Three Methods for Digging into God's Word

In the journey of life of a Christian, one of the most strengthening things is the time we spend with God in quiet time. Studying the Word of God consistently is the key to our spiritual growth.

The Bible itself is an extraordinary and amazing book. The Bible provides whatever we need for life in truth (2 Petrus 1:3). When we need comfort, we can read Psalms. When we need to see God in flesh and blood, we can read the Gospels. If we want practical advice about life, we can read Proverbs or James. If we want to learn about leadership, we can read Nehemiah. When we want to learn about faith in suffering, we can read Job.

But digging into the word of God is not always easy. There are times when we struggle to understand what God is saying. At other times, some names and events can confuse us. Sometimes there may be parts that feel less "connected" to our lives right now.

Here are several ways we can use to dig into the word of God more deeply.

1. The 2 Timothy 3:16 Method

"All Scripture inspired by God is indeed useful for teaching, for showing error, for correcting conduct, and for training people in righteousness."

According to this verse, there are four functions of the word of God. This is one of the simplest and most effective methods to help us in our quiet time. After finishing our reading of the Word, we can answer the following questions and write them in our quiet time journal:

- What is taught in the Word that I read today?

- What error in me is exposed in the Word today?

- What conduct should I correct according to that Word ?

- What decision should I carry out consistently?

2. The S.O.A.P Method

1.   Scripture (The Word) - Begin quiet time by reading the Word. Do not read the Word randomly. Decide which book we want to read for several days or weeks. Then decide how many chapters we want to read each day and do it consistently every day. For example: if we read 2-3 chapters from the book of Matthew every day, then we can finish it in two weeks. Reading one book all the way through will help us understand the word of God more deeply.
2.   Observation (Observation) - Reflect, understand, and write. Reflect on the things God wants us to learn in that Word , and relate it to our lives . As we read the Word, many thoughts will surely arise in our minds. Do not skip the writing stage, because writing helps us process what we are reflecting on. We can also write down the things we do not understand, so that we remember to ask our friends or spiritual mentors about them.
3.   Application (Application) - This is the stage of making a decision. What do we want to do to apply the Word we have just read in our lives ? Make the decision as specific as possible. For example, do not just decide to "stoplying." Write down specifically which lies we struggle with most, when we are most tempted to lie, and what we will do to overcome it.
4.   Prayer (Prayer) - Pray that we truly understand the Word we have just read. Pray for the decisions we have already made. Do not forget to ask God to help us overcome sin and struggles.

3. Seven Questions for Digging Deeper

Here are several questions that are very helpful for going deeper into the Word. These questions are taken from the book Be Still, My Soul by Sam Laing. 1. Is there a promise of God in the Word I read? If so, what are those promises? What are the conditions? What is God's part and what is my part in that promise? Have I already claimed that promise in my life ?

Noting and trusting the promises of God greatly helps our confidence in God grow. When we see that promise fulfilled in our lives it will become a personal experience that makes us more confident in the love of God. 2. What commands do I need to obey? Is there something God wants me to do? Have I already done it and obeyed it consistently? If not, how can I begin. 3. Is there a sin I must avoid? What sin does God want me to leave behind in this Word ? When and how have I sinned in this matter? To whom should I confess it? How can I avoid this sin? 4. Is there an example I should follow or avoid? The Bible contains stories of people whose lives were involved with God. Many examples are inspiring for us to imitate. Who is your Bible hero? Learn from that person's life!

There are honest stories about how great people fell into sin. There are also stories about people who rebelled against God. We can learn from these examples and reflect on what our response should be. 5. Is there teaching about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, or other topics in the Bible that I need to believe? In the Bible, we will learn the personality, characteristics, and ways of working of God. There are times when we will be surprised to see how some things differ from what we have believed all along. It is very important for us to absorb the truth of God about whatever topic God reveals in the Word. 6. Are there difficulties that we need to study further? Many parts of the Bible will challenge our thinking. There are times when our minds are not able to fully understand the meaning of God. There may be difficult parts that even make us doubt.

Do not let those difficulties stop us. Be challenged to think, investigate, read, and ask questions. Our God can be trusted and His Word is always true. However, we need to be patient and persevere when facing difficulties. Perhaps our questions will not be answered right away. Trust that when we ask for wisdom, He will surely give it at the best time. 7. Is there something I need to pray about in that Word? Quiet time gives us many spiritual focuses to pray about. Pray and give thanks for the promises of God. We also need to pray that we may always confess sin and fully surrender to the will of God. The Word we study should make our prayer life more powerful and more relevant to our lives.

Do not waste the extraordinary gift that is in our hands. We can build an increasingly intimate relationship with God Almighty, while also receiving guidance for each step in life.

There are still many other ways to study the word of God. This is something we do for a lifetime life. Do not give up if we experience difficulty or feel bored. You can come to spiritual mentors or contact the contacts listed on this website.

Related Articles:

• If It Feels Unpleasant, Then We Disobey: How to Practice God's Word Without Picking and Choosing
• Your Word Is a Lamp to My Feet
• Is Diligently Reading God's Word Enough?
• Maximize the Power of God's Word in Your Life
• 3 Important Benefits of Reading God's Word Every Day

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