Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

You are here: Home / Archives for ScriptureDig

Do you know why you believe what you believe?

by 9 Comments

According to a December 2008 poll by the Pew Forum, 52% of Americans who call themselves Christians believe that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to eternal life. Did you catch that? Let me say it a different way: A majority of American “Christians” believes that you can make it to heaven without Jesus. Does that shock and sadden you? If not, it should. (Read the full Pew Forum report here.)

Do you know what God teaches about salvation? About how you can know Him? Do you know why you believe what you believe? The poll I mentioned above clearly shows that many Christians do not. Our culture – and sadly even our churches – has watered down God’s Truth to make it politically correct and socially acceptable. In fact, one of the most well-known preachers in the southern US says he does not use the word “sin” in his church because it makes people feel bad.

Believers, we must know the Truth so we can stand firm in it. We must ground ourselves in God’s Word so we will not be swayed by the winds of society. And we must “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15). Their eternal future depends on it.

The Scripture Dig team has dedicated the month of September to “Salvation.” Many of you may have known these truths your entire lives. But come dig deeper into those truths with us. Here are a few of the topics we will cover:

  • What is sin? And what is the result?
  • What is God’s heart for sinners?
  • What does not save you?
  • Is Jesus the only way?
  • Why the cross?
  • Why the cross is not enough? (Or, The Power of the Resurrection)

We will also share our testimony stories with you and give you a chance to share yours with us. I am so excited to talk about the Gospel here on Scripture Dig. What could be more important?

To get our theme started, let’s talk a bit today about misconceptions. What are some things many people believe about salvation that do not line up with what Scripture says?

Couple of quick resources:

“What Christians believe” – brief overview of basic, core beliefs of Christianity. Includes Scripture references for the nature of God, the Bible, Jesus, salvation, and eternity.

“How to know Jesus” – if you have never entered into a personal, saving relationship with Jesus you can do that right now!


Striving for a Heart for Him

by 8 Comments

Hi! I’m Sandra Peoples and I am so excited to be the newest member of the Scripture Dig team!

Teri Lynne and I talked months ago about her vision for this site. She asked me to consider coming on board, but it was a busy time for my family (we are in the process of adopting a son from Ethiopia and were doing some major fundraising this summer).  But I am thrilled to now be a full time writer! After spending time with my Scripture Dig blogging colleagues at She Speaks, I can truly say this is a special team of ladies, who are passionate about equipping, encouraging, and empowering you to dig into God’s Word!

A little bit about me–I’m a pastor’s wife and mom to two boys, five years old and three years old. I’m originally from Oklahoma and Texas, but now live and serve a wonderful church in Pennsylvania. I have a Master of Divinity degree in Women’s Studies and Biblical Languages. I am passionate about encouraging women to grow in godliness. I also like to read, cook, and have fun with my husband and boys (like celebrating fun holidays like Clash Clothes Day).

You can find me blogging at Heart for Him. I also blog about our family life at Celebrate Every Day and with friends at Today’s Housewife. I’m on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr. I look forward to getting to know you all as we dig deeper in God’s Word together!

Aloe for the Soul

by 3 Comments

I’ve known Tammy Nolan for almost 20 years and had the privilege of watching her from a distance become a young woman who is passionate about living her life out loud for Jesus. Tammy lives to refresh people. Her ministry of energizing others starts at home. She is a home schooling mother of four children and the helpmate to her husband, Tony Nolan. She is Vice-President of TNT Ministries, Inc. It’s core purpose is sharing the good news of the Gospel and ministering to various Christian music artists, including Casting Crowns, Sanctus Real, Building 429, Steven Curtis Chapman, Jeremy Camp, and Nicole Nordeman. She also pours into others through song with her CD project, entitled The Great Exchange. {I know you will be encouraged by her “My Time to Dig” ~ Stephanie}

“Just as lotions and fragrance give sensual delight,

a sweet friendship refreshes the soul.”

Proverbs 27:9

Each year we take a vacation to the beach.  Everyday is spent enjoying the sun, splashing in the salt water, riding the waves, and playing in the sand.  We soak up this fun from the time the sun comes up in the morning until it sets beyond the horizon in the evening, and even then we are usually taking nightly walks on the beach looking for crabs with flashlights.

By the end of the vacation, we have all usually gotten a little too much sun.  Now for those of you that are already thinking, “Why wouldn’t you wear sunscreen”, let me assure you, we do.  However, it wears off, and we all tend to forget to reapply it fast enough and then the damage is already done.  Most of you can probably mentally take yourself to a place where you were exhausted, sticky from salt water, and stinging from the combination of salt and sand rubbing against your skin.  It isn’t until you get cleaned up and are able to apply what we call “the green goop”, but is commonly called Aloe Vera, that you begin to feel relief.  This green slimy stuff (that we keep in the refrigerator) can actually be some of the most refreshing stuff in the world after a long day on the beach.  It soothes, heals, and even sometimes anesthetizes your skin.

