Spending Time with God
“So is my Word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty but will ccomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” -Is. 55:11
People have different ways of spending time in the Bible. The bottom line is that you’re in it and reading it. The following are a few tips that will help you get started in the awesome adventure of abiding in God’s Word!
Have a Plan
Paul wrote in Philippians 3:14, “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” As you spend time with your Savior and friend, P.R.E.S.S. on towards the goal of knowing Him better.
Pray...
Don’t forget that as you sit down to get into the Word that the Holy Spirit is the One who is your teacher. Ask Him to give you knowledge and understanding. Try to find a place that is quiet and free of distractions. Be still and listen. Prayer is a two way conversation.
Read...
A great place to start is the book of John or take the 21 Day Challenge (see below). Try to read an entire chapter. Go through it, word by word, phrase by phrase. Certain words, sentences or verses will jump out at you. When you hit those, stop. Read them. Listen.
Examine...
Take notes... underlining, circling, and highlighting your Bible. It’s great to look back and remember the truths that God shows you. Ask yourself the following questions: What is the main point of this passage? What does it tell me about God or myself? A good way to apply what a passage teaches you is to remember the word "SPACE." Look for:
S - Sins to confess
P - Promises to claim
A - Attitudes to have or avoid
C - Commands to obey
E - Examples to follow
Summarize...
God is going to reveal SO MUCH through His Word—that’s why He gave it to us! You are 4x more likely to remember things you write down. So grab a journal and write at least one sentence about what God taught you. II Timothy 2:7 says, “Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.”
Share…
Take time to share what you learn in your Quiet Time with a friend. Ask another Christian be an accountability partner. This will challenge you to be consistent in having a daily Quiet Time. It is the key to developing spiritually. When you read the Bible, share what you learn through your actions. James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."