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April 16, 2019

Bible Study for Busy People: 5 Tech Strategies

Busy people often struggle to find time for Bible study. Although technology can distract us from Scripture study, it can also help us study the Bible on the go.

I thought about this while on a recent road trip where I used the time in the car to listen to a book. I love audiobooks!

This love started when our kids were young and we needed to keep them occupied while traveling to Grandma and Grandpa’s house. But even now that our kids are grown, I check out an audiobook from our local library whenever my husband and I take a road trip. Listening to a “whodunit” makes the miles go by faster.

Lately, I’ve also started listening to books while driving around town. This practice helps me solve the problem of too many good books and too little time! “Reading” a classic while I complete my errands expands my knowledge. Listening while I drive helps me experience more books during the year.

And just like listening to audiobooks helps me dip into more books in the time I have, listening to the Bible is a way to fit more Bible study into our busy lives.

In a previous post, I talked about seven strategies to fit Bible study into our schedules. Here are five more strategies using technology.

5 Ways to Study the Bible with Technology

  • Listen to the Bible. Like me, you could listen to the Bible while driving. You could also listen while walking outside or cleaning your house. You can listen to the Bible on CDs, on your computer, or on Bible apps
  • Read the Bible on the go with an app on your phone. The YouVersion is a popular version.
  • Study the Bible online. Get Bible reading plans, compare different versions of Scripture, and find commentaries to go deeper on sites like BibleGateway.com and BlueLetterBible.org
  • Get daily inspiration with a devotional app like First5. This app combines a Bible reading plan with a daily devotion.
  • Use technology to help you memorize Scripture on the go. Apps like BibleMemory.com let you review your chosen verse while waiting in line, waiting in a restaurant, waiting for an appointment. And once God’s Word is stored in your heart, you can meditate on it all day long! Here are a few verses that I keep stored up for difficult days!

Focus on God’s Voice

No matter how you access Scripture, remember that it is God’s Holy Word. Focus on hearing God’s voice and not on the cool tech. Crowded schedules can benefit from apps and audio Bibles, but first and foremost we want to hear what the Holy Spirit is whispering to our hearts.

God longs to speak to us. He tells of His grace when we have failed. He inspires us with strength when we feel weak. He whispers words of love when we doubt our worth.

Next step: Choose one of the technologies above to help you fit more Bible study into your busy life. Start each session with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to help you discern exactly what you need today.

Filed Under: Bible Study Tagged With: ,
April 9, 2019

Bible Study for Busy People: 7 Strategies

Years ago, one of my friends shared her strategy for fitting Bible study into her busy life.

Melissa started each day with the intention of getting up before her children woke and spending some time in the Word. But no matter how early she got up or how quietly she tiptoed down the hall, one of her three little ones would wake up and demand her attention.

Since a dedicated quiet time didn’t work in her current family situation, Melissa came up with a plan. She left her Bible on a small table on the stair landing between the first and second floor of her house. Every time she went up or down the stairs, she grabbed the Bible, opened it to her current reading spot and read a few verses. She tried to think about that passage while she continued with changing the baby, mopping the floors, or dusting the furniture.

Her grab-and-go method of Bible study wasn’t ideal and it wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but it was what worked for her. God still met her in the Word. The Holy Spirit still spoke to her heart.

7 Strategies to Fit Bible Study Into Your Busy Days

Maybe your life is a lot like Melissa’s right now. You want a dedicated time to read the Bible, journal your prayers, and meditate on all the Holy Spirit is teaching you. But it simply isn’t possible.

If you find yourself in a busy season, here are 7 ways that might work for you to fit Bible study into your days:

  • Start with prayer. Too often I read my Bible like any other book–forgetting that through it the Almighty Creator is speaking to me. If I remember to start with a prayer asking the Holy Spirit to teach me, I am more likely to hear God’s voice and discern just what I need to hear that day.
  • Leave your Bible in a strategic place. Like Melissa, place your Bible somewhere you pass often. Maybe you can also use the stair landing. Or set your Bible on the kitchen counter. Or place it next to the chair where you nurse the baby. Or carry a small copy in your purse to read while waiting in line.
  • Display Scripture around your home. You can use pretty Scripture art and printed Bible quotes. But you can also scribble out your current favorite verses and tape them to your mirror so you can read while brushing your teeth. You can attach a passage to your computer to meditate on while the computer boots up. One of the ladies who used to attend my Bible study said she put the verses she most needed on sticky notes and stuck them to all of her kitchen cabinet doors. Every time she fixed lunch or cooked dinner she would reread God’s words of encouragement to her.
  • Use a devotional. Reading a short devotion is a wonderful way to start the day. Having one verse and a short meditation to read each morning can center your thoughts and align your heart to God. Some favorites: Jesus Calling, Heaven Calling, and Portals of Prayer.
  • Break up your Bible reading time during the day. Perhaps you can’t block out a thirty-minute time slot for reading the Bible, but you can squeeze in a few minutes here and there throughout the day. Read a five-minute devotional in the morning. Reread the Bible verse from the devotion at lunch. End the day by writing a prayer of gratitude to the Father.
  • Use a visual to help you stay on track. One simple way to do this is to find a calendar for the current month with squares large enough to write in. Every day record one highlight from your Bible reading or one prayer request. If time allows, color in the square. Use the coloring time to pray or meditate on the lesson learned. The ladies at Visual Faith Ministries have wonderful ideas and resources for this!
  • Memorize Scripture. This activity doesn’t require a great deal of dedicated time. Write the verse you want to commit to memory on a 3 X 5 card and carry it in your purse. When you are waiting for an appointment or standing in line at the grocery store, read and reread the card. In a week or two, you will know the verse by heart and the Holy Spirit can use it to encourage you whenever and wherever you are. For more ideas for Scripture memory click here.

God’s Promise

It’s easy to get discouraged in a busy season. All the more reason to dip into God’s well of encouragement–His Word–whenever we can.

Even if it isn’t as much or as often as we would like, God promises that whenever we interact with His Word it will make a difference in our lives. Isaiah 55:11 says:


It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

God promises that whenever He sends out His Word it will produce fruit, it will accomplish what He wants. In just a few verses at a time, He can speak to our hearts. In just a few minutes each hour, the Holy Spirit can remind us of God’s love and grace and give us the strength to keep going.

Next step: Choose one of the strategies for fitting Bible study into your busy days. Whatever plan you use, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you God’s truth through His Word.

Filed Under: Bible Study
April 2, 2019

Bible Study for Busy People: Start with Stories

I belong to a book club at my local library. Every month, the leader of our group chooses a new book for us to read. One month I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to the meeting, but I picked up the chosen book anyway. Usually I love the books the leader chooses so I thought I would read it even if I couldn’t attend the discussion.

However, eighty pages into the book, the story still hadn’t grabbed my attention. I decided not to read the last 500 pages. I gave up on the book.

Often, people have the same reaction when they start reading the Bible. They start at the beginning and breeze through Genesis with its page-turning plot of murders and global disasters. Reading Exodus goes a little slower, but we all love to root for the underdog, so readers cheer for the triumph of the people of Israel over the ancient world’s superpower–Egypt.

But then they arrive at Leviticus and get bogged down with all the laws and regulations. They give up on the book.

Bible Basics

If we want to persevere in our Bible reading, it is helpful to understand the structure of God’s Word. The Bible is not just one book. It is an ancient collection of books that first took shape in the fourth century AD. The 66 books of the Bible are put together in groups.

Christians typically see the sections of the Old Testament this way:

  • Pentateuch (also known as the Law) – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy
  • Historical Books – Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther
  • Poetic and Wisdom books – Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon
  • Major Prophets – Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
  • Minor Prophets – Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi (Note: The Major Prophets are “major” because they wrote longer books; the Minor Prophets are “minor” because they wrote generally shorter books.)

The New Testament has five sections:

  • Gospels – Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
  • History of the Early Church – Acts
  • Epistles of the apostle Paul – Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, Philemon
  • General epistles — Hebrews; James; 1 and 2 Peter; 1, 2, and 3 John; Jude
  • Apocalypse — Revelation

All of these books are useful for our spiritual growth, but some are definitely easier to understand than others. If you don’t where to begin, start with stories.

Start with Stories

We all love stories. The Bible is one long story of God’s love for His people. Watch this video about the story and themes of the Bible.

The Old Testament introduces us to God and leads us through His interaction with people who were waiting for a Savior. The Gospels of the New Testament bring Scripture’s plot to its most exciting point–the arrival of that Savior. The book of Acts and the epistles continue with the story of what Jesus’ followers did after He went back to heaven. The last book of the Bible, Revelation, brings the whole plot to an exciting conclusion with a description of heaven.