This week, I was reminded how friendships can be the lotion that heals the sunburns of our hearts.  There are times when the heat and irritants of our world can really get to us.  We can find ourselves feeling exhausted emotionally, mentally irritated, and our spirits can often have a painful sting.  I can think of so many times in my own life where I’ve felt this way and God would use a friend to come alongside and refresh me.  Sometimes it happens through a phone call, an email, or perhaps a letter in my mailbox.  Whatever it may be, it always comes at just the right time (after a long hard day) and it has a way of bringing comfort and can even invigorate me to keep going in this journey of life.

Does someone come to your mind that’s been a refresher in your life recently?  Did you take the time to thank them and communicate just how God used them to bless you?  What about you?  Are you consciously being a refresher to others?  Can you think of someone this week that you called, emailed, wrote a letter to, or text with the sole purpose of encouraging them?  We all have moments where life just seems too “hot” to handle and the irritations seem to be rubbing in ever direction.  Let’s be conscious this week to not only thank those who are used by God to rejuvenate us, but to also take the time to reach out and be that soothing lotion to another parched and weary soul!

Lord, thank You for sending people in my life at just the right time to remind me that You love me and care for me.  Thank You for the gift of friendship and for the way You use it to energize and refresh every part of our life.  I praise You that You are The Friend that sticks closer than a brother, and no matter how scorched my soul may feel, You are always there waiting to be my Ultimate Refresher.

Tammy,  thank you for reminding us of the need to refresh one another on this journey called life.

Do you look for opportunities to sooth and refresh others?  Do you know someone who needs to be encouraged today?


Prayer Theme Recap

by 3 Comments

In case you missed any of these incredible posts, here is a recap of the past month here on Scripture Dig.

What is Prayer? Introductory post to this series.

Jesus’ Prayer Lesson: Kathy spent three days examining the Lord’s Prayer.  Part One gave us some general principles about prayer.  Part Two covered three of the six components of the prayer – Our Father, Hallowed be Your Name, Your Kingdom Come.   Part Three discussed the remaining three components of this prayer – Give us each day our daily bread, Forgive us our debts, Lead us not into temptation.

Using Prayer Cards:  Sandra shared how she uses prayer cards to guide her prayer time.

Write … in a Prayer Notebook? Julie gave some counsel about using a prayer notebook to organize your prayer life.

Double Whammy:  Teri Lynne shared how to gain the power of using Scripture as a foundation for prayer.

Prayer:  Graphic Organizers:  Julie offered four different organizers – downloadable as PDF files – to use as tools for praying for others.

The Type A Person Prays:  Teri Lynne shared how she uses a prayer calendar to organize her prayer life.

Praying for Your Spouse:  Kathy gave insight into the types of prayers we can offer for our husbands and the significance of doing so.

Praying for Your Children:  Stephanie shared parental prayers for children of all ages and situations.

Praying for Your Church:  Kristi encouraged us to remember how necessary our prayers for our churches are.

Repentance:  The Power of Painful Prayers:  Examination of David’s prayer in Psalm 51 by Teri Lynne.

Confidence: Finding Rest in the Sovereignty of God:  Looking at Hannah’s prayer in 1 Samuel 2 with Kristi.

Intercession:  Pleading for Undeserved Mercy:  Kristi gave insight into the reality of intercession by studying Nehemiah’s prayer.

Jesus Prays for You:  Sandra took us through Christ’s prayer in John 17.

Which of these posts was your favorite?  Any ideas you have put into practice yet?

Jesus Prays for You

by 18 Comments

Do you know someone who seems to have a direct line to God? Maybe her prayers are so full of praise and adoration, you instantly feel better when you hear her pray. Or maybe she’s the church prayer warrior–the go-to person when anyone has a request because everyone knows she will pray and keep praying. These people are a blessing (especially to those of us who sometimes struggle to find the “right words”).

I believe there is no more precious prayer that has been prayed over me (and you!) than Jesus’ prayer in John 17:20-26. In the hours before His betrayal, trial, and crucifixion, Christ prayed for Himself, His disciples, and for all believers.

What did Jesus Christ pray on your behalf?

  • He prayed for unity among believers (v. 21).
  • He prayed that we would point others to Him (v. 21).
  • He prayed that we would be made perfect (v. 23).
  • He prayed we would be with Him, so we can behold His glory (v. 24).
  • He prayed that the world would know God through our witness (v. 25).
  • He prayed that the love He has with the Father would be in us (v. 26).

His prayer that evening stretched years and miles to reach you! He prayed for your unity with others, your love, and your witness. Hearing His words for me motivates me to want to live His words!

This isn’t the only prayer Christ prayed for you. Hebrews 7:25 says, “Consequently [Jesus] is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.” He continues to pray for you–seated at the right hand of God!

Just as you feel empowered by the words a friend prays over you, realize the power of Jesus’ prayer for you. Live in unity, love, and with a burden to tell of God’s love to others today!

Repentance: The Power of Painful Prayers

by 9 Comments

Perhaps the most gut-wrenching of all the Psalms, David’s prayer of repentance in Psalm 51 offers us a glimpse into the power of our most painful prayers.

Repentance can be the most challenging aspect of a disciple’s life. Turning from our sin and embracing the grace of forgiveness … that’s the hard work of faith.   Far easier for most of us is simply saying, “I’m sorry.”  The words come easy, gliding off our tongues … the heart-change however is far more complex.

