When you make the choice to open up God’s Word, He will meet you there.
He will be faithful to reveal His promises, to present practical wisdom and correction, and to declare His love for you and His people on every single page!
In my last blog post, I shared a quote from Ruth Chou Simons. Here is part of it,
“When Paul says in Colossians 3:16 to ‘let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,’ it’s not a sweet suggestion; it’s a battle-plan to preserve unity in Christ and to stand with humility and grace in a world of opposition.”
I hope you’ll go back and read the blog, and then use the resources provided here to create your own battle plan to enrich your life with His Word.
Here are resources to assist you in creating your personal battle plan:
Better Understanding the Bible
If you are new to reading the Bible or are overwhelmed starting again, check out the Bible Project. This non-profit creates videos and reading plans to “help you understand the Bible and its unique design and literary devices.”
– https://bibleproject.com/explore/how-to-read-the-bible/
Tracing Themes in Scripture
Some may find benefit in focusing your scripture reading into themes. There is a beautiful over-arching storyline of God’s love for His people, and also “themes to develop the story and to point to redemption found in Jesus.” This article helps you begin to trace the themes throughout scripture.
Bible Engagement
Bible Gateway is one of the most well-known sites for searching the Bible and finding reading plans. There is also a dedicated resource page for engaging scripture.
“This section of Bible Gateway, created in partnership with the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement, outlines a set of practical exercises and activities you can undertake to interact more meaningfully with the Bible.”
– https://www.biblegateway.com/resources/scripture-engagement/
W.O.R.D.
Maybe you simply need a practical tool to pair with reading through books of the Bible. Use the acronym W.O.R.D. – Write, Observe, Relevant, and Declare.
Study with Others
I recommend taking this journey with others. Find a Bible Study to assist you in deepening your understanding of books or stories in scripture. Here are a few recommendations to get you started:
– “Amen: The Story of Scripture from Eden to Eternity” by Kristin Schmucker – The study is a 5-week overview of the Story of Scripture, driving home the simple yet profound themes of scripture.
– “Seamless: Understand The Bible As One Complete Story” by Angie Smith – “Experience the Bible as a whole as you gain clarity and confidence in your understanding of Scripture. Discover a biblical context that reshapes and brings to life stories from the Old and New Testaments.”
– “1 Peter: A Living Hope in Christ” By Jen Wilkin – To dig into a specific book of scripture, check out Jen Wilkin’s study on 1 Peter. “In 1 Peter, a man of faith and flaws and eyewitness to the life of Christ challenges us to look beyond our current circumstances to a future inheritance.”
I challenge you today to create your battle plan and then implement first steps.
Pray for the Spirit to guide you and speak to you, open up His Word, and let the preparations for battle begin!
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 CSB
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