Do Not Depart

Encouragement and Tools to Abide in God's Word

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Why bother?

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Our culture has trained us to expect instant gratification and overwhelming results for minimal effort. Fast food. High speed internet. Movies on demand. “The Easy Button.” We can even “Jump-start” our weight loss. We don’t like to wait. We tend to avoid hard work and long-term investment.

So why bother with practicing the spiritual disciplines? The disciplines require long-term commitment and hard work, exactly those things we tend to avoid. What in the world would be worth the time, discipline, and self-denial?

Fulfilling our God-ordained purpose is the overarching reason for practicing the spiritual disciplines. Before God even saved us, He determined that we should be conformed to the likeness of Jesus (Romans 8:28-30). That is God’s ultimate goal for us – to be like Jesus. He wants to refine us, shape our character, mold us like clay in His divine hands. Only God can cause this spiritual growth and transformation.

Only God can make us godly. But He demands and works through our obedient cooperation. Paul told Timothy to “train yourself to be godly” (1 Tim 4:7) and commanded the Romans to “be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom 12:2). The author of Hebrews warns us to “make every effort… to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord” (Heb 12:14). In his book Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster comments on this spiritual truth.

“God has given us the Disciplines of the spiritual life as a means of receiving his grace. The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us… By themselves the Spiritual Disciplines can do nothing; they can only get us to the place where something can be done. They are God’s means of grace… God has ordained the Disciplines of the spiritual life as the means by which we place ourselves where he can bless us.” Pg. 7

In addition to Christ-likeness, genuine pursuit of the spiritual disciplines yields other personal and exciting benefits. Foster elaborates on several:

  1. Spiritual depth – Foster says that “superficiality is the curse of our age.” Even Christians today lean toward shallowness. The spiritual disciplines take us beyond ourselves and the selfishness of our lives and plunge us into spiritual depths previously unknown.
  2. Freedom – Scripture tells us that when we die to self, we also die to the sin that enslaves. Obeying God through commitment to the Disciplines liberates us from the weight of “self” and frees us to serve Him.
  3. Intimacy with God – Through the disciplines we can experience and know God in ways and at levels not otherwise possible. They are the means of relating to God. Like Moses on the Mountain, we will be positioned to meet with God face-to-face.
  4. Joy – We will sense God’s pleasure with our obedience. We will live in the glow of His presence. We will find fulfillment in God’s purpose for us.

Are you ready? The beginning of a new year is a great time to make a new commitment to fulfilling God’s purpose for you!

Has your attitude about spiritual disciplines changed? Share your experience with us today.

What ARE the disciplines?

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I have to confess something … until June 2001, I had never heard of “spiritual disciplines.”   I’m the wife, daughter, sister, granddaughter, and great-granddaughter of pastors.  I went to church every Sunday and Wednesday of most of my life.  I attended a private Christian college.  I’d even taught Bible studies.  But until  June 2001, when my dad gave me Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster, I’d not heard one word about spiritual disciplines.

I also have to confess that it took me awhile to read the book.  With countless references to people I’d never heard of like Teresa of Avila, Julian of Norwich, and Francois Fenelon, I honestly felt very stupid and even a little lacking.

But, one night, I began reading … really reading … and the second line of the first chapter says,

The classical Disciplines of the spiritual life call us to move beyond surface living and into the depths. (1)

I was hooked!  As the wife of a pastor and mother of a toddler, I needed to move to the depths … I was longing for it.  I read and underlined and re-read.  In fact, since that first reading the fall of 2001, I have read Celebration of Discipline at least once every year.

And what I found wasn’t trivial legalism or frustrating check lists.  I didn’t experience condemnation or guilt as I read.  Instead, I found centuries-old wisdom and examples of lives well lived for the cause of Christ.  As I poured over the pages and dug into the Word of God, I experienced freedom and peace and longing for more than I had experienced previously in my spiritual walk.

