Dear Nancy,
I sure do hope you don’t mind me answering your comment in this public way – but it was such a great question, and I don’t have any other way to reply. Your comment both touches my heart, and makes me excited for you – because, from experience, I know that if “getting into God’s Word” is what you really want, you’re positioning yourself to be incredibly blessed by Him!
Before I get too far ahead of myself, here is Nancy’s comment / question:
“I have followed your blog for a while – you are such a blessing to me. I want to get to know God better. People tell me to “get in the word”. Please help me, where do I start, is there a book, bible study I could use? Happy belated Mother’s Day to you. Nancy in North Carolina”
We’ve all either been where Nancy finds herself, or are right there with her, or will wonder the same things one of these days when the Holy Spirit draws us to go deeper into God’s Word.
Of course I don’t have all the answers, but I’m glad to share what I’ve found to be true. So to you, dear Nancy, and to everyone who reads this post, I pray that the Lord will use these feeble words to pour some wisdom over your searching heart(s) – which, btw, is very beautiful to Him. 🙂
Two different “thoughts” on how to “get into God’s Word”:
1. Getting into God’s Word through a Bible Study book
I love Bible Studies of every kind. I have shelves full of them, and a stack I want to complete this summer. But there is one study book that I think covers every basic piece of information on getting into God’s Word. It’s called Living God’s Word by Waylon B. Moore. (I don’t think he’s kin to Beth.) ((The highlighted link takes you to the book on Lifeway’s Online Bookstore in case you want to order the book for yourself.))
Living God’s Word is divided into 6 weeks, with daily lessons for each day. The lessons aren’t hard and are very practical. I learned things from that study that I use every day in my daily quiet times. It was one of those “life impacting” book studies for me, and I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn how to “get into the Word.”
2. Getting into God’s Word – using only God’s Word
Although I just recommended a Bible study book, I don’t think that is the only way to study the Bible. If you and I are Christians, with the Holy Spirit residing in our hearts, we have the Teacher, Himself, living within us. John 14:26 promises, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”
Friends, if you have given your life to Jesus Christ, the same Holy Spirit that lives in Beth Moore lives in YOU! The same Holy Spirit that lives in Joyce Myers lives in YOU. The same Holy Spirit that lives in Billy Graham, or in any incredible Bible teacher is the same Holy Spirit that lives in YOU – and He will teach you just like He teaches them!
Of all the many methods of studying God’s Word, here is one very simple way He has shown me that can get one started. You just need an open heart, a Bible (I would recommend starting with a Bible that is easy to understand – like the NIV or Holman Christan Standard, or even my favorite, The Amplified Version), some paper, a pen, and the Holy Spirit.
Start by praying Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes that I might behold wonderful things in Your law.” James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.” Begin your Bible study time with asking God for wisdom, understanding, and the ability to see the incredible things in His Word. He will be faithful to show you!
Then read His Word. A great place to begin is the book of John, or Philippians, or Proverbs, or James, or whatever book the Lord leads you to – since you’re asking for His wisdom.
Read until some kind of response is provoked within you. It might be two or three verses, a whole chapter, or just one phrase of a Bible verse. It’s important to keep what you’re reading in context – in other words, don’t just pull one random verse out of a chapter and focus on that. Start at the beginning of the book of the Bible you are studying through, and truths will eventually fit together. The moment something stands out to you, stop reading.
Write that truth down in your own words. Optional: If you have the time and a Bible concordance, you may want to use it to learn the meanings of the major words in that passage. You may also want to look up other scriptures that contain those same words and write them down on the same page.
Answer this question: What is the Holy Spirit revealing to you about your life, your thoughts, your actions, or reactions? Do you need to know something? Thank Jesus? Confess something? Change something? Stop something? Start something? Whatever it is, write that down also.
Ask the Lord for help to obey what He has shown you to do in response to this truth from God’s Word.
Then, obey it. When you obey what you know from God’s Word, He will begin to reveal new and deeper things to you through your time in His Word. You will be amazed at the growth in knowledge and intimacy with Jesus that you will enjoy.
If you write these things down each time you study, eventually you will have a journal of your journey with God through His Holy Word. A blessing and a testimony to His faithfulness through His Living and Breathing Scripture.
O.K. This was long – but I’m praying for all who read this, and am asking the Lord to convict all of us about being in His Word on a consistent basis. No matter what method we use to study it, His Word is life and breath to His children!
Nancy, I pray that this gives you a place to start, and that the Lord overwhelms you with His presence as you get into His Word!
Friends, how do YOU get into God’s Word? Please leave a comment and tell us what works for you. 😉