pray over them by name.
Common questions
What do you say before reading the Bible?
A short prayer asking God to help you understand and obey. Psalm 119:18 ("Open my eyes, that I may see wondrous things out of your law") or Samuel's "Speak; for your servant hears" are both simple and biblical. Your own words are just as good.
Do I have to pray before reading the Bible?
No verse commands a prayer before every reading. But Scripture shows that understanding comes from God (Luke 24:45, James 1:5), so asking for it is wise. Think of it as good manners in a conversation, not a rule.
Should I pray to the Holy Spirit before reading the Bible?
Jesus taught his disciples to pray to the Father in his name, and promised the Spirit would teach them. Many Christians pray to the Father asking for the Spirit's help; others address the Spirit directly ("Holy Spirit, teach me"). Both are common in Protestant churches.
How long should the prayer be?
A sentence to a minute. Save the longer prayer for after you read, when you have something from the passage to pray about.
What should I read after I pray?
If you don't have a plan, start with a Gospel (Mark is short) or one Psalm a day. Read in order rather than at random, so you see each passage in its setting.
Is it okay to read the Bible on my phone?
Yes. The words are the same. Turn off notifications first, and consider a printed Bible if your phone keeps pulling you away.
Choose one prayer above, write it inside the cover of your Bible, and pray it tomorrow before you read. If you'd like a daily plan that pairs a Psalm with a guided prayer, answer a few questions to build your 40-day prayer plan, or start with day 1, free. More in our prayer guides.
Sources
Scripture: World English Bible (public domain), eBible.org. Pages read for this guide: iBelieve, "A Prayer to Pray Before You Start Reading Your Bible"; iBelieve, "3 Prayers You Should Pray before Reading Your Bible"; Canyon Ridge Christian Church, "Why Pray Before Reading the Bible?"