Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Real-life digging with Kristi

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Ok, friends – let me be completely real with you today.  I read Kathy’s quiet time post and thought, “oh, I want that!”  But… let me tell you what it really looks like for me! :)

I have a four year old, a two year old, and I am pregnant with our 3rd – I needed Julie’s encouraging “how do I fit it in?” posts as much as anyone!  When I can get up before my family, that is when I have been the most consistent with having a real routine for my time with the Lord – this pregnancy [and a bent toward being a night-owl] has thrown me out of whack and I’m still reestablishing that morning routine.  If I don’t have my time in the morning I make sure I have time during my kids’ nap and rest time.  My two year old still takes a two hour nap, and I have made having a long “rest time” of quiet play in her room a normal part of my 4 year old’s life – both because she needs the time by herself and mom needs some time to decompress!

A sidebar of encouragement to my fellow young moms – let your kids know that your time with the Lord is a priority.  It’s ok to tell them that they need to stay in their rooms for quiet play while you have time in the Word!  Once when my daughter was not yet three years old I was joking with her over lunch that I was tired and should take a nap while she did. She got so animated and said, “NO!  That’s your special time with God!”  It is a normal thing to see my Bible and study materials laying around or for her to come downstairs and find me studying.  My dad used to have his quiet time during breakfast while we were all busily getting ready for school and work – those times seeing him bent over the Word and finding his prayer list around the house left an impression on my heart and taught me that this was a priority, even in times of busyness!

Just as the time of day differs, how I fill this time differs, as well.  My ideal is to start in quiet prayer – I need time to sit in His presence, to come to Him in my weariness and bask in the rest He alone can provide!  [My most common prayer as a parent seems to be, “Lord, you said that if anyone lacks wisdom you would give it – I have no idea what I’m doing and I certainly need your wisdom!!”]  Right now I am participating in the Bible in 90 Days challenge, so the rest of my time is mostly reading.  Other times I dive right into study.  I am a studier by nature and I love to dig into the Scriptures.

I am trying to establish routines to make the Scriptures and prayer part of our daily routine as a family.  [Ann Voskamp‘s example constantly challenges and encourages me in this!]  Lately I have been pulling out our chronological daily Bible during lunch and sharing portions of each day’s reading with my kids.  We have had wonderful discussions about sections of Isaiah, Chronicles, and other books that I wouldn’t normally think to read with my preschoolers!  It is also a great time to refocus in the middle of the day when I am starting to lose both my mind and my patience. :)

The best way I have found for me to memorize is to write verses on index cards and keep them with me during the day.  I have fabric and a pattern waiting for me in the basement to make an apron with pockets – I want to keep verse memory cards as well as cards with prayer lists on them in my pockets during the day so I can pull them out when I find myself alone for a few minutes!

On a practical note, I have found that when we are too busy, my quiet time suffers.  Time in the Word gets squeezed when we have had “too much fun” away from home and I am struggling to keep up with my other responsibilities.  The more we are at home, the more we have a consistent daily routine, the more time I have to intentionally disciple my children, listen to the Lord, and open the Word.

In my ideal world, I would consistently have an hour or two of focused time with the Lord each day.  Perhaps someday I will.  Until then, God is teaching me to come to Him in my weariness, to offer Him whatever time I have, to make Him part of my daily life.  Honestly, I am not always a good student – I get distracted, my priorities get out of line, I fall asleep when I finally sit down with the Word!  But He is patiently teaching me, and I am finding that this time of my life is a great sanctifier as I learn to recognize my selfishness and how often I place my wants over what I really need – time with the Savior.

Every day is a new time to consider – do I truly believe that one day in the courts of my God is better than thousands elsewhere?  If so, I will find time in my day to sit in His presence and open His Word.

Kathy’s Quiet Time

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I spend my daily time with God at a roll top desk in my home office. Each of the items on my desk is an important part of my time with God.

