O God, believing that it is Your own living Word which I am about to hear, I repent of all that would hinder my hearing and receiving Your Word. I ask You to give me a meek and eager heart to receive Your Word and that the Holy Spirit will enable me to understand its truth.

This list came from a summary of a sermon by Pastor Al Martin.  It would make a great insert or bookmark for our Bibles.

Preparation for Hearing the Word of God Preached

1. Consciously cultivate fresh awareness that I will be confronted with the very words of the living God. (Matt. 4:4, 2 Tim 3:16, Isa. 66:2, Heb. 12:25, 1 Thes. 2:13)

2. Consciously repudiate by fresh repentance all that would hinder my joyful reception and effective assimilation of the Word of God. (1 Peter 2:1, James 1:21a, Jer. 4:3) Note: In the parable of the sower, it was the state of the soil (the heart) that determined the fate of the seed.

3. Consciously cultivate a meek and eager disposition of heart toward the Word which I will hear. (James 1:21b, Ps. 25:8-9, 1 Peter 2:2, Ps. 119:20 & 131, Acts 17:11, Prov. 27:7)

4. Consciously cultivate a disposition of dependence upon the Holy Spirit for His ministry as I anticipate the ministry of the Word. (Luke 24:45, John 14:26, Phil. 1:17, Ps. 119:18, Prov. 2:3-6, Jer. 17:5-9)

O God, believing that it is Your own living Word which I am about to hear, I repent of all that would hinder my hearing and receiving Your Word. I ask You to give me a meek and eager heart to receive Your Word and that the Holy Spirit will enable me to understand its truth.

David Murray is Professor of Old Testament & Practical Theology at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. This article first appeared on his blog, Head Heart Hand, and is used with permission.