Because we all love a good tale, the books of the Bible that tell stories immediately draw us in. The book of Genesis is full of drama. The first ten chapters include a murder and a global disaster. The narrative continues with epic journeys, love triangles, and kidnappings. And it’s all true!

The Gospels–Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John–all tell the story of Jesus’ life on earth. They describe Jesus’ birth, life, death, and resurrection. Each book is by a different person and so has a slightly different point of view. But each one shows the Almighty God coming to live among us so that we could know Him!

Remember that book club book I never finished? It turned out to be a good thing I gave up on it. At the next meeting I attended, I heard everyone in the group hated the book.

But don’t give up the Bible! Perhaps skip the hard-to-understand parts for now. But dive into the stories and learn how Jesus can change your story!

Next step: Read one of the Gospels–perhaps start with Luke or John. Read a chapter every day. Pick out one thing you learned about Jesus. If you want to go deeper into your study try meditating on individual stories. Click here to read more about this practice.

Filed Under: Bible Study Tagged With:
March 26, 2019

Bible Study for Busy People

Ask anyone the simple question, “How are you?” and you will likely hear the response, “Busy!”

Our modern world spins with activity and hums with hustle. Although technology promised us a life of leisure, we find ourselves busier than ever before. We pack so many things into our days: work, volunteer activities, caring for family, watching our kids’ basketball games, and simply keeping up with the laundry!

We think we could never add one more thing into our already overcrowded schedules.

So when the pastor suggests we should read the Bible every day, we file that suggestion into the mental folder of “Impossible.” When a friend asks us to join a small group Bible study, we say, “Not now.” We know we should engage with Scripture. We should spend time in the Word. We should open and read our Bibles more. But we tell ourselves we don’t have the time.

Maybe part of the problem comes with that word should. When I view Bible study as an arduous duty, I drag my feet. I find “better” things to do.

But what if I viewed Bible study as a privilege? What if it became something I get to do, instead of something I should do? Maybe then I would find the time to read Scripture, no matter how crowded my schedule is.

Bible Study as a Privilege

Often my schedule is packed as tight as my sweater drawer. But here are a few reasons I want to find in time in the Word.

Reading the Bible is a privilege people didn’t always have. For millennia, people did not have personal access to God’s Word. It wasn’t until the invention of the printing press in the 1400s that an average person could afford his own copy of the Bible. And even then, only the educated elite could read it because it was in Latin. Now, as an English speaker, I have affordable Bibles in multiple translations. I can easily read and understand God’s Word in my own language.

Reading the Bible gives me the privilege of knowing the Author. I love reading biographies of some of my favorite composers because it lets me see into their lives. I can know Beethoven and Debussy as people and not just as the composers of the sonatas and preludes I love to play. Opening up my Bible helps me know God personally and not just as the One who created, the moon, stars, and earth. Reading the stories of how He interacted with people through the centuries lets me see His power, His care, His justice, His grace.

Reading the Bible gives the privilege of reading God’s love letter to me. The year my now-husband and I were engaged, we lived 500 miles apart. We had no email or Skype. Even long-distance phone calls were expensive back then. So we wrote letters. Almost every day of the nine months we were apart, I wrote a letter and received a letter. I could hardly wait to open the envelope because the note inside held reminders of John’s love for me. The Bible is God’s love letter to each one of us. When I open it, I read:

God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. 1 John 4:9-10 NLT

Reading the Bible gives me the privilege of receiving instruction for life. When our first child was born, my husband and I were amazed that the hospital entrusted this small human into our care without even giving us an instruction manual! Even more than a parenting manual, the Bible gives instructions for all of life. Inside we find out how to cheat death through trusting in Jesus. We can learn basic guidelines for living with people, making wise decisions, and handling money. Yet, how often do I go to the Internet for answers instead of God’s Word?

Bible Study for Busy People

Viewing Bible study as a privilege may be the first step in embracing the practice. But I can’t simply “find” time in my busy schedule. A window of time won’t magically appear. I need to make time.

I try to fit 20- 30 minutes of Bible study into my morning routine. It has become a part of my daily schedule. An appointment with God that I almost always keep.

Maybe you can’t set aside that much time right now. That’s OK.

