One of the questions I am often asked revolves around studying Scripture. "How do you do it? How do you interpret it? How do you decide what to read?"
One of the most common excuses for not having a quiet time also revolves around this. "I don't understand it. "
Actually, the MOST common excuse is "I don't have time."
Today's post will address all these.
When I get stuck, when I don't feel particularly motivated, when I cannot quiet my thoughts, and/or when I am having a difficult time focusing, I default to the SOAP method of Bible Study.
S - Scripture - Read it. Write it. Read it again.
O - Observe - What is the Scripture saying? Write your thoughts.
A- Application - How does this apply to you? How can you use this in your life today?
P - Prayer - Pray about it... Ask God to reveal how this applies to you... confess any sin brought to mind...
For example....
S - In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. 2 Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. Genesis 1:1-2
O - God was here before the earth was created. He created heaven and earth. Heavens is plural (?). The earth started out formless and empty. There was water. The Spirit of God was there.
A- The earth started out formless and empty... but God was there. Much like my own life... before I started following Jesus, my life was formless and empty. That doesn't mean that God wasn't there. At the same time, there are people in my life whose lives are formless and empty... that doesn't mean God isn't present. (The Spirit of God hovered over the water). Is this an accurate image of God while we live in sin? He's there, hovering over us... waiting to put light into our lives? It gives me hope that this tells me that the Spirit of God was present in the darkness. I am comforted knowing that He is present in my dark hours. I am filled with hopeful expectation knowing that He is present in the dark lives of some people I love.
P- Father God, thank you for your Word. Thank you for your encouragement. Thank you for reminding me that you are always... you have always been and will always be. Thank you for not leaving me in the darkness. Help me to remember that you are present even when times are dark, that you are present in the lives of those whose lives are filled with darkness. Help me to remember that darkness does not mean you are absent. Help me to shine light Lord. Shine YOUR light through me into the dark places. Use me Lord. Amen.
And there you have it. The whole process took about 10 minutes. It gives me something to ponder today and presented a different look at this common verse.
For those with a love of music... this is what I'm listening to this morning... my heart is FULL!!!!
Here are the lyrics... So beautiful!
I need you to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You're shaping my life
And break me apart
I need you to open my eyes
To see that You're shaping my life
All I am, I surrender
Give me faith to trust what you say
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give you my life
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give you my life
I need you to soften my heart
And break me apart
I need you to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
And break me apart
I need you to pierce through the dark
And cleanse every part of me
All I am, I surrender
Give me faith to trust what you say
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give you my life
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give you my life
'Cause I may be weak
But Your spirit strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will
I may be weak
But Your spirit strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will
But Your spirit strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will
I may be weak
But Your spirit strong in me
My flesh may fail
My God you never will
Give me faith to trust what you say
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give you my life
That you're good and your love is great
I'm broken inside, I give you my life
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