  1. Bible – In addition to my main NIV Study Bible, I keep other translations close at hand. I use the NIV for study and memorization, as well as much of my Bible reading. I also read familiar passages in other translations. And I like to use the New Living Translation for devotional reading.
  2. Bible Reading Plan – I usually use a year-long reading plan. It keeps me purposeful and on track. Late in the fall I will research and pray about a reading plan for 2011. (If you need a plan I have several on my site that are free to download.)
  3. Journal – I record specific things God teaches or shows me from His Word. Then I can go back and review them. I also write down things He tells me to do. Writing them down makes me feel more accountable! And writing prayers or the main points of what I’m praying about helps keep my mind from wandering.
  4. Scripture Memory Cards – I keep the new verses and the verses from the last few months on top of my desk. My goal is to recite the new verse every day and to review the last few verses weekly.
  5. Prayer Photos – The photos taped inside my desk remind me to pray for specific friends, family members, and missionaries. It’s hard to pass over them when you can see their faces!
  6. Coffee Mug – I meet with God first thing in the morning before the demands of the day have a chance to intrude. For me, morning means coffee!
  7. Tissues – Allergies and emotions make Kleenex a must!
  8. Pen and highlighter

Having all my quiet time essentials in one place and always ready helps me stay consistent. (You may not have an extra room or even a desk, but you can keep your quiet time materials together in a box or tote bag so you don’t have to hunt and gather!)

My “quiet time” is the time I spend in purposeful fellowship with God. I talk to Him and I seek to hear Him speak to me through His Word and prayer. Although I do learn many things about God as I read His Word, my quiet time is separate from my Bible study time.

Usually I begin by praising God and asking Him to speak to me. As I read His Word I interact with God in prayer. I really want to have a two-way conversation. I ask Him questions and “listen” for His answers. I write down what God teaches me about Himself as well as anything I need to follow up on later.

My prayers include confession and repentance, praise, thanksgiving, and petition (asking God for things for myself and others). Some days my prayers include all of these. But from day to day, my quiet time will reflect what’s going on in my relationship with God at the time. If I’ve wronged God by sinning, then my time with Him needs to concentrate on repentance and getting things right with Him. If I’m struggling with a decision then I will spend more time seeking God’s wisdom and guidance.

Although there is no set formula for my time with God, it always includes both hearing from God through His Word and speaking to God through prayer. I try to let the specifics of how much time in each and in what order flow naturally out of my interaction with Him.

May God bless your time with Him!      Kathy

My Time to Dig – Key Ingredients

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On my recent post, How Much Time Is Enough, I mentioned some advice I had received in the early days of my Christian walk. A sweet man of God told me, “Stephanie, there’s a difference between reading God’s Word and studying it…and you need to try to do both every day.” That advice has been my quiet time filter for over 20 years.

With the exception of a few things, my quiet time hasn’t really changed much. Some of the seasons of my life have caused me to juggle my schedule and change my routine, but the key ingredients have virtually remained the same. I may have juggled the order in which they fall-I may have grown along the way, but there are five elements that have remained a constant in my quiet time over  the years.

STUDY – This is my “must do” of the day. I’m a “word” girl, so I love to study the original meaning of things and expand my understanding of God’s Word. That probably explains why I love the Amplified version and why I love study books. I study words, topics, books of the Bible and characters. Most of the time I just get out my Bible, my Bible study books (some of my favorites are on an older post entitled, “Finding What I’m Looking For”) and just dig in, but other times I use a workbook. Right now, I’m going through “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” by Elizabeth George.

My study time also goes hand in hand with what I’m speaking on or writing about, so while I’m going through “A Woman After God’s Own Heart” – I’m also studying the New Testament church, character studies of moms of the Bible and the book of Philippians.

READ – I like to read through the Bible every year. I confess that I’ve never purchased a One Year Bible before, but that’s a personal preference. When I read through the Bible, I want to be able to make notes of how God speaks to me or write a prayer beside a promise and date it. I want to leave a trail in my Bible of where I’ve been and where God has led me.

I also confess that when life gets complicated and I’m on overload that the “Reading” time is the one that gets set aside for a season. Don’t get me wrong, I continue to spend time studying the Word, but when I can’t fit it all in, I set aside my reading until my life gets back on an even keel.

JOURNAL – Although I’m not really into “diary-style” journaling, I love to journal my journey through the Word. This helps me be attentive when I’m in the Word…looking for nuggets of truth and listening for His still small voice.

Each page of my journal normally contains two titles. THE WORD. PRAYER.

The Word – is where I write down insights in His Word, places where He has spoken to me, promises I’m claiming, wisdom I’m seeking, direction I’m in need of, correction I’m also in need of and moments where He has clearly made Himself known to me.