Start small. Look at your daily routine and designate a portion of your day to time in God’s Word. Get up fifteen minutes early. Or use a portion of your lunch hour. Grab the Bible as your bedtime reading. Block out fifteen minutes of your day–but don’t berate yourself if it turns out to be only ten or even five.

Our lives are busy! But God promises that time in His Word is time well spent:


The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
    reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
    making wise the simple.
The commandments of the Lord are right,
    bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
    giving insight for living.

Psalm 19:7-8

Next step: Block out fifteen minutes each day to read God’s love letter to you. This week try reading a chapter of 1 John each day and writing down a reminder of God’s love for you.

Filed Under: Bible Study
March 19, 2019

Spiritual Disciplines: Meditating on Bible Stories

This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline series where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

My favorite novels make my feel as if I’m part of the story. Through the author’s skillful use of word pictures, I can feel the sunshine warm my face or hear the burglar rattle the door. I can see the moon’s reflection on the lake or taste the buttery frosting on a cupcake. I can laugh at the character’s mishaps and cry with her in her pain.

God’s Word is a treasure trove of beautiful stories. Of course, the wonderful thing is that all these stories are true.

Yet Bible stories do have something in common with great novels: they tug at our hearts.

Jesus was the consummate story-teller. In just a few words He helped his listeners envision a forlorn sheep on a bleak hillside or an estranged son returning to his loving father’s arms.

One of my favorite ways to contemplate Scripture is to meditate on Bible stories–especially Gospel stories. Because I’ve known these stories ever since I was old enough to sit on a tiny chair and listen to a Sunday School teacher with a flannelgraph, it’s easy for me to gloss over these well-known accounts and miss their richness. But when I slow down and contemplate them, I notice things I’ve missed before. Jesus helps me see where I am in the story and teaches me truth for my life.

Martin Luther wrote about this way of meditating. He recommended that when we read a Gospel story, we see ourselves as the person coming to Jesus or the one being brought to Him.

When you see how he (Jesus) works, however, and he helps everyone to whom he comes or who is brought to him, then rest assured that faith is accomplishing this in you and that he is offering your soul exactly the same sort of help and favor through the Gospels…Christ is yours, presented to you as a gift. [Grace Upon Grace (p. 102), by John Kleinig]

Meditating on Bible Stories

To meditate on a Bible story:

  1. Read the text.
  2. Close your eyes and use your five senses to imagine yourself in the story. What might have you seen? smelled? felt? heard? tasted?
  3. Picture yourself as one of the characters of the story. How would you have responded to what is happening? What thoughts would have gone through your mind? What emotions would have bubbled up?
  4. Apply the story to your life in the present. What is the story teaching you about Jesus? How is God wanting you to respond?

John Kleinig, in his excellent book, Grace Upon Grace, tells that Luther emphasized two principles in this type of Scripture meditation. One: We are to meditate on the story as the Good News of Christ. Don’t just see the story as a call to obedience. As you meditate on the Gospel story, keep your eyes on Jesus–the giver of grace. Two: Meditate on the story in faith. This is not simply an intellectual exercise; it is a means to grow in trust in our Savior. God’s Word is living and active and works in our hearts to produce faith.

Meditation on Jesus’ Sacrifice

The discipline of meditating on stories of Jesus’ sacrifice can be especially meaningful. Personally, I want to take the time to “watch” Jesus parade through the streets of Jerusalem. I want to imagine Christ stooping to wash my dusty feet. I want to feel the horror when Jesus announces that one of my colleagues is a traitor. I want to be present in the hush of the Garden of Gethsemane.

Although it might be painful, I want to fully appreciate Christ’s sacrifice for me by meditating on the account of the cross. And I want to relive the joy of the empty tomb and hear the angel say, “He is not here. He is risen!”

 Let’s all take time this week to meditate on the accounts leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Through God’s powerful Word, the Holy Spirit will lead us to a deeper appreciation of the Father’s love, the Son’s sacrifice, and the Spirit’s comfort.

God’s Word is more than a novel that takes us to times and places we cannot go. It has life-giving power.

Next step:  Over the next five days spend some time each day meditating on and receiving grace from God’s Word. Here is a list of Scriptures relating to Jesus’ sacrifice that you might want to use.

