Need wisdom strength and understanding? Time to draw closer to God’s Word. Please receive today’s Holy Nougat
“To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.” Matthew 13:12 NLT
Are we listening to Jesus’ teaching, or have we taken a wee bit; diluted it to our satisfaction and then pretended that we have the direct line to God’s Word? And in one sense, we Do have a direct line. But it’s a line accessible to each of us who earnestly seek God’s face, not one person only. Very few of us are totally incapable of hearing and understanding God’s Word for ourselves.
So what do we do when we are alone and we are attempting to do our own personal Bible study? Especially when we are young in the faith? I believe that the first step is to acknowledge our needs and simply ask for interpretation. God will either give us understanding by opening our minds and hearts to the Word and its application for our lives; Or provide a reference (commentary or devotional) to guide us through the Word; Or God will send us an interpreter (remember when God directed Philip to assist the eunuch) to direct us.
God’s desire is for each of us to First have a close and enduring relationship with God – Creator, Christ and Comforter – not with others. And that relationship is strengthened when we maintain intimacy through reading and applying God’s Word. Very few of us would chew food, then spit it out before it’s digested; likewise we read and ask for understanding so it stays with us and within us.
Perhaps we could begin (anew) with a few verses with which we are already familiar –
Ask questions of the text;
Chew slowly.
Take note of what we don’t understand or what jumps out at us – positively or even negatively.
Pray.
Read again, noting the questions and concerns
Listen for God’s voice/direction
Read or listen to another’s take, while attending to our spirits
Take note of the wisdom we receive
Repeat as often as needed
I pray God’s blessings as we grow deeper in God’s Word.