The disciplines are simply tools. Foster states, “The purpose of the Disciplines is liberation from the stifling slavery to self-interest and fear” (2).  As we pursue the depths of the disciple life, we find the disciplines as guides to those practices mentioned in Scripture such as fasting, prayer, worship and celebration.   Over the next few weeks we will explore the Inward Disciplines (meditation, prayer, fasting, and study), the Outward Disciplines (simplicity, submission, solitude, and service) and the Corporate Disciplines (confession, worship, guidance, and celebration).

As you join us for this month of Digging the Disciplines, we hope you will find this study challenging and inspiring.  Some of the disciplines will be familiar and some may not.  Some may be practices you have already learned and some may be challenges for you to pursue.  Regardless, our deepest longing is that as we dig into these ideas, we will all be drawn back to the Idea-Giver … the One who calls us His disciples and lovingly disciplines us and draws us near.

Will you join us?

Resolutions, Plans, and Goals

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“… discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness.” ~ 1 Timothy 4:7

As the new year begins, many will define resolutions, establish plans, and develop goals.  Perhaps your year will be focused on one word like Sandra’s or you will participate in an ongoing Bible study like the one Stephanie is leading on her blog.  Maybe you want to invest in your marriage by joining Julie for Marriage Mondays or you have sought a Bible study plan from the many resources Kathy has on her site.  Some of you may be like Kristi and relishing what you have learned in the past year and looking forward to how God will teach in the year ahead.

No matter what  your plans, resolutions, and goals for 2011, at Scripture Dig our desire is to encourage you in spiritual growth. We want to equip you to dig into the Word of God.  And we hope to empower you with confidence as you grow.

This month, we are focusing on the classical spiritual disciplines – those practices of believers that have stood through the centuries as tools for living a vibrant disciple’s life.

Whether you long for a more consistent quiet time, want to improve your prayer life, or seek greater fellowship with other believers – no matter what your spiritual goals and longings for the coming year – learning about and incorporating the disciplines into your life will be a worthy endeavor.

Join us for a month of Digging the Disciplines!!

Prayer Theme Recap

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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?

Prayer: Graphic Organizers

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Our lives have become broader than ever; we can literally touch people around the world. So much information can become heavy, even a burden, when we genuinely want to pray, but feel overwhelmed with praises to lift up and petitions to remember. We say, “I’ll pray for you,” and we really mean it, but the shear number of needs we know threatens to sabotage our best intentions.

Somewhere in all the needs, praises, concerns, and ever-present confessions, we must return to where Jesus’ pattern of prayer begins:  worship of Who God is. We may leave out worship of the One Who hears our prayers, because we are in such a hurry to tackle the mountain of information. Kathy helped us understand Jesus’ index prayer here,when she shared 3 lessons on what we know as the “Lord’s Prayer.”

Here are four ideas to help manage your prayer times and make it fruitful:

Four Square Family Prayer ~ This breaks down concerns into 4 areas, beginning close to home and moving “outward.” Use it 4 days or for a whole week.  The exercise of writing new info each week helps you to reflect on God’s power and answers. Write down needs, but also jot down answers and applicable promises from Scripture. Hole punch sheets to include in a Prayer Notebook.

One Month of Praying for People ~ This sheet is specifically designed to help you focus on all of the “others” in your life. Jesus’ prayer in Matthew 6 uses all plural pronouns; isn’t that interesting? Use this tool in your Prayer Notebook to help you manage the bigger picture of the work of prayer.

Letter of Response to My Father ~ This letter writing tool helps us express ourselves in personal letter style to our Father in heaven.  Great tool to use once a week, or use it every day for a week to sweeten your prayer life. The notes help to indicate the parts of Jesus’ pattern of prayer.

One Week of Responding ~ 7 Days of response sheets take you through a week, along with suggestions for what to focus on, space to journal, and an inset reminder of the elements Jesus included in the Matt 6 pattern. These 1/2 sheets are ideal for printing off and putting into a binder or carrying in your Bible.