David’s tawdry affair, cowardly behavior, vindictive murder … vile as it all was … are not the issues.  And so within our own lives we must come to this same realization … our lies and greed, selfishness and pride, those attitudes and actions, words and thoughts, they are not the focal point of this need for repentance.  The need for repentance stems from one thing only:  A heart separated from God.

Repentance is the cry for reconciliation, restoration.  And David understood that while his behaviors most assuredly hurt others (and would lead to consequences he could never have dreamed), it was his heart that needed healing.

In this Psalm I note three types of  power.

The Power of Sin

“For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.”  Psalm 51:3 NASB

We can never underestimate the grip of sin in our lives. Sneaky and subtle, sin in the believer’s life – any sin – causes shame, guilt, and fear … and when we allow it to remain unchecked, unconfessed, that sin grows in power in our hearts.  The voice of God, His whisperings and beckoning, fade as the call to sinful self shouts and promises greater things.

The prayer of repentance breaks the power of sin as we cry out truth over lie, life over death:  “Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, Thou God of my salvation; then my tongue will joyfully sing of Thy righteousness” (Psalm 51:14 NASB).

The Power of Grace

“Create in me a clean heart, O God.  Renew a right spirit within me.”  Psalm 51:10 NLT

Grace … the precious gift of that which we do not deserve.   Did David deserve a clean heart after all he’d done?  After the deceitful and insidious acts he had committed?  No.  He did not deserve that cleansing, that renewal.  But do I deserve forgiveness for my own lying tongue?  My own prideful heart?  My selfishness?  Absolutely not.   Grace … amazing, wonderful grace.   “Grace that exceeds my sin and my guilt,” the old hymn promises.

“For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”  Romans 5:17

The prayer of repentance calls on the power of grace.

The Power of  Faith

“You would not be pleased with sacrifices, or I would bring them.  If I brought you a burnt offering, you would not accept it.  The sacrifice you want is a broken spirit.  A broken and repentant heart, O God, you will not despise.”  Psalm 51:16-17 NLT

The greatest power in these painful prayers of repentance is not the words we say.  After all, “talk is cheap.”  No, the greatest power in these prayers is that of faith.   The honest acknowledgment of the power sin has gained in our hearts and the humble acceptance of God’s grace and forgiveness for that sin is meaningless if we don’t ever move out of the pit. If we wallow in our shame and guilt, continuing to confess a sin that God has forgiven, continuing to move as though we were in the shackles, then we never experience the power of faith!  For it is faith that moves us into the freedom of repentance … that moves us to change, to make that 180 degree turn and walk in obedience.

The sacrificing and burnt offerings are easy … outward, seen.  But God is looking at our hearts … broken, contrite, repentant.   David knew this, for he had been chosen by God not for what was visible.  Remember the Lord’s words to Samuel as he looked over Jesse’s sons, “People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at a person’s thoughts and intentions” (1 Samuel 16:7 NLT).

Friends, the power of these painful prayers is when we are moved, changed, and heart-well.

Is there a need for some painful prayers in your life?


The Type A Person Prays

by 40 Comments

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, I tend toward the uber-organized side of life.  I prefer structure, routine, and schedules.   And so, when it comes to my prayer life, likely no one who knows me is shocked to find I have a method of structuring my time there as well.

A few years ago my dad mentioned in passing that he uses a prayer calendar to organize his prayer life.  Immediately, I was hooked!  After asking him a few questions, I began to develop my own prayer calendar.

In simplest terms, a prayer calendar is a tool for organizing the major areas of prayer in your life. I use both weekly and monthly prayer calendars to insure that I spend time focused in prayer for specific people and issues.    What is included on my prayer calendar has changed over the years as our life situation has changed.  For example,  in June 2009 I shared what my prayer calendar looked like on my personal blog … at that time it involved praying through “The Power of …” books for my husband, my daughter, and myself twice a year.   While I still devote plenty of time to praying for each member of our family, I have added some other areas of prayer into the calendar.

As I mentioned before, I pray every day for my husband, my daughter, and myself and I use my daytimer to review the schedule for the day and specific prayer needs in my extended family, my church and my community.  Below are the weekly and monthly prayer calendars I use as I pray in my quiet time.

Weekly:

  • Sunday ~ Churches. I pray for mine as well as the ones pastored by my daddy and my brother and many of our friends.  In addition, I pray for those churches who are seeking pastors and are facing difficulties.   For my own church, I pray through the schedule, lifting up Sunday School teachers and nursery workers, the technical components of the services, the sermon and the music, those who are deciding if they will even attend services today, and those who need a touch from the Lord.
  • Monday ~ Church Staff and their Families. Mondays are typically the staff meeting day at our church.  I pray for all five of our pastors and their family members by name.   If I am aware of a specific request or need, I lift that up at this time.  In addition, I try to take time to send a note of encouragement (even just an email) to one of our pastors or their wives.   I also pray for Scott’s relationships with the other pastors of our church.  I ask for wisdom and humility for each of these men.
  • Tuesday ~ Specific Church Ministries. I pray for the specific ministries of our church and their leadership.  From children’s ministry to senior adults, ministries to men and to women, student ministry and family ministry – I pray for each of these as well as the other ways our church seeks to reach out to others.
  • Wednesday ~ My Family. I pray for my family members by name on Wednesdays.  I am blessed with a large family and take time on Wednesdays to pray for grandparents and cousins, my brothers and their families and many aunts and uncles.
  • Thursday ~ Community Ministries. Thursday mornings I spend at Care Net.   I pray on Thursdays for the many ministries in our community seeking to spread the Gospel while meeting the practical needs around them.  I also pray for the leadership of ministries such as the BCM on our local college campus, the Baptist Ministry Center, and the Manna House.
  • Friday ~ Scott’s Family. I devote Friday to praying for Scott’s family members.  We are blessed with very close relationships with his family and it is a joy to lift them up to the Lord in prayer.
  • Saturday ~ The Lost. I keep a list in my Bible of people who are unsaved that I am praying for.  On Saturdays I pray for each of them by name.

Monthly Prayer Calendar:

  • January ~ Focus and direction. In January, I pray through each activity I am involved with – from ministries in the church to websites I write for … and I lay each one down and ask the Lord if I should pick it  up again.
  • February ~ My daughter‘s birthday month! I pray for her using “The Power of  a Praying Parent.”
  • March ~ Government. I pray throughout this month for local, state, and national government leaders.
  • April ~ North American mission field. I devote April to praying for God’s direction for those who are missionaries here in North America.  I also pray for those who are planting churches in the United States.
  • May ~ Summer. I pray for the summer months – how we should use them as a family.  What we should include and what we need to say “no” to.   I always want to be certain we are allowing time for rest and also for ministry.
  • June ~ My husband’s birthday month and our anniversary month.  I pray for him using “The Power of a Praying Wife.”
  • July ~  Adopting families. It seems like I know so many families who are adopting.  In July I spend extra time praying specifically for their needs and desires … and for those sweet children who have not yet arrived home.
  • August ~ Back to School!! I devote August to praying for teachers and school leaders.  And for sweet families who are beginning their homeschooling year.  I especially pray for those teachers in public schools who will daily have the opportunity to shine light into darkness!
  • September ~ Friends. Just taking time to pray for those women who have influenced my life – and though our friendship may have only lasted a season, I lift them up to the Lord and pray for them throughout September.
  • October ~ My birthday month!  I pray for myself using “The Power of a Praying Woman.”
  • November ~  Month of gratitude! I want to be intentionally cultivating a thankful heart.  One way I do this is by listing the things I am  thankful for according to the date.  For example, on November 11, I list 11 things I am thankful for.
  • December ~ Our denominational missions focus is on international missions throughout this month.  I pray for those missionaries in other nations and for the unreached people groups.

So, there you have it!  A long post (sorry!) but hopefully one that will be helpful to some!

How do you organize your prayer life?

Books I have found useful:

The Power of a Praying … books by Stormie Omartian

Becoming a Woman of Prayer by Cynthia Heald

The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

Double Whammy

by 30 Comments

Have you loved digging into prayer as much as I have?

I must confess, this is an area in which I consider myself very weak.   When it comes to Bible study and digging into the Word – I get hyped up and ready to go.  But prayer just doesn’t come as naturally to me.

I shared my struggle with an older believer several years ago and she encouraged me to pray Scripture.    Also, through reading the Power of a Praying … books by Stormie Omartian, I learned of the great power of praying God’s Word back to Him.     What could be more useful in developing a prayer life than using the very Word of God as a foundation for our conversations? It’s sort of a “double whammy” in our prayers.

I was encouraging our senior adults at church to use Scripture in their prayers and one gentlemen said to me, “We aren’t all Bible scholars like you!”    Let me assure you – I’m no Bible scholar!  In fact, as I responded to this dear man, “I wasn’t born with this knowledge of Scripture.”   I’ve been investing in it for many years.     It’s not so much about how much Scripture you know, rather praying Scripture is realizing the truth of God’s Word and claiming it in your life.

Tomorrow, during Your Turn, we’ll be going through a passage and praying through it.  But for today, I’d like to share with you some of the ways using Scripture can build your prayer life.

Understanding God’s Character

As we study Scripture we grow in our understanding of God’s character and how that relates to our lives.   By recognizing that He is love (1 John 4:8), we can come to Him acknowledging that He loves us and desires the best for us … even when we don’t understand His ways (Isaiah 55:9).

Trusting God’s Promises

Throughout Scripture we find the promises of God and as we pray we have confidence that He will save us (John 3:16), that He cares for us (1 Peter 5:7), that He will forgive us (1 John 1:9), that His plan is for our good (Jeremiah 29:11) and so many more.  Knowing God’s promises gives us confidence in our relationship with Him and helps us trust in His care for our lives.

Recognizing God’s Faithfulness

Throughout the Bible we see that God is faithful to His people … both the Israelites in the Old Testament and the early church in the New.    We can pray to the same “God who sees me” as Hagar did (Genesis 16:13), the “God who heals me” as Miriam (Exodus 15:26),  the “Lord, my Rock” as David (Psalm 144:1), the Good Shepherd (John 10:11), the Alpha and Omega (Revelation 22:13).

