My goal for writing this blog is to help you deepen your relationship with Jesus. To do that requires developing our personal relationship with Jesus by studying and engaging in His Word. I write these posts so that they would help you engage with the content, therefore, encouraging you to dig deeper into His Word through the Reflection Questions and God’s Truth sections. Here are some strategies that you can use with this blog and dig into Scripture all week long.
1. Journaling
At the bottom of each blog post, you will find a set of Reflection Questions. You can use these questions as journal prompts so that you can write out your experiences and allow God to bring healing to those areas that need it. Sometimes we are more willing to write out our most honest thoughts than say them out loud for the world to hear. This journal can be filled with your notes to God. You can answer the questions, write prayers, thoughts throughout the day, your goals and dreams, and anything else your heart desires. You can be as creative as you like. You can add pictures, drawings, and/or notes. You can use a regular pen or colored pencils or markers. This journal is a reflection of who you are and your relationship with God.
Here is a video that will give you 15 Journaling Ideas!
2. Writing the Word
This is the simple practice of going through God’s Word and writing it in a notebook, journal, or your journaling Bible. It forces you to delight in God’s presence by focusing on each word you are writing down. It allows us to slow down and savor each moment we spend with our heavenly Father.
Each week I provide Bible verses for you to study in the God’s Truth section. Maybe you can focus on 1 or 2 of the verses by looking them up and copying them into your journal. Focus on what God is telling you and listen for his voice as you write each word.
You can create themes of Bible verses for areas God is working on in your life. You could write verses that deal with anxiety, fear, and God’s love. Then when you begin to struggle in those areas, open your journal and pray those verses.
You can write the verses with your own natural handwriting. But if you are a little more creative then you can artistically write the Word using your choice of beautiful handwriting like calligraphy.
3. Memorizing Scripture
In the God’s Truth section of this blog, I have listed Bible verses that support the article. Maybe you can take a verse every day and memorize it or memorize one verse a week. Even if you memorize one verse per week, in a year you would have memorized 52 verses! The Bible says that we should hide His Word in our hearts so we don’t sin against him (Psalm 119:11, NLT).
This video describes 5 Simple Methods to help you memorize verses!
4. Bible Journaling
Bible journaling is my all-time favorite!!! Basically, you take one verse and you illustrate what that verse means to you in a journal, sketchbook, or a journaling Bible. You meditate on the verse, pray, listen to worship music, and listen to what God is speaking in your heart. It helps me remember the verses and I enjoy meditating on what God is saying to me and using my artistic ability to express it. It can be as elaborate or simple as you like! It is your journey with God in your quiet time. I have journaled alone or with a group of my friends. You can grab any art supplies you have at home and just get started.
You can view some of my personal Bible journaling pages on Pinterest! Here is a video that will help you get started with Bible journaling.
5. Verse Mapping
Verse mapping is the process of researching a Bible verse to understand the context of the verses. Many times Bible verses are read as a stand-alone verses. But that only gives you a tiny, tiny understanding of the verse. That verse was written within the context of a chapter, within a book of the Bible, and within the context of the New Testament or Old Testament, and then within the context of the whole Bible. Studying one verse alone is like trying to understand a conversation with only hearing one statement. It’s impossible. We need to hear the full conversation to understand the statement and why it was said.
Here are 2 great articles on how to Verse Map and a template you can use to get started is included! I challenge you to give it a try!
Please take some time this week and try one or more of these strategies for engaging God's Word. Let me know what you are enjoying and what works for you in the comments. Also, if you have another strategy that you would like to share, please let us know in the comments!
With Love,
Pastor Jessica
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GROWTH THROUGH SELF-REFLECTION
Do you have a Bible study routine?
Do you take out time to meditate on the Word?
How do you think you would feel if you took out time to study the Word more?
Is studying the Word a priority for you?
If not, what can you do to make it a priority?
GOD’S TRUTH
2 Timothy 2:15
2 Timothy 3: 16-17
Hebrews 4: 12
Psalm 119: 105
James 1: 22
Matthew 4: 4
Psalm 119: 11
Ephesians 6: 17
John 8: 32