I invite you to find a tool that looks like it may work for you. Like a menu on a fridge or a planner in your bag, these tools are meant to make your prayer life more fruitful and effective as you spend time communicating with your Lord.

We’d love to hear if you plan to try out one of these tools and let us know how it goes. Do you have another great tool you’d like to share?

Thank you to Tara, who designed these for our Women’s Ministry and for others who long to spend time with their Father.

Write … in a Prayer Notebook?

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With more information to process than ever before, people are scrambling to write down what is vital to life. For you it may be a menu, appointments, lesson plans, or chores; if we want to track it, we write it down. What are you tracking?

God established a pattern of writing what matters. Since we matter to Him, He engraved us on His hands. Isaiah 49:16 In Proverbs 3:1-3 we read that His teaching, love, and faithfulness should not be forgotten, so we need to write them on the tablet of our hearts.  Do you hear the theme of writing not to forget? It’s just so …. “human” to forget. We are not only forgetful, but we are easily distracted, and easily rerouted.  God Himself shows us the value of writing down what matters:

  • writing down “our days” ~ Psalm 139:16 I can’t wait to see this Book!
  • writing down our names in heaven ~ Luke 10:20/Phil. 4:3 I want to be sure I’m IN this Book!
  • writing down His truth to bring us life ~ John 20:31 I’m so glad He thought of this!
  • writing down what fills our lives & history ~ Daniel 10:21 This one probably has a long reservation list in heaven!

In pursuing the work of prayer, we can take a cue from the God’s pattern and write down what matters most. By having a Prayer Notebook with tools to strengthen our communication and to track the content of our communication, we overcome some pitfalls that cause us to bail out on practicing prayer. The notebook style isn’t important, but using a prayer tool makes a difference. Each year I buy the cheapest planner Wal-Mart has to offer, and I record valuable contact info, dates I don’t want to miss, names of people I need to keep, and then the daily stuff of life as it happens. I write everything what matters most, and it is an invaluable tool to me. It completely changes how productive, reliable, and at peace I am. Let me suggest some tools and some content to include in a Prayer Notebook:

  • Content: A section for worship/praise, confession, thanksgiving, and requests. You may include a space to journal. Cards to respond to God’s leading.
  • Tools: Scripture about each focus area, a list of the names of God (use them), “triggers” (photos, cards, bulletins,etc)

My friend Cindy shared an overview of her Prayer Notebook last week, giving invaluable ideas & pictures. Sandra shared yesterday about Prayer Cards. This coming Friday I’ll share several graphic organizers as options for tools to include in your Prayer Notebook.

So what do you write in? A planner? A journal? A lesson plan book? A scrapbook? There’s a lot of information to remember and manage. If we were God, we could write it all on our hand. ;) Tracking our prayer lives in a Prayer Notebook helps us stay focused, recall reasons to give thanks, and stay consistent.

What do you use to help you make your prayer time prime time?

Using Prayer Cards

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You can tell what subjects people are passionate about by looking at their books. If you come over and look at my shelves, you will see book after book on prayer. You would think after reading all those books on prayer, I’d be an expert. But unfortunately, it’s just the opposite. I read all those books on prayer because I feel so inadequate. But thanks to A Praying Life by Paul A. Miller, I have learned how to be more disciplined in my prayer life, and grow deeper in my relationship with God.

Miller suggests using prayer cards as a way to focus. My categories include– family, church, missionaries, adopting families, repentance cards, and hope cards. On the card I list important requests, verses I want to pray over the life or situation, and sometimes the date of an answer.

For example, on my “adopting families” card I wrote out Heb. 10:36, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what is promised.” Then I list families I know who are adopting. About once a month I email the couples  to see how I can specifically pray and update the prayer card.

