Day 17 - Wednesday, October 28th
LIFE Journal
This Week's Memory Verse
Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Ephesians 6:18
Devotional
Our goal in fasting is Jesus himself. We don’t give up something on a fast for any other reason than Christ alone. We don’t pray throughout our day for any other purpose than to communicate with Him. But, there is one habit, one discipline that is essential if we truly want to know more about who He is, what He says and how He wants us to live. Getting ourselves into the daily practice of studying the word of God is truly the vehicle that can take us to places we have never been before. Relationships are so dependent on knowing everything you can about the other. Our relationship with Christ is no different.
For many of us, this discipline intimidates us more than the others. We can get over our fears of not saying the right things and learn to pray. We can change things around in our schedule and find the time to serve. We can even fast for a season. But, learning how to do more than just read God’s word, but to interact with it, learn about the context and draw some conclusions about who God is, can seem daunting.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV
When you think about the word of God, the Bible, the first image to come to mind may not be a sword. But the author of Hebrews says scripture has the power to stab and slice at our soul, separating with precision our thoughts and our attitudes. It’s alive meaning that it can speak to us in a way that an old dusty ancient book cannot. It spans generations and has relevance thousands of years after the writers were inspired by God to pen the words we read today.
When you understand the capability of that leather bound Bible sitting in your side table drawer, you begin to realize how essential it is to spend time within its pages. Studying it doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of it like any other book you’d study. Start at the beginning: whether it is the very first page of the Bible or just the beginning of a particular book within it, read it through. Jot down some notes. Figure out who the author is, what type of writing it was, and who the original audience it was intended for. Do a little research. Go back to your days in a high school English class and make some analysis and connections with what you already know. Find a study Bible or some books to give you more insight into what you’re reading. Ask someone further along in their walk your questions.
You don’t have to go super in depth every time, but make an effort to understand what you’re reading and to put the many pieces of scripture together. Try using the S.O.A.P. method by taking a piece of Scripture, write down your Observations, consider what the Application to your own life may be, and Pray. It’s a simple way to start to dig deeper and become a student of His word.
Think On This Verse:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NIV
Ask and Answer:
How can you become a student of God’s word? What keeps you from studying the Bible: confusion, not knowing where to begin, or not finding the time to do so? Who could you ask to help you, whether it is keeping you accountable or to answer questions of how to do it? How does thinking of scripture as alive and active change how you approach it?
For many of us, this discipline intimidates us more than the others. We can get over our fears of not saying the right things and learn to pray. We can change things around in our schedule and find the time to serve. We can even fast for a season. But, learning how to do more than just read God’s word, but to interact with it, learn about the context and draw some conclusions about who God is, can seem daunting.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NIV
When you think about the word of God, the Bible, the first image to come to mind may not be a sword. But the author of Hebrews says scripture has the power to stab and slice at our soul, separating with precision our thoughts and our attitudes. It’s alive meaning that it can speak to us in a way that an old dusty ancient book cannot. It spans generations and has relevance thousands of years after the writers were inspired by God to pen the words we read today.
When you understand the capability of that leather bound Bible sitting in your side table drawer, you begin to realize how essential it is to spend time within its pages. Studying it doesn’t have to be complicated. Think of it like any other book you’d study. Start at the beginning: whether it is the very first page of the Bible or just the beginning of a particular book within it, read it through. Jot down some notes. Figure out who the author is, what type of writing it was, and who the original audience it was intended for. Do a little research. Go back to your days in a high school English class and make some analysis and connections with what you already know. Find a study Bible or some books to give you more insight into what you’re reading. Ask someone further along in their walk your questions.
You don’t have to go super in depth every time, but make an effort to understand what you’re reading and to put the many pieces of scripture together. Try using the S.O.A.P. method by taking a piece of Scripture, write down your Observations, consider what the Application to your own life may be, and Pray. It’s a simple way to start to dig deeper and become a student of His word.
Think On This Verse:
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 NIV
Ask and Answer:
How can you become a student of God’s word? What keeps you from studying the Bible: confusion, not knowing where to begin, or not finding the time to do so? Who could you ask to help you, whether it is keeping you accountable or to answer questions of how to do it? How does thinking of scripture as alive and active change how you approach it?
Prayer
Lord, you say we are to live on every word that comes from your mouth. Sometimes it can be hard to do for various reasons, but your word says that the Holy Spirit can teach me things I didn’t know before. Give me understanding as I engage with your word. Show me things I didn’t notice before. Make it become a part of my day that I cannot live without. In your name, Amen.