I MUST ASSIMILATE ITS TRUTH: It is not enough just to believe the Bible; I must fill my mind with it so that the Holy Spirit can transform me with the truth. There are five ways to do this: You can receive it, read it, research it, remember it, and reflect on it. First, you receive GODS Word when you listen and except it with an open, receptive attitude. The parable of the sower illustrates how our receptiveness determines whether or not GODS Word takes root in our lives and bears fruit. JESUS identified three unreceptive attitudes—a closed mind (hard soil), A superficial mind (shallow soil), and a distracted mind (soil with weeds)—and then he said, Consider carefully how you listen. Anytime you feel you were not learning anything from a sermon or a Bible teacher , you should check your attitude, especially for pride, because GOD can speak through even the most boring teacher when you are humble and receptive. James advises, In A humble (gentle, modest) Spirit, receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted in your hearts contains the power to save your soul. Second, for most of the 2000-year history of the church, only priests got to personally read the Bible, but now billions of us have access to it. In spite of this, many believers are more faithful to reading the daily newspaper vendor Bibles. Its no wonder we dont grow. We cant watch television for three hours, then read the Bible for three minutes and expect to grow. Many who claim to believe the Bible from cover to cover have never read it from cover to cover. But if you will read the Bible just 15 minutes a day, you will read completely through it once a year. If you cut out one 30 minute television program a day and read your Bible instead, you will read through the entire Bible twice a year. Daily Bible reading will keep you in range of GODS voice. This is why GOD instructed the kings of Israel to always keep a copy of this Word nearby: He should keep with him all the time and read from it every day of his life. But dont just keep it near you; read it regularly!! A simple tool that is helpful for this is a daily Bible reading plan. It will prevent you from just skipping around the Bible arbitrarily and overlooking sections. Third, researching, or studying, the Bible is another practical way to abide in the Word. The difference between reading and studying the Bible involves two additional activities: asking questions of the text and writing down your insights. You havent really studied the Bible unless youve written your thoughts down on paper or computer. Space does not allow me to explain the different methods of Bible study. The secret of good Bible study is simply learning to ask the right questions. Different methods used different questions. You will discover far more if you pause and ask such simple questions as who? what? when? where? why? and how? The Bible says, Truly happy people are those who carefully study GODS perfect law that makes people free, and they continue to study it. They do not forget what they heard, but they obey what GODS teaching says. Those who do this will be made happy. The fourth way to abide in GODS Word is by remembering it. Your capacity to remember is GODS given gift. You may think you have a poor memory, but the truth is, you have millions of ideas, truths, facts, and figures memorized. You remember what is important to you. If GODS Word it is important, you will take the time to remember it. There are enormous benefits to memorizing Bible verses. It will help you resist temptation, make wise decisions, reduce stress, build confidence, offer good advice, and share your faith with others. Your memory is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it will become, and memorizing Scripture will become easier. You might begin by selecting a few Bible verses out of his book that have touched you and writing them down on a small card you can carry with you Then review them aloud throughout your day. You can memorize Scripture anywhere: while working or exercising or driving or waiting or at bedtime. The three keys to memorizing Scripture our review, review, and review!! The Bible says, Remember what CHRIST taught and let his words and Rich your lives and make you wise. The fifth way to abide in GODS Word is to reflect on it, which the Bible calls. meditation. For many, The idea of meditating conjures up images of putting your mind in neutral and letting it wonder. This is the exact opposite of biblical meditation. Meditation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over in your mind. If you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate. Worry is focused thinking on something negative. Meditation is doing the same thing, only focusing on GODS Word instead of your problem. No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like JESUS than daily reflection on Scripture. As we take the time to contemplate GODS Ruth, seriously reflecting on the example of CHRIST, we are transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory. If you look up all the times GOD speaks about meditation in the Bible, you will be amazed at the benefits he has promised to those who take the time to reflect on his word throughout the day. One of the reasons GOD called David A man after my own heart is that David loves to reflect on GODS Word. He said, How I love your teachings!! I think about them all day long. Serious reflection on GODS truth is a key to answered prayer and the secret to successful living. YES!!!!! AMEN!!!!! HALLELUJAH!!!!! (⊙‿⊙†)
Posted on: Tue, 08 Apr 2014 18:48:38 +0000
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