Claiming God’s Provision

Throughout Scripture we find abundant reminders that God will provide for all our needs.   We find that He will give us rest (Psalm 23:2), protection (Isaiah 43:2), food and clothing (Matthew 6:25-32), wisdom (James 1:5) and so much more.

Learning to pray Scripture is an amazing way to grow your prayer life. I have specific prayers for my daughter and my husband – claiming Scripture for their lives.   And as I read my Bible each day, I use the passages I have read as a foundation for my prayers … asking God to change me to match His Word.  I have found great comfort and peace in learning to pray Scripture and I hope you will be encouraged to do the same!

How do you incorporate Scripture into your prayers?

Recommended Reading:

Praying the Names of God by Ann Spangler

Praying the Names of Jesus by Ann Spangler

Any of the Power of a Praying books by Stormie Omartian

Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore

Praying the Psalms by Elmer Towns {Mr. Towns has written several books about praying through specific passages of Scripture.}


What is Prayer?

by 14 Comments

Pray without ceasing.  ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:17

Praying Hands

“Talking with God like you’d talk with a friend.”

“Communing with the One who loves you more than you love yourself.”

“Listening and resting in the presence of God.”

I’ve heard people describe prayer as all of the above.

But for most of us, prayer is confusing, overwhelming, and even a little scary.   For many it’s the one area of our disciple-life where we feel the least confident.    A quick Google search on “What is prayer?” yielded over 53 MILLION posts.   Certainly this is a question many are asking.

Over the coming weeks we want to share with you what the Bible teaches us about prayer.   We’ll be studying the Lord’s Prayer and several other prayers found in Scripture – digging into the treasure chest of God’s Word on this important discipline in our spiritual growth.   And we want to help you grow your prayer life. From developing a prayer calendar to establishing a prayer notebook, we’ll be offering practical insight and suggestions for building a solid foundation in your prayer life.

I love to read about Susanna Wesley.  Her life and her home were grounded in prayer.  As we begin to study prayer here at Scripture Dig, I leave you with these two of her prayers …

In the morning, pray that “Every work I do below, I do it to the Lord.”

In the evening, pray “I give Thee praise, O God, for a well-spent day.”

How would you describe your prayer life?

Image from Bing.com

Would you pray?

by Leave a Comment

The entire Scripture Dig writing team is together at the She Speaks conference hosted by Proverbs 31 ministries. Many of us have taken book proposals and sample chapters to offer up during meetings with publishers. All of us are anticipating the knowledge and skills we will gain at this event.

Thank you so much for your kind support of all our ministries and the work we are doing here at Scripture Dig. We have all be blessed by your encouragement and hunger for digging deep into the treasures of God’s Word.

We’ll be meeting together Saturday night to plan out the next several months of topics and posts. And we’d appreciate your prayers as we travel, listen, learn, share, meet, and plan!

Enjoy your weekend!!

Coffee and Conversation with God

by 15 Comments

Everyone has a story to tell. For Susan, the story revolves around how God has taught her to believe that the joy of the Lord is her strength. While she has faced the struggle of living through depression and other family illnesses, Susan desires to use the story of her struggle to point people toward the Source of hope. She longs for people to embrace the God who dances over them wildly with joy (Zephaniah 3:17).    Susan is a college professor and also the founder of Defiant Joy Ministries.   {Susan and I competed together on the speech and debate team at Southwest Baptist University and have recently reconnected via Facebook.   What a joy to see how God is using her to touch the lives of so many!  I know you all will be encouraged by her “My Time to Dig” post today! ~ Teri Lynne}

~*~*~*~*~*~*

My favorite singer/songwriter Sara Groves captures the beauty of listening to one another’s stories this way:  “Every heart has so much history.  It’s my favorite place to start. Sit down awhile and share your narrative with me.  I’m not afraid of who you are.”  For me, all things of importance flow from relationships and I am easily swayed by any opportunity to have conversation and coffee with a friend.  After all, life was meant to be shared over coffee, wasn’t it?!  Over the years, God has taught me much about how He desires to hear my narrative and how He definitely is not afraid of who I am.  God is by far the best listener I’ve encountered and that is why I affectionately refer to my quiet time with God as C&C:  coffee and conversation with God.

One main theme that has emerged from years of conversations with God over many cups of coffee is that my knowledge of God is useless without knowing God. Just like I learn about a friend by listening to her narrative, I learn about God by studying His story through His word as well as sitting quietly before Him.  Knowledge of God is gained through purposefully getting to know God.  I can memorize the entire Bible, know the names of God, recite the lineage of Christ, etc. but knowledge is useless without being rooted in relationship with the Living Word.  It’s not that knowledge of any kind is useless in and of itself.  My C&C time with God has caused me to reflect on what I do with the knowledge I have. In 2 Peter 1, I am encouraged to use my knowledge about God to know God.  That can be a difficult pursuit for one like me who is comfortable taking in knowledge for knowledge’s sake.  God has taught me that I need to go beyond the words on the page and look to the One who inspired the words.  After all, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).