Prayer – is where I write those things that I was prompted to pray for as I was reading. Where I pray in reference to something I had just read in Scripture. Where I list a promise I’m clinging to or a praise for speaking to my heart.

PRAYER – I like to maintain a list for daily prayer. I’ve changed this up over the years as to the way I keep track of it, but I have to have a list or things fall through the crack of things “I meant to pray.” I make a list with headings like, Family, Friends, Church, Nation, Costa Rica & Panama, Pastors, Missionaries & the Persecuted Church.

DEVOTIONAL – I love to read short, challenging and encouraging devotionals. My all time favorite is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. I also like Streams in the Desert, The Daily Bread and many blogs that I subscribe to for daily devotionals. Ann Graham Lotz has a great one, as well.

Something new I’ve learned to do over the past year is to “settle” in with the Lord. I learned about it when I went through a book called Saturdays With Stella and it changed my concept of being still before God. It’s more about getting to a place where you just enjoy His presence. Nothing has to be said, nothing has to be done. Like when you sit in the room with a loved one and enjoy the sweetness of being together – silently saying “I love you.”

And when you think about it, isn’t that what our time with the Lord is all about. Through spending time in God’s Word and in prayer – we are telling Him, “I love you” and hearing Him say the same back to us.

Tell us about your quiet time with the Lord. Do you struggle with some things more than others?

Daily Time in the Word: A Recap

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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

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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?

How do I fit it in ~ Part 2

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It really helps to know your goal in spending time digging into God’s Word, so we don’t set ourselves up for failure by thinking we can do it all every time.  Yesterday we looked at making God’s Word physically more easily accessible in our lives.  Today let’s think about the Amount we tackle and the value of Accountability.

Efficient Amount ~

Mothers are careful not to overfill a sippy cup or put too much on a highchair tray.  If we try to manage too much spiritually while facing limitations physically, mentally, and emotionally, the portion size may determine if we end up in defeat or delight.  A wise woman chooses a reasonable size study to tackle, will consider intensity she can manage, and will select topics pertinent to life at hand.  Taking on too much for our life stage causes us to give in to temptation to bail out prematurely or leaves us feeling like spiritual growth is out of our reach.  With wisdom to choose an amount of study we can manage efficiently in our full days (and nights), we are more likely to be consistent, apply truth to life, reach our goals, and experience longer term spiritual health.  Better to give a small child what they can pick up and eat, rather than overload them with what is too much to handle and have them toss it to the floor or choke on it.

  • Focus on plans with short prison epistles or narrative portions of scriptures.
  • Use a word study.
  • Make use of a plan through Psalms and Proverbs.
  • It’s more important to be in the Word regularly and have the truth in you than to conquer a monumental portion of scripture or heavy theological topic … and give up.  If you have young kids around, you might pull out your copy of “The Tortoise and the Hare” to illustrate this principle ;)
  • If you study topically, choose what you will use and apply immediately, so truth is reinforced in your heart right away … before nursery rhymes or late night feedings or conference calls steal it away!

Encouraging Accountability ~

As a mother of young children is drawn to the park or story time or mother’s day out or MOPS group, we need encouragement and partnership in matters of the heart.

  • Other women offer insight from their study, and they need to hear what God shows you.
  • Older women offer perspective as they look back at the season you’re in.
  • It’s easy to let our circumstances become bigger than they are when we aren’t exposed to lives of others.
  • Fellowship of other women is essential to refreshment for our souls when we’re tired and discouraged.
  • Feelings of isolation fade when we meet over God’s truth and in prayer with sisters in Christ, pouring out our dependence on Him together.
  • God has given us all we need for life and godliness, even in young mother years, so don’t ignore feeding your spirit.
  • You’re going to need encouragement and wisdom and correction from God’s Word daily, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you can go without it.

We can be deceived by others who tell us there isn’t time or energy to deepen our walk with God during years of young motherhood.  When we’re mindful of our own weakness, it’s prime time to go to His Word with a hungry heart, humble attitude, and eager spirit.  What better time to experience the nearness of our Father than when we have young, new lives entrusted to our care?  As we draw near to Him, He promises He’ll draw near to us.  “He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young,” Isaiah 40:11. Even now, especially now, take His hand as you go to His Word and pour out your heart to Him, letting Him lead you and keep you close to His heart.  Every season is a great time to make time to dig!