During my prayer time (at night!) I go through my cards, praying for each one. Not every prayer is going to get an “answer date.” On my repentance card labeled “pride,” I will continue to pray “…apart from Me you can do nothing” (John 15:5) every day of my life!

I’m a methodological person, so having a routine works for me. It helps me feel like I’m joining in God’s plan for each person and situation I pray for.

Do you struggle sometimes in your prayer life? What tools help keep you focused?

Sandra Peoples is a pastor’s wife and mom to two boys (plus one more boy her family is in the process of adopting from Ethiopia). She has an Master of Divinity degree in Women’s Studies and wants to encourage women to grow in godliness. She blogs at Heart for Him and Twitters from @HeartforHim.

Break the Grip of the Rip

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I knew how to dog paddle when it grabbed me and pulled me away to danger, little match for the water of the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Rip currents surprise unwary swimmers and threaten to pull them from shore and to disaster.

Last week I saw a warning sign posted along the Gulf Coast:   Break the Grip of the Rip. If we’re going to swim in the ocean, we need to be aware of potential dangers and how to respond:

  • Know where the dangerous currents are and avoid them.
  • Know how to get out of a rip current if you’re in one. (Swim out and AWAY)
  • Know how to reach out and take a hand of rescue if offered.

Trying to have quiet time with the Lord can be like fighting the rip current of life’s distractions and interruptions. Just when we are enjoying the warm rhythm of God’s truth washing over us, something grabs at us and threatens to pull us away to the dangerous place of drifting without Him. It may look different for each of us, but Satan knows what to use to pull us under and away from our Lord.  The solution for facing these Quiet Time Busters is similar to facing ocean currents:

  • Know what distractions are dangerous and avoid them.
  • Know how to get away from distraction when it comes. (Turn out and AWAY)
  • Know how to take help when offered to you.

We can break the grip of the rip, because we have the Holy Spirit to empower us to face things that would pull us from God’s path. As we feed on His Word, we gain strength and wisdom to recognize and resist dangerous currents. As a child I was no match for the rip current, but God sent rescue in the form of an older, experienced, unselfish hand of rescue.  We hope we might be that hand here at Scripture Dig, and we pray you will be that for those around you.  Look around … someone may need a hand to break the grip of the rip in their lives.

Your distractions probably don’t look very different than mine, so I’ll leave you with my “Alphabet Priorities.”  Print them out and put them next to your towel in the morning, so you’ll be ready to “Break the Grip of the Rip” as you dive in.

ALPHABET PRIORITIES
No adoration, no agenda

No Bible, no breakfast

No Christ, no computer

No devotions, no duties

No exaltation, no errands

No Father, no fun

No God, no goodies

No heaven, no housework

No Immanuel, no itinerary

No Jesus, no job

No King, no Kindle

No Lord, no laundry

No Master, no memos

No kneeling, no networking

No obedience, no occupation

No prayer, no planner

No quiet time, no quality

No reflection, no rush

No Savior, no schedule

No trust, no tech

No understanding, no undertaking

No value, no vocation

No waiting, no work

No ‘xpectation , no ‘xercise

No Yahweh, no yoke

No Zion*, no zoe**!

*Zion refers to heaven, the hope and ultimate home for believers.

** Zoe = LIFE!

Click here to read more about overcoming the grip of the Quiet Time Busters in your life.

My Time to Dig ~ Julie’s Sabbath

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If you’re reading this, you know about computers.  Odds are, you’ve had to hit “ctrl/alt/delete” when your system is unresponsive or technically stuck. There are times when this describes my life and heart.

One spiritual discipline I have practiced is that of practicing the principle of “Sabbath.”  While mine looks different than that God explained to Moses in Exodus 31:12-18, the purpose for me is largely the same: undistracted time to pause and focus on God.

This spiritual habit isn’t for those of Jewish descent alone; for anyone pursuing God there’s value in setting aside time to focus on Him.  With all the world’s noise today, we have to carve out space to hear from, consider, and respond to the One we worship and serve.

