Study it!

In maintaining a consistent daily time alone with God and making it dynamic, I believe you need to focus on five things as you open up God's Word, the Bible:  Read it. Study it. Pray it. Meditate on it. Memorize it.  Not necessarily all of these everyday, but everyday you open the Bible, one or more of these five things become a part of your time alone with God. You may one day just read a chapter in the Bible.  But other days you take more time to study a passage, and then you get to the point where you are praying through passages and actually memorizing them.

Today I will focus on "Study it." (Read the last blog from me about the "read it" part.)

Studying the Bible is simply taking time in your Quiet Time(time alone with God) to read a verse, passage or chapter and really study it! Read over it several times.  Look at the context of what you are reading.  Read the text before and after.  What is the history or current situation in the text?  Who is the author?  Who are the readers? What is the author trying to communicate to the readers? Look at some commentaries or if you have a study Bible look to see what it says.  Read different translations.  Look at Maps in your Bible to see where the scripture is taking place. Finally, answer the following 2 questions:

• What is the basic scripture truth?
• How does this apply to my life?

Write down your answers to these two questions in a journal.

Get the idea? Your doing more than just reading it.

Studying the Bible takes time so make sure you make the time. The Holy Spirit of God can speak to you through the study of God's Word. He is ready to speak to you.  Are you ready to listen? Try it this week. Study it!

Read through Psalm 119. Good stuff!!!  The focus is the Word of God.

And remember....
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (New King James Version)
16 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.