Resources for daily devotions online:

Proverbs 31 – www.proverbs31.org/dailydevotions

Scripture Union – www.scriptureunion.org

Sharon Jaynes – www.sharonjaynes.com/devotions (weekly)

How do I fit it in? ~ Part 1

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You may not carry your devotions in a diaper bag, but you may find it hard to fit in time with the Lord between things like conference calls, errands, and appointments. Simple principles help us make time with the Lord part of our daily walk, no matter what our life’s season.  The season of young children, however, seems to have unique obstacles, so we’re going to give some extra attention to those challenges today & tomorrow.  Everything seems to be against us when we’re thirsting for time alone with the Lord or feeding from His Word, but have a hungry baby, a teething toddler, and young minds eager for activity and attention.  What’s a mom to do when she can’t get to the pure milk of the Word, but finds herself accessorized in sour milk?  This season of life calls for a modified approach to getting in the Word and with the Lord, just like it calls for unique approach to just about everything else in life.  If a woman will modify her access to the Lord, the amount she tackles, and the accountability in her life, she will enjoy time with the Lord and in His Word as only a young mom can.

Stephanie helped us to address the question of “How much time is enough” that often prompts guilt, and Kathy gave tips for how to make memorization part of everyday life.  But your window of opportunity to tackle this question may be passing, so let’s look at the value of Easy Access for Part 1 of the answer to “How do I fit it in?”  and tomorrow we’ll look at two more keys to fitting it in.

Easy Access  ~

Moms know that to leave without a well equipped diaper bag is a set up for trouble.  Easy access to essentials is not negotiable; it’s the same with easy access to tools for her heart. There may be a season when a basket of study supplies may be tucked with a journal and commentary beside a favorite chair in a quiet alcove, but the years of young children will probably not be that season.  Instead, it’s best not to be overcome by the demands, but adapt!  Increase the potential for satisfying spiritual thirst by making tools easily available.

  • Keep materials like a journal, Bible, verse cards, or notebook in a wider variety of places such as:  car, diaper bag, stroller, bathroom, rocking chair.  And if this isn’t your season of life, apply this to your briefcase, desk, or computer bag.
  • Be flexible with formats of truth:  internet, ipod, “flash cards,” CDs, small books, smaller notebooks, music, reading aloud, memorizing with children, to name a few.
  • Make materials mobile.  Don’t be discouraged by interruptions.  Pick up the Word and take it with you.  Instead of a heavy study Bible suited for your desk or later time of life, use a smaller purse size that goes anywhere.
  • Pray as you walk and as you drive and as you nurse and as you fold laundry and as you fall asleep.  There will be days to spend uninterrupted time in prayer, but during the sometimes crazy days of young motherhood, give yourself freedom to enjoy doing your day with your Heavenly Father who understands “children” can be demanding. :)

Well your sweet moment of time may be slipping away, and you may be hearing the call of your phone, your dryer buzzer, your voice mail,  or your 3 year old …. the list could go on, couldn’t it?  My kids are waiting for me, too :)  so let’s come back tomorrow to talk about more real ways to fit in time with the Lord.  He’s waiting, too.

What? Me memorize Scripture?

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I know what many of you are thinking. “There’s no way I can memorize Scripture.”  Or, “I don’t need to memorize Scripture because I have six Bible translations at home as well as Bibles on my laptop, phone, and Kindle.” But wait! Before you stop reading, let me give you a few things to consider.

Memorizing God’s Word solidly entrenches His truth in your heart and mind in a way that simply reading it cannot. When God’s truth becomes a part of you, He can use it to minister to you in powerful and very personal ways. Yesterday, Teri Lynne gave us several powerful reasons to memorize Scripture. I’d like to remind us of a few ways God can work in our life through His implanted Word:

  • Provide comfort, encouragement, peace, and strength (Colossians 3:15-16; Psalm 1:1-3; 119:28)
  • Give guidance and wisdom (Psalm 37:31; Psalm 119:24, 98, 105)
  • Foster spiritual growth (2 Timothy 3:16-17; Hebrews 4:12; 1 Peter 2:2)
  • Equip for evangelism (1 Peter 3:15; Acts 18:28)
  • Source of joy and blessing (Psalm 119:24, 47, 103; James 1:21-25)
  • Strength to resist temptation (Psalm 119:11)

Now you may agree that memorizing Scripture is beneficial, but you are still overwhelmed at the idea. “Where do I start? How do I do it?” I have had the same feelings. For years, I knew God wanted me to purposefully work to memorize His Word. I tried it half-heartedly several times, with limited success. However with a renewed commitment and some helpful, practical tips for memorizing I have begun to successfully “hide God’s Word in my heart.” I’d like to share what I’ve learned with you.