Resting ~ God showed His own example of choosing to set aside rest time when He paused the 7th day in Genesis 2:3.  When I try to rest it can seem like everything in life is against me.  Can you relate?  God told Israel to “practice” taking a Sabbath; it provided rest from their work, but it did so much more than that.

Remembering ~ Practicing the principle of Sabbath gives me time to remember who I am and who God is. This habit was meant to endure in the lives of those who follow the One true God. “So the sons of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to celebrate the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant,” Ex. 31:16. This means I have to resist my fleshly instinct to bend to the urgent and my routine, remembering God’s covenant, instead. If we are believers under the New Covenant, we still benefit from stepping aside from life’s commotion in 2010 to sit quietly at the feet of our Lord.

Refilling ~ We are talking about carving out a day to waste; the intent is not so ordinary are ignoring work.  It’s a chance to to spend uncrowded time enjoying and listening to Him. God knows I need time to be with Him and be refilled by His truth and direction.  I need regular reminders that I am the beloved of the God of the Universe, the One Who has redeemed me and planned my steps. I have a purpose to fulfill, and His Word shows me how when I listen to it.

Reordering ~ “It is to be a Sabbath of solemn rest for you, that you may humble your souls; it is a permanent statute,” Lev. 16:31 I must take the reins of my schedule and multi-tasking mayhem and allow God to trump the visible things of life! Simply, I need to slow down, remember my dependence on God, worship Him for Who He is, and listen to His truth. This requires humbling myself and reordering my life God’s way.  This is my life hitting “ctrl/alt/delete.”

The world around me doesn’t “do” a Sabbath, but I need to regularly make unique chunks of time for the Lord alone. I have to plan and provide for my immediate world of people, work, email, trash pickup, etc to wait while I go to be with the Lord. It takes a little work to make a Sabbath happen, but the pause it provides is well worth the resting, remembering, refilling, and reordering.

If you want to read more about how I’ve made Sabbaths happen in my own life, a 4 part series starts here, and you can read examples of how it looks here and here.

Another great feature of “ctrl/alt/delete” is that it produces a “black screen,” maybe a first step to some of that sweet time of Sabbath for you with your Lord. Enjoy ….

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.

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!

Time to mull, ponder, meditate

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According to Psalm 1:1-3, God will bless the woman who does not embrace the world and its ways, but instead finds her delight in God’s Word and “meditates” on it “day and night.” Sounds like we should all practice a little biblical meditation.

Unfortunately, while we are often encouraged to foster many of the spiritual disciplines, we don’t hear much about meditation. Why is that? I think many of us have misunderstood what it means to meditate on God’s Word because other forms of meditation carry a negative connotation. We don’t know what it is, why we should do it, or how we should do it. Well, let’s dig in and try to gain a little understanding of this overlooked spiritual discipline.

What is meditation?

Because of many New Age religions and practices like transcendental meditation, many of us picture “meditation” as emptying our minds of all thoughts. This is not biblical meditation. In fact, God’s Word makes it clear we are to meditate by filling our thoughts. A few things God tells us to meditate on include His law, love, mighty deeds, statutes, and promises. He also encourages us to “think on” whatever is noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy (Phil 4:8).

In his book “Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life,” Donald Whitney helps us understand biblical mediation. He uses the analogy of a tea bag. While reading and hearing Scripture may represent a dunk or two, meditation is like letting the bag steep. It’s the idea of “mulling” something over or “pondering” a subject.

Whitney defines biblical meditation as “deep thinking on the truths and spiritual realities revealed in Scripture for the purposes of understanding, application, and prayer.”

Why should we meditate?

Charles Spurgeon said that anyone who wanted to possess the treasure of God’s Word “must dig into Scripture as one who seeketh for choice pearls.” Meditation takes dedication, time, and hard work. So why would we want to practice this spiritual discipline?

