The psalmist opened his prayers about Scripture with a request, not an answer: “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” Even someone immersed in the text his whole life still asked God to help him actually see it.
These thirty verses are for the start of a Bible study, before anyone opens to the right chapter or finishes setting up chairs.
Open with a few of these, and close with a few more once the discussion winds down.
Opening Prayer for Bible Study
1. Psalms 119:18 (KJV)
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”
Prayer: Open our eyes, Lord, that we may see wonderful things in Your word tonight.
Let us see something we’ve genuinely missed before, not just review what we already know.
2. James 1:5 (KJV)
“If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”
Prayer: If anyone here lacks wisdom, let them ask You, who gives generously without finding fault.
Let every question asked tonight be met with real answers, not just discussion.
3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 (KJV)
“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
Prayer: This word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training. Let it do all four of those things tonight.
Let us not just study Scripture, let it actually shape us.
4. Psalms 1:2 (KJV)
“But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.”
Prayer: Let Your law be our delight tonight, something we meditate on, not just something we check off.
Let this feel like joy, not obligation.
5. Proverbs 2:1-5 (KJV)
“My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”
Prayer: Let us search for understanding tonight like it’s silver, like hidden treasure worth digging for.
Let effort tonight actually be rewarded with real insight.
6. Joshua 1:8 (KJV)
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Prayer: Let this book not depart from our mouths, let us meditate on it, so we’re careful to do what it says.
Let tonight change how we actually live, not just what we know.
7. Psalms 119:105 (KJV)
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.”
Prayer: Your word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Light something specific for us tonight.
Let this study illuminate a decision or a doubt someone here is carrying.
8. Hebrews 4:12 (KJV)
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”
Prayer: Your word is living and active, sharper than any sword. Let it cut through whatever’s surface-level in us tonight.
Let this go deeper than a casual read-through.
9. Matthew 18:20 (KJV)
“For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”
Prayer: Where two or three gather in Your name, You are there. Be present in this room tonight.
Let Your presence be more real to us than the discussion itself.
10. Psalms 119:130 (KJV)
“The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.”
Prayer: The unfolding of Your words gives light, it gives understanding to the simple. Unfold something for us tonight.
Let understanding come even to whoever feels least prepared in the room.
11. Acts 17:11 (KJV)
“These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Prayer: Let us examine the Scriptures the way the Bereans did, eagerly, and let us test what we hear tonight against Your word.
Let discernment be part of how we listen, not just acceptance.
12. Colossians 3:16 (KJV)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
Prayer: Let Your word dwell in us richly tonight, teaching and admonishing us as we study together.
Let this word take root, not just pass through for an hour.
13. Psalms 25:4-5 (KJV)
“Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.”
Prayer: Show us Your ways, Lord, teach us Your paths, guide us in Your truth tonight.
Let teaching tonight lead somewhere, not just fill the hour.
14. John 16:13 (KJV)
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
Prayer: Let Your Spirit of truth guide us into all truth as we open this word together.
Let the Spirit teach here, not just whoever’s leading tonight.
15. Psalms 119:11 (KJV)
“Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”
Prayer: Let us hide Your word in our hearts tonight, so we might not sin against You.
Let what we learn tonight actually stay with us past the parking lot.
16. Proverbs 9:10 (KJV)
“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”
Prayer: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Let that reverence set the tone for tonight.
Let humility come before any of us starts explaining a passage.
17. Luke 24:32 (KJV)
“And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?”
Prayer: Let our hearts burn within us as You open the Scriptures to us tonight, the way You did on the road to Emmaus.
Let this not feel routine, let it feel alive.
18. Psalms 119:34 (KJV)
“Give me understanding, and I shall keep thy law; yea, I shall observe it with my whole heart.”
Prayer: Give us understanding, and we will keep Your law, obeying it with our whole hearts.
Let understanding tonight lead straight to obedience, not just conversation.
19. James 1:22 (KJV)
“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.”
Prayer: Let us be doers of the word tonight, not hearers only, deceiving ourselves.
Let something said tonight actually change an action this week.
20. 1 Corinthians 2:12 (KJV)
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.”
Prayer: We have received Your Spirit, so we may understand what You have freely given us. Let that understanding come tonight.
Let this be more than human insight, let it be Spirit-given.
21. Psalms 119:97 (KJV)
“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”
Prayer: Let us love Your law, and meditate on it all through the day, not just for this one hour tonight.
Let tonight spark a habit, not just a single good discussion.
22. Ephesians 1:17 (KJV)
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
Prayer: Give us the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so we may know You better through this study.
Let this be about knowing You, not just knowing more facts.
23. Psalms 19:7 (KJV)
“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
Prayer: Your law is perfect, refreshing the soul. Let this study actually refresh whoever’s tired tonight.
Let this hour restore someone who walked in running on empty.
24. Romans 15:4 (KJV)
“For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”
Prayer: Whatever was written in the past was written to teach us, so through endurance and encouragement we might have hope.
Let this old text land as real hope for whatever we’re currently facing.
25. Proverbs 27:17 (KJV)
“Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.”
Prayer: As iron sharpens iron, let us sharpen each other tonight through honest, good conversation.
Let disagreement, if it comes up, sharpen us instead of dividing us.
26. Psalms 119:165 (KJV)
“Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”
Prayer: Great peace have those who love Your law, nothing can make them stumble. Let that peace be here tonight.
Let peace, not tension, mark this group discussion.
27. Matthew 7:24 (KJV)
“Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:”
Prayer: Let us be like the wise builder, who hears these words and puts them into practice.
Let what we build on this week actually rest on tonight’s foundation.
28. Psalms 133:1 (KJV)
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Prayer: How good and pleasant it is when we gather in unity like this. Thank You for this room tonight.
Let unity here be genuine, not just polite agreement.
29. Philippians 1:9 (KJV)
“And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;”
Prayer: Let our love overflow more and more in knowledge and depth of insight as we study tonight.
Let knowledge tonight grow our love, not just our arguments.
30. Psalms 119:10 (KJV)
“With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.”
Prayer: We seek You with our whole hearts tonight, don’t let us stray from what You’ve commanded.
Let seeking You be the actual goal of this hour, not just finishing the material.
Conclusion
The two on the road to Emmaus didn’t recognize Him until He opened the Scriptures to them. Sometimes that’s still the order things happen in, understanding first, recognition after.
Let the middle of tonight’s study be whatever the text actually needs, and let these bookend it well.
For the group’s own growth beyond just this one study, prayers for discernment and wisdom and Solomon’s prayers for wisdom are worth exploring together sometime.