A Practical Way to Do Your Devotions
As you know, we have been reading through the New Testament as a church.
Our theme for 2019 is to develop a “DEEPER” relationship with God through reading His Word.
The theme is: “DEEPER: His Word. Our Need.”
We just completed Matthew last week and have begun the gospel of Mark.
The goal is for us to develop the habit of reading Scripture - and it’s been encouraging to hear how many of you have taken to this challenge.
Another really cool thing is to hear some questions beginning to emerge from some of you in regards to this. To be honest, I have been praying and hoping for this day - when I get questions like the one here - because it’s an indicator to me that some of us really trying to grow in their faith through reading Scripture.
I recently received an email that said the following:
“Pastor Mitchell,
I’ve been following the Bible reading plan and I have a question. I know that you don’t just want us to read the Bible but to apply the Bible. My question is that I don’t know exactly how to do that.
Can you explain how we should do the daily readings so that we are able to apply it? “
My heart leaped for joy with this question!
Now, there are many ways to read and understand the Bible.
I am going to share a way to do your daily reading. If you have a system that is working for you as is - then continue to do it. There is no “one-size-fits-all"-approach” to reading the Bible devotionally. This blog is specifically for those who don’t know where to begin.
This is what I do :)
I would recommend getting a journal - this will help you reinforce what you are learning but it also is a good way to process thoughts as well as provides a way to track what you are learning.
Our theme for 2019 is to develop a “DEEPER” relationship with God through reading His Word.
The theme is: “DEEPER: His Word. Our Need.”
We just completed Matthew last week and have begun the gospel of Mark.
The goal is for us to develop the habit of reading Scripture - and it’s been encouraging to hear how many of you have taken to this challenge.
Another really cool thing is to hear some questions beginning to emerge from some of you in regards to this. To be honest, I have been praying and hoping for this day - when I get questions like the one here - because it’s an indicator to me that some of us really trying to grow in their faith through reading Scripture.
I recently received an email that said the following:
“Pastor Mitchell,
I’ve been following the Bible reading plan and I have a question. I know that you don’t just want us to read the Bible but to apply the Bible. My question is that I don’t know exactly how to do that.
Can you explain how we should do the daily readings so that we are able to apply it? “
My heart leaped for joy with this question!
Now, there are many ways to read and understand the Bible.
I am going to share a way to do your daily reading. If you have a system that is working for you as is - then continue to do it. There is no “one-size-fits-all"-approach” to reading the Bible devotionally. This blog is specifically for those who don’t know where to begin.
This is what I do :)
I would recommend getting a journal - this will help you reinforce what you are learning but it also is a good way to process thoughts as well as provides a way to track what you are learning.
If you are taking the FOUNDATIONS Bible Study Class, follow these steps for your assignment. Also, type/write your 3 devotions on a separate paper (not a journal).
IF YOU NEED SOMEONE TO MAKE YOUR JOURNAL LOOK PURDY - HIT UP JOAN. HAHA!
Step One: Pray
Find a quiet environment. Put the phone on airplane mode. Take a few seconds to just pause.
For the last year, I’ve been writing out my prayers rather than just say them because my mind is constantly drifting. This may be helpful to you.
What Should You Pray for at the Beginning?
For the last year, I’ve been writing out my prayers rather than just say them because my mind is constantly drifting. This may be helpful to you.
What Should You Pray for at the Beginning?
- Ask God to help you block out all the daily worries and anxieties and posture your heart to allow His words to have your undivided attention and focus.
- Ask God to help you understand His Word.
- Ask Him to not just give you intellectual knowledge of what the passage says, ask Him to give you wisdom on how the passage applies to your life.
- Ask for the Helper Jesus gave you: the Holy Spirit (John 14:15-17)
Step Two: Read
I would recommend getting an ESV translation Bible (only because that's the Bible we use at church - it would be easier for you to be in sync with your FC and THC).
I would recommend using the THC app and clicking on the current day. That will automatically take you to the text of that chapter and then I would click on the audio button to have the passage read to you by a voice actor. I find it easier to process the words when I have it read to me and I also follow along with my Bible in hand.
As you read, think about what you are reading:
If you are quick to forget, like me, you may catch your mind drifting. Don't beat yourself up for that. It happens to all of us. Simply refocus and resume to where you got off track.
As you read, there may be certain verses or words that resonate with you in some way - go ahead and underline, circle, or highlight those!
I would recommend using the THC app and clicking on the current day. That will automatically take you to the text of that chapter and then I would click on the audio button to have the passage read to you by a voice actor. I find it easier to process the words when I have it read to me and I also follow along with my Bible in hand.
As you read, think about what you are reading:
- What questions do you have about what is being said/read?
- What confuses you?
- What challenges/convicts you?
- What moves you emotionally in a positive or negative way?
- What words/verses resonate with you?
If you are quick to forget, like me, you may catch your mind drifting. Don't beat yourself up for that. It happens to all of us. Simply refocus and resume to where you got off track.
As you read, there may be certain verses or words that resonate with you in some way - go ahead and underline, circle, or highlight those!
DON’T BE AFRAID TO MARK UP YOUR BIBLE. CIRCLE, UNDERLINE, WRITE NOTES, OR HIGHLIGHT. IT’S A HELPFUL WAY TO LEARN.
Step Three: Reflect
Now that you've read, you should be able to make some observations from the text. What is the text actually saying? How can you summarize these observations to make truth-statements? The observations are truths being communicated. They can be truths about God, us, etc.