  • Matthew 21:1-11 The Triumphal Entry
  • John 13:1-11 Jesus washes the disciples’ feet.
  • Matthew 26:36-46 Garden of Gethsemane
  • Matthew 27:32-56 The Crucifixion
  • Matthew 28:1-10 The Resurrection

204196 - Copy (2)If you would like more information about Spiritual Disciplines, check out my Bible study book: Soul Spa: 40 Days of Spiritual Renewal. It is a great way to find rest for your souls. This book can be used for personal or group study. More information here and here.

Filed Under: Bible Study, Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: ,
March 12, 2019

Spiritual Disciplines: Silence

This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline series where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

My mother-in-law Shirley was known as a woman with the gift of gab. One thing I always liked about her was that chats with her never have any of those awkward silences.

Once when I was with her, we went to visit an old friend of hers. The mother of the friend was with her and this mother also possessed the ability to make continual conversation. In this woman, Shirley had met her match.

When the visit ended and we got back in the car, Shirley expressed her frustration, “Oh, that woman!” I couldn’t get a word in edgewise!”

I wonder if that is how God feels sometimes. When we come to Him, we often come with our long lists of complaints, our litanies of needs. Our time with Him is often a one-sided conversation.

And when we’re not talking to Him, we fill our ears with music on the radio, chats on the phone, and movies on the big-screen TV.

Maybe God feels like He can’t get a word in edgewise.

Ecclesiastes 5:2 says:

Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.

Silence

In order to hear God speaking to our hearts, we sometimes need to practice the Spiritual Discipline of silence. We live in a noisy world.  It can be hard to hear God’s voice above the din. God may be speaking, but we may not be listening.

In my job as a music teacher at a Lutheran school, I have one rule for my students: When I am talking, they are to be quiet. This rule is necessary for them to hear the instructions for the next activity. When they are talking, they are not listening. If the class follows the rule reasonably well, I give the class a sticker on a chart. Ten stickers equal a reward of a movie day. But somehow, this simple rule is extraordinarily difficult for the students. We are already 24 weeks into the school year and one of the classes has only earned 3 stickers. Go figure.

I guess we all like to talk more than to be still. But that’s the beauty of the discipline of silence.

Silence enables us to listen. 

King David wrote in Psalm 62:1

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from him comes my salvation.

I cannot hear God’s words of grace if I’m always talking. I can’t listen to His gentle words of salvation if I’m not waiting in silence.

Sometimes I need to wait for some time before I hear God’s voice. Even if I’m in His Word, the noise in my head may drown out His voice. The conversation between me and my distracted self doesn’t allow me to listen.

Practicing Silence

So how can we practice silence? How can we hear God’s more clearly? Here are some ways that work for me.

Practice silence before reading God’s Word. Before jumping into your Bible study time, take a few minutes of silence to quiet your mind. Turn David’s words in Psalm 62:1 into a prayer: “God, my soul is waiting in silence for You alone. Enable me to hear Your words of grace and salvation in Scripture. Help me hear Your message to me in Your Holy Word.

Write down the noise in your head. Perhaps you have noticed that when you sit in silence, your thoughts are definitely not quiet. The voices of Doubt and Defeat speak up. Worry and Anxiety seem intent on not letting God get a word in edgewise. You feel like a failure before you even begin.

But you can use these noisy thoughts to your advantage. Sit quietly and pray David’s words, “I wait for God in silence.” As you quiet your mind, have a pen and paper ready. When distracting thoughts pop up, don’t berate yourself. Instead, write down a word or phrase that describes that thought. Quiet your mind again and repeat the process. After ten minutes, look at your list of distracting thoughts. What do they tell you about your life? What do they tell you about your relationship with God? Then take the whole list to God in prayer.

Schedule a personal retreat. This is one of my favorite things to do–but I’ll admit I don’t do it enough. Block out a day–or a morning–for a silent retreat. When I have a personal retreat, I love to go to a park if the weather is nice. But you could look for a retreat center in your area, book a hotel room, or simply find a quiet corner in the library. Bring only your Bible, journal, and willingness to wait in silence. Read a portion of Scripture and then wait for God’s words to you. Journal what you sense God is speaking to you in His Word. You could also use the disciplines of Palms Down, Palms Up Prayer; SACRED Reading; and Examen during this time. An extended time of silence like this refreshes my soul. (For more ideas for a personal spiritual retreat and get my Soul Spa Kit read here.)

Wait in silence. Let God get a word in edgewise. He is longing to comfort your heart and care for your soul. He will faithfully speak words of love and forgiveness as you come to Him. Quiet your heart and hear His words of grace.

