Are you desiring to engage with God's Word at a deeper level, but aren't sure where to begin?
Whether you are a brand new believer, or have been following Jesus for a really long time, this tool is helpful for cultivating a deeper relationship with both God's Word and God Himself. We want to equip you with a powerful process of spending time with the Lord and His Word, because it's not just about the reading of His Word alone (information)--it's about letting it change you (transformation)!
WHAT TO DO...
PRAY/PREPARE:
Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart and mind in order to understand the truths written in what you are about to read. Ask Him to reveal any sin or wrong attitudes in your life/heart that need to be dealt with first. Invite Him to join you every time you study God's Word--The Lord's desire is relationship. He wants to spend this time together with you!
READ:
Go back to the beginning of the chapter to help you gain context for the verse(s) you are about to read--this is vital for proper Bible interpretation! HERE is a good resource for chapter summaries by a widely trusted theologian (his concise version). We recommend reading the specific passage on the list multiple times. Try writing it out in your journal. If you want to go a step further, memorize the passage!
EXAMINE:
Are there any words or phrases that stick out to you? Read the Scripture in multiple translations, paying attention to which words are translated differently--that usually means that there is more depth to the meaning of that word in its original language that is hard to fully encapsulate in just one word in English! [See Notes at the bottom on "Resource" and "Translations"]
What did you like/not like? What was confusing?
What does this passage teach us about God? About Man?
Are there any sins to avoid? Promises to behold? Examples to follow? Commands to obey?
APPLY:
What is God trying to tell you through this verse? Take time to ask the Lord this question, be still, and listen for what He has to say. Write down anything you feel He is revealing. Based on the passage you read, how should your life look different? What do you need to do in order to be obedient to God's Word? What specific things can you do to put them in place?
Write out a NEXT STEP application sentence that starts with "I will partner with the Lord to..."
PRAY:
Thank the Lord for His Word and whatever He revealed to you. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remember the passage throughout the day in order to meditate on it constantly. Invite Him to partner with you today in living out any next steps you wrote down.
But where do I start?
Below is a list of 31 passages of Scripture and questions to ask as you process through them. We would encourage you to journal or write out your questions and thoughts. We would encourage you to journal or write out your questions and thoughts.
Habakkuk 3:17-19
Isaiah 40:28-31
Joshua 1:8-9
Romans 12:1-2
Psalm 119:9-11
Matthew 7:24-27
Ephesians 5:3-5
Hebrews 11:24-26
Psalm 63:6-8
Nehemiah 9:5-6
Colossians 1:13
Psalm 37:3-5
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
James 1:2-8
Philippians 4:6-7
2 Timothy 2:1-4
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 14:12-15
Jeremiah 1:48
Acts 4:24-31
Philippians 3:7-11
Matthew 6:31-33
Proverbs 3:5-7
2 Peter 1:4-8
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
Romans 12:14
Titus 2:11-14
Ephesians 6:13-20
1 Samuel 15:22-23
1 John 2:11-17