FOUNDATION Students, mark the observations with an “O” and circle.
Once you write down observations. Take some time to reflect upon what you read and ask the "question-behind-the-question":
- Why does a particular verse/passage impact you, move you emotionally, resonate with you?
- Is there a promise that God is making?
- Is there a warning God is giving?
- Is there a principle God wants to communicate?
- How does this chapter/verse/section/truth apply to my life today?
- Is there a “timeless truth” that can be applied to my life?
- What am I willing/able to apply based on a truth from the text?
Step Four: Respond
Depending on what is being reflected will determine how you respond. Your response is your application.
FOUNDATION Students, the application will be marked with an “A” and circled.
Maybe you are confused so you the response is to ask other Christians (I would recommend asking your FC members/Shepherd) for help. There are some good free resources too that might help you understand a particular passage. See Blue Letter Bible or Bible Gateway to check out their commentaries or Bible study sections which can help explain the passage.
Note: Bible commentaries can only help explain the meaning of the passage, they cannot help give you a personal application.
Responding to the text may lead you to identifying a promise for you to “preach” to your heart. Part of what needs to happen as we encounter truths from the Bible is to “anchor” our hearts to these truths. We need to “preach” the truths to ourselves.
We don’t need to hear the truth one time. We need to hear the truth many times and in different ways! Imagine if I only told my kids I loved them one time in their life?
No, they need a constant flow of love, encouragement, and affirmation - so, too, our hearts - needing the truth proclaimed to us over and over again!
Coaches on the sports sidelines are basically yelling the same thing over and over to their players:
“Come on!”
“Let’s go!”
“Don’t give up!”
“Give me your best effort!”
Maybe you identify a sobering warning that you need to think about deeply.
Is there a lesson God is trying to teach you through this passage?
Maybe you need to have a time of self-examination, looking at your own life and whether or not you are living up to God's Word.
Maybe you have a newfound truth unlocked in your mind about God or you, the response may be to thank God in prayer, or journal to Him, or worship Him in song.
The response may lead you to change something in the way you think or act - this is what the Bible calls "repentance".
Below is a photo of my journal for today’s reading from Mark 2 - I resonated with the calling of Levi and how Levi wanted to use his home as a way to introduce Jesus to his close friends.
I began to think about the parallels to Family Church. And the application I walked away with involved me being reminded of the purpose of FC: to provide a place where people who are “sick” can meet the “Physician”. I was reminded that my job is to do what Levi did: invite those God placed around me, love people, and share Jesus (instead of reserving Him to myself).
I closed with a written prayer at the bottom thanking God for the reminder of the purpose of FC and dwelled on the thought of this purpose we, as followers of Jesus have: introducing them to Jesus for salvation and spiritual healing! I don’t want to forget that!
Note: Bible commentaries can only help explain the meaning of the passage, they cannot help give you a personal application.
Responding to the text may lead you to identifying a promise for you to “preach” to your heart. Part of what needs to happen as we encounter truths from the Bible is to “anchor” our hearts to these truths. We need to “preach” the truths to ourselves.
We don’t need to hear the truth one time. We need to hear the truth many times and in different ways! Imagine if I only told my kids I loved them one time in their life?
No, they need a constant flow of love, encouragement, and affirmation - so, too, our hearts - needing the truth proclaimed to us over and over again!
Coaches on the sports sidelines are basically yelling the same thing over and over to their players:
“Come on!”
“Let’s go!”
“Don’t give up!”
“Give me your best effort!”
Maybe you identify a sobering warning that you need to think about deeply.
Is there a lesson God is trying to teach you through this passage?
Maybe you need to have a time of self-examination, looking at your own life and whether or not you are living up to God's Word.
Maybe you have a newfound truth unlocked in your mind about God or you, the response may be to thank God in prayer, or journal to Him, or worship Him in song.
The response may lead you to change something in the way you think or act - this is what the Bible calls "repentance".
Below is a photo of my journal for today’s reading from Mark 2 - I resonated with the calling of Levi and how Levi wanted to use his home as a way to introduce Jesus to his close friends.
I began to think about the parallels to Family Church. And the application I walked away with involved me being reminded of the purpose of FC: to provide a place where people who are “sick” can meet the “Physician”. I was reminded that my job is to do what Levi did: invite those God placed around me, love people, and share Jesus (instead of reserving Him to myself).
I closed with a written prayer at the bottom thanking God for the reminder of the purpose of FC and dwelled on the thought of this purpose we, as followers of Jesus have: introducing them to Jesus for salvation and spiritual healing! I don’t want to forget that!
P = PRAYER, O = OBSERVATION, A = APPLICATION
FOUNDATION Students, I am looking for this specific order in your “Real Life Assignment #1” :
P - Opening Prayer (Settling/Centering Your Heart to Receive God’s Word)
O - Observation(s) (What the Chapter/Section/Verse is Stating)
A - Application (A Personal/Specific Way to Apply a “Timeless Truth” to Your Life)
P - Closing Prayer (Thanking/Praising God for Speaking and Asking for Strength to Apply)
I hope this was practical and helpful to many of you :) Let me know if you have any questions!
Love,
Your Pastor
mitchellrichardperez@gmail.com
Love,
Your Pastor
mitchellrichardperez@gmail.com
1 Comment
nice:)