Next step: For the next five days, schedule some time for Silence. Read the following Scriptures for inspiration:

  • Psalm 62:5-8
  • Ecclesiastes 3:7
  • Habakkuk 2:20
  • Revelation 8:1-4
  • Luke 5:12-16

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: , ,
March 5, 2019

Spiritual Disciplines: Slowing

This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline series where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

I once heard a story about an American traveler on an African safari. A typical type-A American, he wanted to see as much as possible in the time he had on the continent. And because he wanted to see parts of the land where travel was difficult, he hired some local people to carry his supplies.

On the first morning, they got up early and made encouraging progress. The second morning everyone once again rose with the sun and they covered a great distance. The third day the party traveled far. But on the fourth morning, the local people simply sat under the trees and refused to move on.

The American tourist became impatient, but no amount of coaxing would get the men moving again. Finally, through an interpreter, the tourist asked what the problem was.

The translator relayed their message, “They are waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.” [Adapted from Soul Keeping (p. 130), by John Ortberg]

Have you ever felt like that? Like you have hurried through your days, sped through your tasks, even rushed through your time with God so quickly that your soul has been left behind?

I know I have.

Our society is built on hurry. We try to pack our days like we pack for a 2-week vacation–into a carry-on suitcase. I see this in the lives of my piano students who hurry from school to piano lessons to soccer practice to math tutoring. I see it in the lives of those in ministry as they rush from church services to Bible studies to community volunteering to board meetings.

I’ll bet there are days or weeks or months when you too, live in a state of hurry. Modern lives are filled with a myriad of good things and we feel we need to rush to fit them all in.

But when we stop long enough to breathe we realize that our soul has been neglected. It’s Tuesday, but it feels like our soul has been left behind at Saturday.

Slowing

To remedy this situation, I suggest we practice the Spiritual Discipline of Slowing. Perhaps this is not a typical Spiritual Discipline. A search in the concordance confirmed that God’s Word does not say “slow down” in those exact words. Yet we see this concept in Scripture when God talks about our need for rest.

God Himself rested on the seventh day of creation. He commanded His people to rest on the Sabbath.

Through the prophet Isaiah, God told the disobedient Israelites:

For thus said the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel,
“In returning and rest you shall be saved;
    in quietness and in trust shall be your strength.” (Isaiah 30:15)

And the prophet Jeremiah declared,

Thus says the Lord:
“Stand by the roads, and look,
    and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
    and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’” (Jeremiah 6:16)

God does not want us to live a life of hurry. In these passages, we see that hurry happens when we insist on relying on our own strength and knowledge. When we feel God’s way is simply too slow and we try to hurry Him along. We step out of His ancient paths in an effort to achieve our objectives–faster.

Jesus’ Example

Perhaps the best Scriptural example of slowing was Jesus Himself. His life was not one of idleness. He was always occupied with preaching, teaching, and healing. Yet in reading the Gospels, I never have the feeling that Jesus hurried. He always took the time that was needed. Even when he was on His way to a very sick twelve-year-old girl, He stopped to speak to a woman who had touched His cloak and been healed of a long, painful illness. (Mark 5:21-33)

Jesus told His disciples:

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. (Matthew 11:28-30)

Jesus didn’t say that we should sit around and do nothing. Instead, we should work with Him. A yoke is a wooden crosspiece that is fastened over the necks of two animals and attached to a plow or cart. The yoke enables the animals to work together. Jesus invites us to take His yoke, work alongside Him.

I don’t know about you, but hurry frequently enters my life when I attempt to accomplish more than God intends. When I insist on trying to carry all the burdens of this life on my own. In the words of Matthew, I hear Jesus say, “Stop that. Work with me. Don’t take on too much. Don’t try to do it on your own. I have wonderful tasks planned for you, but when you work with Me, it won’t feel like hard labor or a heavy burden. It will be more like rest for your soul. Hurry won’t even enter into the equation.”

Practicing Slowness

So how can we practice slowness and eliminate hurry?

Here are a few suggestions:

Sabbath.The Lord commanded the Sabbath for a reason. He knew we needed it. Time to worship. Time to rest. Time to tend to our souls. If you don’t already observe the Sabbath, I encourage you to take one day a week to engage in corporate worship. To spend time with family and friends. To close the computer or put away the broom. Instead, spend time in God’s Word, read a good book, or take a walk in the woods. (Read more about observing Sabbath here.)