One of the ways God has taught me to put my knowledge of Him into action is by bringing my daily life with me into my C&C time. I’ve learned to abandon a pre-determined set of rules (made by others and/or me) about what should or shouldn’t be said to God during our C&C time.  In fact, thinking of it as having coffee with a friend has helped me to learn that God is relational and He wants to hear me share what’s going on in my life.  During my day, if I have a thought about something, a need arises, or a reflection about scripture emerges, among other things, I write it down on a 3×5 note card.  I then use the note cards to help guide my C&C time with God.   So many amazing insights have come from not separating my daily life from my C&C time—it’s all one in the same.  God has encouraged me to see my life as one big conversation with Him—if only it could always involve coffee!

~*~*~*~*~

Thanks, Susan!  What an encouragement to see life as “one big conversation with Him.”

How do you incorporate what you receive from the Lord during your quiet time into your daily life?

My Prayer Couch

by 18 Comments

Kristin chronicles life as wife and mother of four with daily musings about what’s cooking at The Schell Café. Passionate about cooking and gathering family around the table, she knows the truth that man cannot live by bread alone and shares her faith story and love for Jesus Christ at The Kitchen Mission. Someday, Lord willin’ and the creek don’t rise, the two sites will merge. Until then you can find Kristin at her blogs or on twitter @theschellcafe.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Schell Café is more than my little nook in the blogosphere, it is quite literally my kitchen. By day, the command center bursts with activity generated by our family of six – meals, snacks, homework, crafts, home office, portal to the backyard and catch-all for backpacks, Legos and tutus.

In the pre-dawn hours of the morning, this normally chaotic space is a quiet refuge. It is my meeting place with the Lord.

For my 40th birthday Husband gave me a prayer couch for the kitchen. Before you google ‘kitchen prayer couch’, rest assured it’s just a regular old sofa I placed in the kitchen, but it is special. This is where I meet the Lord in the throne room of grace.

What does my morning couch time look like?

From an earthly perspective, I guarantee it’s not pretty and bed-head is definitely involved. Very early I make my way downstairs. After several years of this early morning time with the Lord, we’ve both come to expect it, and I usually wake up without an alarm about 5:30 am (although this morning He moved the appointment time up to 4:45 am!).

Cozy on the couch, still in darkness, I greet the Lord with praise and adoration, something like this:

Good Morning Lord. Thank you for the gift of this peaceful, quiet morning. You are an awesome God – the author & perfecter of our faith. You are merciful, righteous & steadfast. You are my rock & my redeemer.  My protector.  My shepherd. You alone are worthy of all my praise.

As I reach to turn on the lamp Psalm 119:105 floats across my heart:

Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path.

What follows next varies but I always dig in to scripture with my prayer journal close by. Currently, I’m participating in the Bible in 90 Days Challenge. I spend about 30 – 40 minutes on the readings taking notes in the margins of my Bible or in my prayer journal for further study.

During the academic year, I attend our women’s bible study at church. I use my couch time for daily scripture reading of our study. I’m part of the leadership team, but I don’t use couch time for ministry work, although I certainly pray for it!

After time in the Word, or as the Holy Spirit leads, I pray. Really the entire morning is a continuous prayer, but I focus more intently after my readings and like to follow the ACTS prayer. Adoration. Confession. Thanksgiving. Supplication. If the Littles remain asleep, I close my couch time quietly listening to the Lord.

By now the sun filters through the windows and my kitchen begins to buzz. Throughout the day, my prayer couch will host a child needing a band-aid, another wanting hugs, and a hungry Husband waiting for dinner. I smile and my heart is in anticipation of my next meeting with the Lord whose mercies are new every morning.

Blessings,

Kristin

My Time to Dig ~ Adrianne

by 5 Comments

Adrianne is a special young lady in my life. Scott was her youth pastor throughout high school and he was privileged to perform her wedding last August. Adrianne is the Multi-Media Specialist at the crisis pregnancy center where I volunteer. She has redesigned all the websites and also manages the social media component of the ministry. In addition to that role, Adrianne is helping lead the student-driven abstinence education program called Braveheart. Thanks, Age, for sharing your quiet time story!! ~ Teri Lynne

I became a Christian in 1999, when I was twelve years old. Like most middle schoolers, I was pretty clueless, especially when it came to my quiet time. From what I had gathered from all my friends at church, your quiet time was this special, ceremonial time of day (that usually lasted an hour or more!) where you got completely alone with God.

Our youth pastor gave us these devotional books to use in our quiet times, so then I FELT READY. That night I went to my bedroom, locked the door, and cleared out a space in the bottom of my closet. (Please pause for a moment and imagine me sitting there, clothes hanging above my head. It was not a large closet by any means.) I got my devotional book out, got out my Bible, turned on some great inspirational worship music, and got started. Unfortunately, I finished five minutes later. FIVE MINUTES!?! I thought this was supposed to last for hours! What did I do wrong? Was I a bad Christian?

I also gathered from my friends that they had quiet times every day. I assumed that they never missed a day. However, I didn’t seem to be that consistent. I would forget one day, oversleep the next day, and sometimes just not feel like it. What was wrong with me? Surely if I were a good Christian I wouldn’t do this! I felt like the only person who was having these problems.

