Hi Sisters,
If you have not read Reading the Bible Part I yet, I recommend starting there. In that post, I discussed reasons God has given us His Word.
Here, I would like to walk you through how I help a woman start reading the Bible for herself. I will also ask the questions I ask women when we sit down together. That way you have a model/example for how to help someone else too. So, grab your Bible and a piece of paper or journal. Get some tea or coffee and settle in for about 30 minutes to an hour, just you and me. Lord God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, I ask for our eyes to be opened to see more of You and Your ways. Bless my sisters and fill them with the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Jesus as they read Your Word. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.
Turn to Exodus 34 and read verses 1-3. God gives some specific instructions to Moses for their meeting together. When did God say for Moses to come? Where? What were the conditions? After a woman answers these questions, I reiterate some things. God told Moses to meet Him at a specific time, at a specific place, and He told him to come alone with no distractions.
Now turn to Mark 1 and read verses 32-35. What was Jesus doing in verses 32-34? What did he do in verse 35? What time? Where? Why? Again, after a woman answers these questions, I reiterate some things. Jesus was extremely busy. He was healing people all evening and then woke up BEFORE the sun rose to spend time in prayer to God the Father. He went to a desolate place without distractions. Jesus is God in the flesh and has much work to do with His short years on earth. It will only be three years until His death and resurrection. Yet, Jesus finds it absolutely necessary to spend time alone with the Father and He is our example. We too must be intentional about finding time to spend with God. Furthermore, it is definitely not a valid excuse to say we are too busy.
Turn to Ezekiel 3 and read verses 1-4. What did God instruct Ezekiel to do? Who supplied the scroll? God has supplied our “food.” He will feed us if we come to Him. Then we have a responsibility to share what we know.
Turn to Psalm 1. We will use Psalm 1 as our quiet time example (I have also attached a picture at the bottom of this post showing this format). I refer to my daily time in the Word as a quiet time. At the top of your paper, write the date and “Psalm 1.” On the first line, write “verse.” Now read Psalm 1 and be alert for any phrase, verse or verses that stick out to you more than the others.
Rewrite the phrase or verse(s) on your piece of paper next to where you wrote the word “verse.”
Skip a line and write the word “observations.” Write down any of your thoughts about the verse and what its meaning is. You can write other things too such as thoughts about the chapter as a whole, what it reveals about God and His ways, how this reminds of you another part of Scripture, etc. You can also list questions, concerns, or reservations you have.
Skip a line again and write the word “application/truth.” This is meant to be short and sweet. Write down any: sins to avoid, promises to claim, examples to follow, commands to obey, and/or knowledge to be learned about God, Jesus, humanity, etc.
This is simplistic in nature, but powerful in execution. This does not take long and will fit on a single side of a journal page. Hand writing is helpful for your brain to make connections and commit things to memory. Journaling is a form of meditation; and meditating on God’s Word is commanded in the Bible (Joshua 1:8). This reading/journal method will take roughly 10-15 minutes a day if you read one chapter a day. It takes a while to form a routine so shoot for at least five days a week for 3 weeks. Continue to persevere until it is a part of your life, as normal as eating physical food!
Where do you start? I recommend one the the four Gospels because they show the life of Jesus. However, if you want to gain some momentum, starting with the short books of the New Testament can be helpful (e.g. Galatians). The key is, get started! When you fail, keep trying! After finishing a book of the Bible, move onto another, then another, etc.
My last note is, I do not get something life altering from the Word every day. Usually I get bread and water, enough nutrients for the day. Some days I don’t write down a verse at all. Some days I get a gourmet breakfast! Again, I’m cultivating a relationship, trusting and obeying, etc. This reading/journal method is a means to this cultivation, not an end goal itself.
I pray you too will feast on God’s Word and help other women do the same!
By the River Together 