Examine your activities. Is your life one big hurry because you have taken on more than God intended? Take an hour to list all your activities and your family’s activities that involve your time. Prayerfully ask the Lord where you have stepped out of the yoke He has planned for you and tried to do things on your own.

Build a little margin in your day. I’ll admit this is still a hard one for me, but another suggestion for eliminating hurry is to allow more time between appointments and activities. Try not to schedule things back to back. When you need to go somewhere, estimate how long it will take to get there and then allow twice that amount of time. If the drive to the dentist’s office normally takes ten minutes, allow twenty. The extra margin gives you time to notice the lilacs on the way. Or really listen to the words of the song on the radio. If you arrive early, you have time to relax and breathe.

Modern life is fast. We feel we need to keep up. But Dallas Willard, an author who often writes about Spiritual Disciplines, reminds us:

Hurry is the great enemy of spiritual life in our day. You must ruthlessly eliminate hurry from your life.

God knows we need soul rest. And He will provide it.

Next step: Over the next five days, take time to read what God says about rest. Ask Him to teach you and invite Him to point out any changes that need to be made in your life. Thank Him for His promise of soul rest.

Scriptures about Sabbath and rest:

  • Exodus 20:8-11
  • Isaiah 56:2, 6-7
  • Hebrews 4:1-11
  • Matthew 11:28-30
  • Jeremiah 6:16
  • Psalm 116:7
  • Psalm 127:2

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: , ,
February 26, 2019

Spiritual Disciplines: Examen

This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline series where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

Another busy day. Teaching music at the Lutheran school in the morning. Piano lessons in the afternoon. Dinner with my sweet hubby. Bible study with my small group in the evening.

I fall into bed exhausted. But before I step into dreamland, I take time to practice Examen. I close my eyes and watch a “video” replay of my day.

I thank God for the good things: a big hug from a preschooler at school, time with my husband, laughter with my awesome Bible study gals.

I ask the Holy Spirit to show me where I messed up that day–yep, I lost my patience with those antsy third-graders–forgive me. Lord.

I look for God’s presence in the ordinary moments of my day and I see Him in the unexpected warm weather in the middle of winter, in the faces of the children as they sing of God’s love, and in the words of hope in God’s Word.

I go to sleep forgiven and grateful.

The Spiritual Discipline of Examen

The practice of Examen is one of my favorite Spiritual Disciplines.

I know intellectually that God is always with me. I grab onto God’s promise:

I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you. (Joshua 1:5)

But sometimes I forget. I get caught up in my to-do list, in the hectic activities of each day. I forget that God is always with me to love me, guide me, and cheer me on. Examen helps me be more aware of Christ in the mundane moments of every day.

You too?

To practice the Spiritual Discipline of Examen, start by finding a quiet place and asking the Spirit to guide your time of reflection. Close your eyes and review the last 24 hours. Ask yourself questions like:

  • What inspired gratitude today?
  • What happened that was painful, sad, or disappointing?
  • What moment do I now regret and need to confess?
  • What moments of my day were life-giving?
  • What moments of my day were life-draining?
  • When did I sense God’s nearness?
  • When did my hectic pace of life crowd out a sense of God’s nearness?
  • When did I give and receive love?
  • When did I feel an absence of love?
  • What did God teach me today?

Spend some time thanking God for His presence throughout the day and thank Him for the things that brought joy. Confess the sins the Spirit brought to mind and receive forgiveness because of Jesus’ sacrifice.

Visual Examen

Recently, I discovered a more hands-on way to practice Examen in a book titled Praying in Color:  I have adapted this method for our Spiritual discipline journey.

For this practice,

  1. Start by downloading and printing a sheet with a geometric pattern that will guide your experience.
  2. In the center of the pattern, write the words of Joshua 1:5: I will be with you. I will not leave you or forsake you.
  3. Then, in the spaces closest to the center, write down things for which you are grateful. Did you get a hug from a preschooler? Did you see a spectacular sunset? Write down anything from the last 24 hours that brought you joy.
  4. Next, ask yourself a few questions about your day. In the outer ring of the pattern, write a word or two that recalls these moments:
  • When did I feel closest to God?
  • When did I feel distant?
  • When did I mess up and sin? Where do I need to confess and receive forgiveness?

