Reading the Bible is essential for Christians. The Word of God is often compared to daily bread and to abstain from it is spiritual death. But reading it is not enough, you have to study it and put it into practice to reap all the benefits.
The Bible is the instruction manual for life. If we are to be successful in what we do, we must follow what the Bible teaches us. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you[a] shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ”(Joshua 1:8 NKJV). But it also takes time. Jesus compares the Word of God to a seed. After being sown in the ground, the little seed is watered. Several days later, or even weeks or months, a plant begins to emerge from the ground and eventually bears fruit.
The seed is always perfect, it is the Word of God (Luke 8:11). It should always bear fruit. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for [a]instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim 3:16- 17 NKJV). This verse does not say that only the Psalms are inspired by God, but the whole Bible. This means that even the book of Leviticus is inspired by God and “useful”.
If we do not receive during our reading, it is not the fault of the Word, but of the soil of our heart or how we maintain it. Is your earth (your heart) so hard that the Word of God can’t get in? Or are you so preoccupied, so busy thinking about all that you have to do for the day, that the seed is choked? And if you have good soil, a heart that’s willing to listen, do you take the time to water the seed, that is, take the time to meditate on the Word?
There are all kinds of ways to meditate on the Word. Here is one, which we share during our workshop on how to enter your calling.
Monday, reread the notes you took from your Sunday service. Take a verse cited by the pastor, a verse that stood out on you, and then rewrite it entirely in your journal. When we take the time to write it all down (not just the reference), the verse already begins to grow deeper into us. Then write down what this verse teaches you, asking the Holy Ghost for help.
Tuesday, rewrite the same verse but found in another Bible translation. For example, if on Monday you used the King James version, on Tuesday you can read the same verse in the Message version, or New Living Translation, or even in another language. Rewrite the verse, and then write down what else this version teaches you, asking the Holy Ghost for help.
Wednesday, pull out your concordance or study Bible. Take the same verse again and take out a few keywords. Then search your concordance for those keywords to find other verses that have the same keywords. What else does this exercise teach you? (Always ask the Holy Spirit for inspiration!)
Thursday, ask two or three good Christian friends to give you their explanation of the same verse. What do they understand from this verse? What does this verse inspire them to do? Take notes of what they tell you and bring it all to the Holy Spirit so He can tell you what you should personally take out of it all.
On Friday, reread all of your notes for the week, and ask the Holy Spirit what action you are now going to do to put into practice what you have learned this week. Because Jesus was clear, for the Word of God to become solid as a rock in us, it must be put into practice. “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock:” (Matt 7:24 NKJV).
And there you go! It is one method among many that can help you work your heart, water the seed, and bear much fruit. You’re in the school of the Holy Ghost, let Him teach you through the Bible, whatever you need to be successful in any area.