First, as we’ve already seen, the Bible establishes meditation on God’s Word as the example for His people. Second, our meditation on God and His truth pleases God (Ps 104:33-34). And third, meditation benefits us spiritually. Meditation helps us better understand and apply the truths of God’s Word. Someone who regularly meditates on God’s Word will not simply survive in this life, she will flourish.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Psalm 1:3

Simply reading through or hearing a biblical passage will not affect our hearts, minds, and lives like steeping in its richness. We must immerse ourselves in God’s Word, holding onto it in our thoughts until its truth becomes a part of who we are. Then we will be like a tree whose roots reach down to an endless supply of living water. We will be sustained in drought and difficulty. And in God’s timing our lives will produce an abundance of fruit for His glory.

How do we meditate?

Let’s get hands on and practical so we can get a feel for how to meditate on God’s Word.

  1. Choose a passage. It may be one that God impressed on your heart during Bible reading or one that jumped out at you during a sermon. It should be small enough to work through thoroughly.
  2. Reread with different emphasis on different words and phrases.
  3. Rewrite the passage in your own words.
  4. Ask questions about what it teaches. For instance, does this passage reveal something I should:
  • Believe about God?
  • Praise or thank or trust God for?
  • Have a new attitude about?
  • Do for the sake of Christ, others, or myself?

5. Look for personal application then obey.

6. Pray through the Scripture.

7. Think on it throughout the day.

I want to be like that tree planted by streams of water. I long to please God and flourish through the truth of His Word. I think I’ll go ponder for a while.

Recommended Reading:

Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, by Donald S. Whitney

Meditating on the Scriptures, by Charles Spurgeon

Why should we read the Bible anyway?

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Would you agree or disagree with the following statement? “The Bible answers all or most of the basic questions of life.” Well, according to a Gallup Poll, 65% of Americans agree with the statement. However, according to that same poll, only 37% of those polled read the Bible at least once a week. (Twenty-one percent read it once a week and 16% read it daily.)

What we do more accurately reveals what we believe than what we say. I can tell you I believe the Bible is vitally important, but what I do will reveal what I really believe about the Bible.

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). Think about that truth for just a second. The one true God, the Creator of everything that exists, makes Himself known to us lowly humans. Wow!

Here are just a few of the characteristics the Bible gives us about itself:

  • Sustaining (Deut 8:3; Matt 4:4)
  • Flawless (Ps 18:30)
  • Unfailing (1 Kings 8:56)
  • Right and true (Ps 33:4; John 17:17)
  • Eternal (Ps 119:89; Is 40:8)
  • Message of life (John 5:24; Rom 10:17)
  • It also preserves, strengthens, and guides. (Ps 119:25, 28, 105).

God intercepts our lives through the Bible. We encounter His presence in His Word. Through it we are encouraged, comforted, strengthened, and refreshed. But more importantly, the Bible reveals how we can have a saving relationship with God through His Son, Jesus Christ and then helps us live lives that please Him.

God’s ultimate purpose for each of us who have entered into a saving relationship with Jesus is for us to be transformed into the likeness of Christ (Rom 8:29). God uses the Bible to shape, refine, and mold our character, thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. God uses the Bible to carry out His purpose in our lives.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

The Bible is not static or time-bound. God’s Word is applicable to our lives now and tomorrow. It breaks through our pretenses, prejudices, and pride and exposes what’s underneath. Painful? Sometimes. Beneficial? Always.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

God applies His Word to our lives personally and specifically. He rebukes us when we sin. He teaches us what we lack. He trains and equips us to do the work He has planned for us to do. All for His glory.

But we must immerse ourselves in His Word, submitting to and cooperating with God’s transforming power. Read it. Study it. Meditate on its truths.
What do you believe about the Bible? How often do you read it?

More resources & reading:

Why should we read/study the Bible? Got Questions.org

How to Read the Bible for all It’s Worth by Gordon Fee & Douglas Stuart

Free Bible reading plans for download at kathyhoward.org

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