Those experiences understandably caused a great deal of guilt to form up in me. I felt that because I couldn’t spend daily quiet time with God I was a terrible person. Every time I would forget a quiet time I felt more and more defeated. I felt so guilty that I couldn’t set aside time for the Savior of my life. So I would try even harder to have a quiet time, if only to avoid those feelings of guilt, of failure.

It took several years for this thought to occur to me: I was thinking about it the wrong way. God didn’t want my quiet time with Him to driven by guilt. The attitude with which I was approaching God was one of “OK, God. I don’t want to get in trouble with you, so here I am.” Gee, what a wonderful heart of worship I was presenting. I’ve come to realize that the motives that govern our desire to have a quiet time are extremely important. God wants our hearts to be hungry for Him, seeking Him, desperate to know Him. This concept has really set me free. I don’t have to feel guilty if I miss my daily quiet time because God’s GRACE covers my shortcomings. I simply need to focus on God and continue to seek Him. If I keep doing that, then having my quiet time won’t feel like a chore. It will become a NEED.

The Type A Quiet Time

by 21 Comments

I have loved reading about everyone’s personal time with the Lord … and have gleaned some great insights from each post so far.  I’m already trying to figure out how to add photos like Kathy and incorporate those Sabbath principles shared by Julie.

My life is routine-driven.  In fact, that might be the understatement of the year so far.  I’m definitely a “type-A” personality.  I like lists, schedules, and plans … I do not thrive in chaos nor do I enjoy spontaneity.  It should, therefore, not be any sort of surprise that my quiet time is much the same today as it has been the past 10 years.

As I mentioned in a Your Turn post, I generally get up before my family … remember my rule, “I don’t speak to anyone until I have listened to God”?    I have a comfy corner of the couch where I can look out the patio doors and watch the sunrise as I spend those early moments of my day with the Lord.

Sunrise on March 17, 2010: the view from my couch

I always begin my quiet time by journaling.  As I write out the events of the past day and what is coming in the day ahead, I find myself processing … that becomes a blend of recording specific events and feelings merged with prayers and verses that the Lord brings to my mind as I write.  For me, getting all of that out helps me prepare to hear from the Lord as I read the Bible.

I read a chapter of Proverbs every day. Sometimes I also read from another portion of Scripture as well … savoring the passages and making notes/prayers as I read.  But, honestly, there are many days when I simply read a chapter of Proverbs, choose a verse and focus on it for the rest of that day.

In addition to reading the Bible, I prefer devotional material that is at least 100 years old … something about the lasting nature of these writings draws me to them.  In 2009, I used Streams in the Desert which is not quite 10o years old but certainly qualifies as a Christian classic.  This year, I am reading several books by various authors … currently, I am reading The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross.  Using this type of material helps me gain perspective on the difficulties and joys of daily life.

My prayer time is filled with lots of stops and starts … generally I begin by just sitting.  Practicing the discipline of stillness … which does not come naturally to me.  As thoughts or individuals come to mind I pray for wisdom or healing or peace, whatever the situation demands.  Often I will use a Psalm as a prayer, taking a passage and praying it as it applies to me.    I use my prayer calendar as well during this time – dedicating each month to praying for a specific person or group.  Finally, I grab my Daytimer and to do list … I pray over each moment and task – in my life and for my husband and daughter.

Instead of trying to fight my organizational nature and my lists and plans, I use them to guide me … and in the process I lay them down before the Lord’s plans, trusting in His over mine.

Ho does your personality influence your quiet time patterns?  Maybe you are having such a difficult time because you are trying to fit your personality into a quiet time format designed for someone else … embrace the way God made you and commune with Him!


For Further Reading:

A Quiet Time Routine – Additional insights on quiet times from my blog.

Prayer Calendaring –  An example of how I have used a prayer calendar.

Books I have found useful:

Sacred Pathways by Gary Thomas – Identifies 9 different “pathways” to connect with God.  This book has been very useful to me in helping others figure out how to improve their quiet times.

Streams in the Desert by L. B. Cowman – If you are facing difficulties right now, this is a great one-year devotional book packed with insight and encouragement.

Also, please check out our new Devotional Materials and Resources page for more book and website suggestions on this topic.

Daily Time in the Word: A Recap

by 2 Comments

We’ve covered a lot of ground over the past three weeks.  Here is a brief summary of all our posts on this topic of developing and maintaining a daily time in the Bible.

Reading God’s Word:  In this introductory post, Stephanie gave us some great questions to ask ourselves as we begin the pursuit of spending time every day in God’s Word.

Why Should We Read the Bible Anyway? Kathy reminded us of the many characteristics of the Bible and, that the bottom line is, “The Bible is God’s revelation of Himself and His ways to mankind – the very words of God ‘breathed’through divinely inspired humans (2 Timothy 3:16).”

What’s Your Goal? Breaking down five different methods of interaction with Scripture, Teri Lynne gave a descriptions of study, devotional reading, meditation, memorization, and action … as well as the goal and significance of each.