How do I decide what to memorize? Choose a passage God is using in your life. He may emphasize it during your quiet time, a sermon, or Bible study. Start small with just a verse or two. You can work up to lengthier passages later. This verse or passage may:

  • Speak to an area of weakness in your life
  • Have special significance in your spiritual journey
  • Remind you of something important about God
  • Be useful for instruction or to help guard against sin

How do I keep track of the verses I’m working on? You will want to have a system to record and store the verses. Here are a few suggestions:

  • Index cards and a recipe box
  • Blank cards the size of business cards and a business card file
  • Card stock paper cut to fit a photo album with plastic sleeves (4 x 6 or 5 x 7)

What are a few tips to help me succeed? Before you begin the actual memorization, consider the following:

  • Read and reflect on the whole passage surrounding the verse for context and meaning.
  • Find a friend who will hold you accountable.
  • Learn each verse word perfect. And memorize the reference.
  • Learn all verses from the same translation. The one you are most familiar with is best.
  • Choose a memorization rate that is manageable and sets you up for success. It may be one verse a month or one per week.
  • Establish a review schedule. If we don’t review the verses regularly we will forget!

How do I actually go about committing the verse to memory? There is no one way that works best for everyone. Different people have different learning styles. Some of the following suggestions will work for you while others may not. Try a variety of the ideas to find out what works best and to keep things interesting. You may do one activity one day and something different the next:

  • Write the verse on a card – the type you have chosen for storage.
  • Read the verse out loud several times.
  • Rewrite the verse in your own words in a journal or scratch paper.
  • Rewrite the verse word perfect one or more times on scratch paper or on extra cards to put up in prominent places around your house.
  • Use key words – Identify several key words or “anchor” words in the verse. Circle these words on the front of the card and then write them on the back. Read the verse several times noting the key words. Then turn the card over and attempt to recite the verse using only the key words.
  • For visual learners – Draw a symbol or picture on the back of the card that will remind you of the verse in some way.
  • For auditory learners – Record the verse and play it back. Or put the verse to music and sing it!
  • For tactile learners – Pick an object in your home that reminds you of the verse. For instance a stone may help you remember that God is a “strong fortress.”
  • Pray the verse out loud to God.

Don’t give up on Scripture memory before you’ve even tried. You can do it and the effort is more than worth it. I’d love to know what verses you choose and how it goes!

Do I HAVE to memorize?

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“Do I HAVE to memorize?”

The short answer?  Nope.  There is no command for memorization.  However, there is great benefit to our spiritual growth and maturity from memorization.

The question I would ask in response is, “Why DON’T you memorize Scripture?” And I imagine the main answer I would receive is, “I can’t.” To which my pastor, who can be sort of dramatic, would say, “Then you better tear out Philippians 4:13 from your Bible because you don’t believe that Christ gives you the mental strength to memorize!”

Leaving the dramatics behind for a moment, I do think it is imperative that we acknowledge it is rarely that we CANNOT memorize Scripture … it is,truthfully, that would would RATHER NOT devote the time and energy to doing so. How do I know that we are all capable of memorizing Scripture?  Because no doubt many of you have books seared into your brain from reading them to  your children so many times.  Others of you may have countless extension numbers floating around your head from years worked at a specific office.   Still more of us have lines from movies, quotes from television shows, passages of books, and verses of songs readily accessible in our minds.

WE CAN MEMORIZE!

So, back to the main issue … the benefits of memorizing Scripture.

John Piper says in Desiring Joy that we should memorize God’s Word because, “It is the source of life and faith and power and hope and freedom and wisdom and comfort and assurance and victory over our greatest enemy” (152).

