Happy day friends!
I’m going to prattle on a bit about what Bible study routine looks like for me.
If you care to hear and share, pull up a chair!
Grab a hot drink.
Or a cold one.
Whichever you prefer!
Coffee, cappucino, hot tea, iced tea, lemonade, Pepsi, grape juice, ice water!
Aren’t we blessed with a myriad of choices and flavors?
Isn’t feasting in heaven going to be so, so grand?
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Over the years, I’ve been inspired to read or hear about other women’s routines for Bible study and what worked for them at different seasons of their lives.
I really like these words from You’re Going to Be Okay by Holley Gerth ~
“Find a way to regularly get God’s Word into your heart. God created you and He knows how you learn best. He’s not going to be offended if you approach Scripture in a way that makes sense with who you are. Ask Him to give you insight into how you best eat of His Word, and then make sure you stay full.“
Such good words. I’ve read or heard people talk about daily Bible reading and routines before that have been presented in a way that makes it seem that there is only one right way or one right time and THIS IS HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE.
I never agreed with that.
We are all unique and we are all made in God’s image.
God has gifted us each. Some thrive late at night. Some soar early in the morning.
Early afternoon may present a perfect quiet time afternoon for you. Perhaps you have a lunchtime opportunity that affords musing in His Word as you savor your meal.
There’s a lot of opportunities and options out there.
There’s no set-in-stone formula.
The one right way is this: Read the Word, Pray, Rest in Him regularly.
That’s why I like Holley’s words so well.
At this time in my life, mornings are most often my time to spend in study and prayer.
Most of the time. 🙂
I do like that best for me, for right now.
BUT, sometimes…………
Sometimes we’re out the door first thing.
Some days I get started on other things.
Sometimes I will pick up my Bible after lunch or I will curl up in my chair in the evening.
The routine I’ve found that works for me and my personality include these things:
* Bible
* Journal
* Favorite Pens and Highlighters
* Bible study
* Devotional
* spiral of index cards for writing verses
I don’t use every item every single day, though I’d like to always have the time. 🙂
I’m a write-y, journal-y type of person. My daughter is too.
My men? This wouldn’t be their cup of tea. Some of my friends? Not their style either.
That’s OK!
In homeschooling you hear much talk about the different learning styles. Guess what? This learning/personality/comprehension thing plays over into Bible study just the same.
We never stop learning as long as we live. The Bible is so full and rich and we will never learn it all in one lifetime. I don’t think God intended us too. I think when we can start to realize the depths between the lids of this book, it is giving us a glimpse of the immensity of our Father. Hallelujah!
Bible studies and journals work well for me and my love of books.
{I have a Pinterest board of Bible studies here, if you want to take a look.}
I’m pretty simple-minded. It doesn’t take much for me to feel like it’s over my head.
I appreciate theology and deep thinkers, but I resonate best with straight forward, down home, relatable people and words.
OK!!
Here’s how it goes. I work in whatever Bible study I’m currently in. Sometimes I’m focused on one. I also have a couple that I’ve started and instead of working straight through them, I do a bit here and a bit there. It just seems to work out like that. What has amazed me over and over again is watching God place just the right words on just the right day, in just the right moment. I will pick up a workbook and open it to the day I’m ready for and it will contain verses or words that pop off the page and apply to the very thing I’m facing.
Some days I do a whole homework day in my study book. Other days just a page or even at times, a question or two.
Sometimes I just read a Psalm or a chapter in the Bible. Or maybe only a verse or two.
I started a prayer journal several years ago.
It’s just a blank journal and I write down praises and requests and hurts and cares and worries and I bring it all to the feet of Jesus.
This prayer journaling has been a big blessing to me. Sometimes I think it helps me to write it out and to see it in ink on the page.
It inspires me to flip back through my journals and to see what God has done and how He has touched my life. I’ll record the answers I see. I’ll go back and thank Him for His works and His care.
It grows me to lean in hard on Him and recognize His hand in my life.
Another journal I’ve grown to love is my gratitude journal. Once again any kind of notebook or journal will do. {I really like this one. Go over here to see the first one I used. And this one for kids is super fun!}
This is the idea. Simply jot down a few things each day that you are thankful for. Mine often holds repeats on its pages.
There are so many things to be thankful for. My list often reflects the happenings in my life. During my severest back pain, I was thankful for pain meds and somewhere I could go for medical help. During my surgery I was thankful for skilled surgeons and caring people in the medical field.
In the every day and daily details I’m thankful for everything from my people to Scotch tape to cheese to hot showers.
I believe we can grow and cultivate an attitude of gratitude. It doesn’t make a ll the bad and evil and pain go away, but it changes us and makes us and our world better.
Handlettering has been a recent thing I’ve incorporated with my Bible study. I’ve enjoyed it immensely.
I’ve done a bit of Bible journaling as well.
About a year ago, I started seeing the beautiful artwork and ideas for Bible journaling and I was so inspired by it. I’ve sketched a few flowers and done a good bit of lettering and used some stickers in my Bible. I’m going to try some stamps at some point.
Devotionals encourage me as I read and “hear” what others have struggled with or worked through and how it has grown them and how God has worked in them and in their lives. I like the short, yet inspirational, readings that devotionals provide.
Savor and What Your Heart Needs For The Hard Days are both devotionals I’ve read some this year. I also really like Jesus Calling. I read it a couple of years ago.
I’ve kept spiral index cards for a long time, too. I jot down meaningful verses in them. Soon, you have your own index of verses to read through or memorize. Some mornings I’ll pick up my spiral of verses and just flip through it.
You can tell that the connecting theme in all this for me is definitely writing and reading.
NOW….share with me your favorite ways to read and study God’s Word! Perhaps you like to listen to it best. Perhaps you journal, too. Read it aloud. Read the Bible through in a year! There are so many good ways to dig into the Word of Life!
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Laura Ingalls Gunn says
I follow your bible studies page and it has so blessed me! I have heard such wonderful things about Jesus Calling and have added it to my wish list.
deborah says
Thank-you for your sweet words, Laura! You are always a bright spot in my day.