While I’m studying
but not ready to post yet, I thought I’d share how I do my personal
Bible devotions.
This takes 3 years.
In
the morning, read from the morning column, and in the evening, read
from the evening column. Weekends are a time for reflection of what
you have read. Use the study guide to journal for reading, thinking,
studying, and applying the passage.
The
table (not produced here) has a morning reading and an evening
reading. The morning reading is 1 chapter in the Old Testament. The
evening reading is 1 chapter from the New Testament. It takes almost
3 years to finish the Old Testament and in that time the New
Testament is read through 3 times.
- Pray that God would give you understanding of the passage you read.
- Use a notebook or software notebook to record your studies. I use linux and my notebook is cherrytree. They have a Windows version, too.
- Take at least 15 minutes to read and study.
- Read the sentence slowly.
- Pay attention to the prepositional phrases.
- When you are done, thank God for the things you have learned.
- Share your findings with others.
Questions
to ask in your personal Bible study
- What does this mean?
- Why is this chapter in the Bible?
- What is God teaching us?
- How do I apply this to my life?
- What do we learn about God?
- What do we learn about humans?
- What do I learn about me?
An
example of the template I use in cherry tree for writing some of my
thoughts is this:
MORNING
Exodus 9
What does this mean?
How do I apply this to my life?
EVENING
Luke 15
What does this mean?
How do I apply this to my life?
Examples:
19 Nov 19
MORNING
Psalm 15
What does this mean?
Some societal norms
that is in the Kingdom of God, and what He wants from us. Human
society would be better off living this way.
How do I apply this
to my life?
Help me to live this
way, O Lord.
EVENING
1 John 1
What does this mean?
John testifies that he
has seen and heard Messiah. Fellowship with God is important. One of
the reasons John wrote was for their joy to be full. God is complete
light, which means there is no darkness in Him. Darkness is evil in
thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. Fellowship with God entails
being clean, that is, in light as God is. We cannot be sinless, of
course, so we have the Messiah, our Savior, who has the authority and
paid for our sins, thus He can forgive us.
How do I apply this
to my life?
Forgive me o Lord.
22 Nov 19
MORNING
Psalm 18
What does this mean?
God had delivered David
from Saul. In thankfulness, David praises and thanks God. All was
lost. He felt that he was going to die. He had no hope. Then, God
delivered him. In poetic language describing his fears and God's
deliverance.
How do I apply this
to my life?
Have hope.
EVENING
1 John 4
What does this mean?
Jesus is THE Messiah.
He is God the Son. He is the 100% God and 100% man. This one thing
must be freely admitted (confessed) to not be considered a false
prophet. Not agreeing with this means agreement with false teachers,
false ministers/pastors, false church members, etc. If their doctrine
of Christology does not agree with this, they are false believers.
These are of the world. They think like the world. They talk like the
world. The world is attentive to what they say.
We are to love. God is
the source of love. Love is a choice. The actions of love are found
primarily 1 Corinthians 13:4-8a. God's love for humanity is seen in
His sending of Jesus Christ into the world as Messiah. He did not
have to do this. Jesus did not have to come. It was a choice
motivated by love.
Whoever freely admits
that Jesus is the Son of God, is a believer, a Christian. Son of God
refers to His deity.
We need to love the way
God has shown us how to love. This is the way God loves us.
How do I apply this
to my life?
Help me, O Lord. Please
give me strength.
As you see, I don’t spend much effort in
spelling or grammar.
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