Reading vs Studying

You go and see a movie.  You enjoy it. You find the characters interesting.

Your friend sees the movie too, but because they read the book before they got so much more out of it.  They understand the history that the characters had together.  They know why there is tension between the families.  They know that the customs of the land have a lot to do with why the characters reacted the way they did....

When you read the Bible, you may enjoy it.  You can find it interesting.  You may feel good.  
When you study the Bible however, the words come alive!  When you study, God shows you so much and not only do you get a deeper understanding to the text, but it becomes personal.  It becomes relavant to your life.  There's such a big 3D kick these days - studying makes the Bible 3D.

All of the gals at church have heard me say more times than they can remember - "There's a big difference between reading the Bible and studying it."

This past week at women's Bible study I had a woman share with me that she has been attending church for over 15 years but that this is the first time she has ever really studies the Bible.  She can't believe what she's been missing.  As she was talking she was sort of shaking her hands in excitement.  She was so excited about God's word and how it was all opening up before her.  She could hear and feel the Lord speak to her as never before.

I wish that excitement for all of you.  Take the time to study God's word.  Peel off each layer like an onion.  Ask the Lord's blessing on your study that you would receive a personal application.  Do it because, there's a big difference between reading and studying the Bible.

Psalm - 3D

I'm reading in Psalms today, and boy oh boy, I just love the Psalms! Don't you?

Psalm 27:1 ~ The Lord is my light and my slavation; Whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the defense of my life; Whom sall I dread?

There's some power right there - amen?!

I love that I can read these words written by David (Of course inspired by the Lord as all of the Bible is God breathed.) thousands of years ago and it resonates with me even though I myself am not being hunted down by the king who is at times posessed by an evil spirit that is placed on him by God.  Even though I do not have a situation that mirrors this in any way, so much of what David expresses could be an original prayer coming from my own lips.

Verses 7 & 8 fit so perfectly as I ask the Lord to give me wisdom and discernment in an area of my life where I need help and need to wait on His timing and leading.

Verse 11 is something we could each claim every day!

Verse 14 I claim as I pray for a difficult situation that someone I love is going through.

What a beautiful example of how to pray!  Think of what David is experiencing at the time of this Psalm (see above).  It's a wonderful reminder that when we go to the Lord we need to offer a 3 dimensional prayer; as opposed to a one dimensional - 'gimme gimme'.  Offering words of Devotion and thanksgiving to our Heavenly Father.  Declaring our short-comings and sin.  Denoting our needs and the desires of our heart.

Meeting at the Kitchen Table

I love to spread out. 

First, I have my broken down well loved Ryrie study Bible that I've had since I was first saved over 18 years ago.  This poor old Bible has half of Genesis paper clipped in.  We were having a Bible study one night when a bunch of pages fell to the floor and my friend exclaimed, "Your Genesis just took and Exodus" LOL!!  But with all of its notes in the margins and highlighted/underlined passages, this is my 'go-to' Bible that I so cherish!

Next, my cheapo spiral bound notebook.  I love stocking up on notebooks during the 'most wonderful time of the year' otherwise known as 'back to school'.  (Kudos the ad executives that came up with that marketing plan for Staples years ago. Brilliant!!  I still get a chuckle every August.)  You can pick up notebooks for anywhere from .25 - $1. Stock up!  (For the record; I love having my children home over the summer - but the commercial is just classic.)

Then I have my blue pen.  Don't know why but I greatly prefer a pen with blue ink over black - and that being said, once I begin writing with one pen color, it's downright painful for me to switch to another color within a notebook.  Yes I know, issues... 

Then of course there is the essential cup of hot tea.  Black tea (preferably English breakfast) with one sugar and milk, in case you were wondering.  I must have my tea while studying.  They go hand-in-hand for me.  It's like peanut butter and jelly, thunder and lightning, a Christian movie and Kirk Cameron, you get my meaning.

Aside from these constants, some days a second Bible or even two may come to join us at the kitchen table.  Other days the laptop is invited so I can look up commentaries or search the Hebrew and/or Greek lexicons.  So although some days it's a limited guest list of supplies, and other days it's a full gathering, there is no place I love to spend my quiet time with God in His word more than at our oval kitchen table.

Do you have a special place where you meet with the Lord?  If you don't have one, I'd encourage you to find one.  Personally, I believe it helps to keep me faithful in my daily devotions with God.  It doesn't have to be an elaborate place, just a space where you can cultivate your relationship with the Lord.