…along with the help of the Holy Spirit 🙂
Hi friends ~ I have a question for you: Do you think that the Billy Grahams and the Beth Moores are the only ones who can open a Bible and get a special Word from the Lord on a consistent basis?
The more we read and study God’s Word, the more we know Him, hear Him, love Him, and realize how much He loves us – enough to invest in every tiny detail of our lives. Our time in God’s Word each day is not a waste. It’s an investment we can’t afford not to make.
If you want to grow deeper in your walk with Christ and study a portion of God’s Word on your own, here is an effective method to use:
1. Request – Pray Psalm 119:18 and ask for wisdom.
2. Read – Start reading in God’s Word. The Gospels, Epistles, James, Psalms or Proverbs are wonderful books to read and study through. Choose one book and start reading at the very beginning. When something wonderful, convicting, interesting, or encouraging stands out to you, stop reading.
3. Recap – Write down the passage reference you just read, and briefly recap what the passage was about.
4. Re-evaluate – Look at what you wrote down: Prayerfully reevaluate your life. What is the Holy Spirit revealing to you about your life, your thoughts, your actions, or reactions? Do you need to know something? Thank Jesus? Confess something? Change something? Stop something? Start something? Whatever it is, write that down.
5. Respond – Respond in prayer concerning what was revealed to you. Ask for help to obey what The Lord has shown you to do in response to this truth from His Word. (You can either say or write your response prayer. Sometimes writing your prayers is helpful for a future day when you need to remember your response to God about a certain subject in which He is dealing with you. A written record of your walk with the Lord is a treasure to both you and Him.)
6. Remember – Is this a verse to commit to memory? Do you need to meditate on this truth? Do you need to write this truth down and post it somewhere? If so, do it.
7. Recall – Ask the Holy Spirit (who will bring to your remembrance – John 14:26) to do His work in your life and help you not forget what you have learned.
8. Reveal – Ask the Lord if there is anyone you can bless by humbly revealing what the Lord has shown you in His Word. If so, be sure to share with that person… otherwise you may be robbing him/her of a blessing from God.
Keep repeating this process each day, picking up where you left off the day before. If you study God’s Word on a consistent basis, you’ll be amazed at the vibrancy in your life! Then one day, you’ll hear Billy or Beth say something God taught them from His Word, and it just might be something God has already spoken to you!
“Your words were found, and I ate them; and Your words were to me a joy and the rejoicing of my heart, for I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
Adapted from the Bible study, “Walking Hand in Hand with Jesus” ~ Jennifer Walker, © 2005
Maria Hasbun says
I have been a Christian for 31 years , please help me go through the bible. I begin to read the bible but when I do not understand what I am reading I am reading I put it down. I go to the Assembly of God church. I have never been baptize in the Holy Spirit. But I have been baptized in water.
Sara G says
I love reading God's word and learning from the word. Bible Studies are great but that one on one time is better and needed! I mark, make notes and yes Stop, make notes, re-read, read around the verse to keep in context. Pray, be still.
God is so good and faithful!
Lynn says
I agree with what you have said Kay & Jennifer. I love the studies of others and God has used them greatly in my life, but last winter I knew God was asking me come aside from studies and spend time with Him, just me and my Bible. I know Beth Moore for one, tells us not to just rely on the studies of others but to get into the Word ourselves. Huge blessings in knowing God is speaking directly into my life right where I am living today!!
Smelling Coffee says
Thanks, friends. Kay, I think you hit the nail on the head when you said "'we' are losing the concept of personal revelation and personal relationship apart from what someone else says to us 'in a study'"!
I LOVE to do Bible studies the Lord has given others. But when that's all we do, we are missing the joy of the intimacy of God speaking directly to us straight from our own personal study of His Word.
He is so wonderful!~
Jennifer
Kay says
I love your new design…a little softer and love the header too! 🙂
Love this post. I think in this age of 'studies' etc that are done in a group setting, 'we' are losing the concept of personal revelation and personal relationship apart from what someone else says to us 'in a study'. (not anything against studies..God has used a few of them in wonderful ways in my life). Thanks again for the great post!
Grammy Blick says
Absolutely! While it's a treat to learn from others, God speaks directly to us through His word. Thanks for the reminder.
beversmc says
Good to hear this again. Love the new blog design.