Scripture is our source of power and protection. Psalm 119:11 says, “Thy Word have I hid in my heart that I may not sin against Thee” (NASB).

Scripture gives us a standard for evaluating our thoughts and pursuits. Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things” (NASB).

Scripture offers us guidelines for relating to others. “Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you,” Ephesians 4:32 (NASB).

Scripture provides us with insight into God’s character, “O Lord our Lord, how majestic is Thy name in all the earth, Who hast displayed Thy splendor above the heavens!” Psalm 8:1 (NASB).

These are but a few of the benefits we accrue when we spend time memorizing the Word of God.

So, while memorization is not a command, having the Word of God deeply implanted into our hearts and minds affords us a greater ability to be obedient to the Lord in all other ways.

Are you a memorizer?  Has imbedding Scripture into your heart always been a struggle for you?  Tomorrow, Kathy will be sharing some tips for memorizing.

What passages have you memorized?


How Much Time Is Enough?

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Many people ask how much time they should spend reading the Bible. It’s a good question, but there is no one-size-fits-all kind of answer. 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.”

I remember not long after I became a Christian a sweet and godly man told me that there is a big difference between reading God’s Word and studying it and that I needed to strive to do both each day. That word of wisdom has stuck with me through the years. For better or for worse, I still strive to do both every day. I say, “for better or for worse” because, at times, I’ve weighed myself down with self-imposed expectations that were impossible to keep in light of what I was going through.

You see, it doesn’t take long on planet earth to learn that life happens and circumstances don’t always add up to an hour in the morning reading God’s Word and an hour in the evening studying it. Life happens. People get sick. Tragedy strikes. Schedules are altered. Children are up all night throwing up. Elderly parents need to be cared for. Newborn babies cry through the night. A house full of children make it impossible to find a quiet place.

We’re all in different seasons in our lives and we face an ongoing jockeying of our schedules trying to prevent our worlds from colliding with our time in the Word.

On the flip side of the circumstantial coin, it’s important that we don’t let our dailies dictate our agendas. If we’re not careful, our lives can become an excuse for not spending time in the Word of the Living God.

So, how much time is enough? As much as you can possibly invest! As much as you desire to grow given the season you are in right now. As much as you need comfort, courage, wisdom and strength in the circumstances you face today. As much as you need to build your faith and guard your heart during the storms that are sure to come. As much as you desire to leave a legacy of diligence and godliness for your children. As much as you can, dear one…as much as you can.

But if you’re anything like me, your attempts will be hit and miss without the benefit of a well-crafted plan. Fortunately, there are plenty out there for you to choose from. Biblegateway.com has several reading plans available. Another great source is Heartlight.org.

If you’re looking for ways to make time in the Word a priority in your life, here are some ideas that I hope will inspire you.

Choose a plan. I recommend you try beginning with a “read the Bible in a year” plan now. That normally takes about 20-30 minutes a day.

Commit to a timeframe that works for you. Evaluate your schedule and write down your time in the Word in your appointment book. That’s right…make an appointment with God and guard it at all possible costs. If you don’t think you have enough time, think about how much time you spend watching TV. Consider how many hours you spend on the computer…on Facebook, on Twitter, blogging and email. Think of the time you spend randomly talking on the phone to your friends. None of those things are bad, but they’re no comparison with our time in the Word.

Be accountable. Find a friend who loves to spend time in the Word and give her permission to keep you accountable. It may not be easy, but you have to be willing to allow others into your world and ask you questions that may aggravate you every once in a while.

Teach Someone. You will never learn more than when you teach someone else. Teaching puts you under the gun and literally makes you spend time in the Word. I’ve often said that speaking is selfish for me because it motivates me to diligently study God’s Word so that I’m able to present it clearly to others.

Be forgiving. Give yourself room to fail and room for life to happen without beating yourself up or giving up. If you miss a day, a week, a month…just look at your plan and begin reading where you are. Don’t try to catch up…just start where you are and get back on track.

2 Timothy 2:15 tells us, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

Psalm 119:92-93  reminds us of the life-giving qualities God’s Word, “Unless Your law had been my delight, I would then have perished in my affliction. I will never forget Your precepts, For by them You have given me life.”

If you struggle with trying to figure out how much time is enough, just remember, 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.” No time in the Word is wasted. So…dig in!


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