Time to Mull, Ponder, Meditate:  Kathy’s excellent explanation of meditation also offered specific ideas about how to incorporate this spiritual discipline into our lives.

How Much Time is Enough? “When it comes to the time we spend in God’s Word, there is no such thing as ‘too much’ – there is no such thing as ‘too little.'” Great encouragement from Stephanie about the value of all time spent in Scripture.

Do I HAVE to Memorize? For many of us, memorizing Scripture seems out of reach and far too difficult to even attempt.  Teri Lynne explains the benefits of investing time in “hiding the Word in our hearts.”

What?  Me Memorize Scripture? Kathy offers some specific methods of memorization and the ways doing so benefits us in our Christian life.

How do I fit it in?  part 1 Julie gives wise suggestions about making the Word of God easily accessible.    Many seasons of life are particularly difficult and Julie’s practical ideas about “easy access” are very encouraging.

How do I fit it in?  part 2 Julie offers more Godly counsel on the nature of our time spent in the Word.  This post challenges us to consider the amount of Scripture we consume and the accountability that can help us stay on track, especially during busy times of life.

The Buddy System in Bible Study Teri Lynne looks at Proverbs 27:17 and Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 for guidelines in developing accountability relationships.

You can check out more resource suggestions on the Time in the Word page under Resources and References tab in the right sidebar!


Over the next few days we will be sharing about our own personal Bible study times.   We will have an ongoing feature “My Time to Dig” … and we’d love for you to share with us what your quiet time involves.  If you are interested, please email us at scripturedig {at} comcast {dot} net and ask for the guidelines.

The Buddy System in Bible Study

by 17 Comments

We are created to connect and called to encourage. We see this evidenced in almost every aspect of our lives, especially as women. Seriously, we even go to the restroom together! :)

But for some reason, we seem to ignore this obvious truth when it comes to our spiritual lives. Far too many believers lack the understanding that while our relationship with Christ is most assuredly personal it was never intended to be private. We need the support and encouragement we receive from others for continued growth as believers.

I believe this need is especially evidenced in spending time in the Word. Accountability is vital to success for most of us in this area. Julie’s post on Tuesday shared some great ways to gain that accountability.

WHAT ACCOUNTABILITY PROVIDES

Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. Proverbs 27:17 NASB

  • Sharpening – We all need people who will challenge us to grow spiritually. Those sharpeners in our lives are the people who say, “Dig deeper!”
  • Stretching – Another role that an accountability partner can provide is stretching us. The stretchers in our lives teach us to look at applying what we have read in new ways, pushing us outside our comfort zone.
  • Smoothing – Smoothers are the people who gently guide us into a deeper relationship with Christ. Often smoothers are unaware of their influence until they are specifically told.

Sometimes we find one person who meets all three of these but generally there are multiple people who perform these roles … being intentional about finding those who will sharpen, stretch, and smooth us is a vital part of accountability in our spiritual lives.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN AN ACCOUNTABILITY RELATIONSHIP

Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor. For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up. Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone? And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 NASB

When seeking someone to join with in an accountability-type relationship there are several characteristics that are important for success. Pray carefully for relationships with people who will:

  • Help – Developing a relationship with someone who is farther along in their spiritual walk is a key to successful partnering. Look for someone who already evidences those attributes you seek. For example, if you are wanting to grow in your prayer life, ask someone who is a prayer warrior to guide you. If you want to learn to develop spiritual disciplines, seek out a person who is already practicing them.
  • Warm – In addition to someone who can help you learn, you also want to find someone who is encouraging! An accountability partner should be quick to offer words that build up and guidance that is presented in a positive manner.
  • Protect – Finally, the best accountability partnerships allow for gentle correction. You want to seek someone who you trust enough to be completely honest with and who loves you and is willing to offer words of caution when you are veering off course.

Our friend Courtney, of Women Living Well, has a great ministry – Good Morning Girls. Courtney explains, “The Good Morning Girls is a title for a group of women who use email to keep each other accountable for their quiet times. For 2 years straight, I have been a part of 5 girls who email each other each weekday morning after we have our quiet time. We say “Good Morning” and then share what we read in our quiet time. Some of us have our quiet time first thing in the morning, while others squeeze it in during children’s naps or at bedtime.”

We know some of you are already involved in a Good Morning Girls group … and we would love to encourage those who are seeking this type of accountability to check out Courtney’s blog and the Good Morning Girls site as well. Courtney says, “Good Morning Girls groups will come to an end August 15th – then from Sept. 1-15 new groups will begin signups on the message board – so women can start thinking about who they’d like to invite to join a group for the fall. Also – there is no deadline – so they can sign up today if they want! We have one group with 68 ladies! It’s their women’s ministry group in their church! And another created a Facebook group with 32 women! So exciting! But usually the groups are between 3 and 11. We have over 100 groups going and over 600 ladies from 34 states!”

We are thankful for the ministry Courtney has through the Good Morning Girls and challenge to get involved in some sort of accountability for your own personal Bible study time.

Do you have a buddy system or accountability partner? How do you seek encouragement from others as you pursue spiritual growth?

Find Us on Facebook


Recent Posts

Archives