End with a time of confession and thanksgiving. If you like, color the spaces of the design while you pray. Many people find the act of coloring focuses their thoughts. (I suggest that you at least darken the spaces listing your sins so the words are no longer visible–symbolizing God’s cleansing mercy.)

God is with us. But sometimes we forget. Examen helps us appreciate the Lord’s presence in the ordinary and mundane. 

Examen helps us appreciate the Lord's presence in the ordinary and mundane. Share on X

Next step: Download and print the Examen pattern. For Use it to guide your Examen practice today. Here a few Scriptures to focus your time with God:

  • Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Psalm 139:1-6
  • Hebrews 13:5, Psalm 139:23-24
  • Psalm 139:7-12, 1 Kings 8:39
  • Psalm 73:23, 1 Samuel 16:7
  • 2 Corinthians 4:7-10, 1 Chronicles 28:9

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: , , ,
February 19, 2019

Spiritual Disciplines: Prayer Journaling

This post is part of my Spiritual Discipline where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

Every morning I grab a cup of tea and sit in the comfy chair in my office. I settle in with my Bible for a quiet time with the Lord. I may spend the time working through a book of the Bible or completing the homework for my small group study. I have a small stack of memory verse cards that I review and a prayer list to guide my prayer time.

I love this time with the Lord, but can I be honest here? The thing I most struggle with is prayer. I’m so grateful that God hears my cries to Him. I feel so blessed that through Christ we have the privilege of approaching God in prayer.

But too often, I’m in the middle of interceding for a friend and a stray thought enters my brain asking, “What will you make for dinner tonight?” I berate myself for my lack of concentration and turn back to the prayer at hand, but the next minute my thoughts wander to the heaps of laundry that must be done or the long list of errands for the day.

Because I struggle with attention in prayer, I have found prayer journaling helpful. Putting pen to paper keeps my mind on talking to God instead of my grocery list. The physical act of writing focuses my thoughts.

Ways to Use a Prayer Journal

There are many ways to use a prayer journal. Here are a few ways that have been helpful for me:

  • Recording an account of your prayer requests and God’s answers. Write down your request and the date you first prayed for that person or concern. When the prayer is answered, write down the date and a prayer of thanksgiving.
  • Pouring out your heart to God. When I’ve been in a particularly difficult season, I have used the pages in my journal to ask God questions, to empty out my anger, or to vent my frustration. King David’s example in the Psalms shows me that God does not seem to mind this. He listens to His children and knows that after I have poured out my problems, I am more ready to receive His peace.
  • Keeping a gratitude journal. For a season, I daily wrote down three things for which I was thankful. By intentionally seeing all that God had already given me, my whiny, discontented attitude was changed.
My Favorite Way to Journal My Prayers

But this is my favorite way to use my prayer journal:

  • Respond to Scripture. By turning what I read in God’s Word into a prayer, my mind is focused and I am able to apply what I have read.

For instance, one day I read Matthew 22 and these words from the Parable of the Wedding Feast struck me:

Again he sent other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner, my oxen and my fat calves have been slaughtered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding feast.”’ But they paid no attention and went off, one to his farm, another to his business. Matthew 22:4-5

And I wrote this prayer:

Lord, forgive me when I have ignored Your invitation to spend time with You. When I have gone off to my business–not giving You the time You deserve. Thank You for providing a feast for those You love. You give us all Your richest blessings–too often I ignore them. Thank You for Your love and forgiveness.

You don’t need a formula for your prayers. Just let the Holy Spirit guide you.

But if you would like a starting point, here are some questions to direct your prayers:

  • What in this passage inspires me to praise God?
  • What does this passage prompt me to confess?
  • How does the passage inspire me to pray for myself?
  • How does it inspire me to pray for others?
  • How does this passage spark thanksgiving?
  • What does this passage teach me about God?
  • How does this passage prompt me to pray over my everyday life and decisions?

Through Christ, we have the blessing and privilege of approaching God in prayer. Share on X

Grab a journal or a spiral notebook. Or start a new file on your computer. Open up God’s Word and write out your prayers.

Next step: Find a place to journal your prayers: fancy journal, half-used spiral notebook, computer file. For the next 5 days journal your prayers. Here are a few inspiring Scriptures to get you started:

  • Psalm 43
  • Psalm 86
  • Matthew 22:1-14
  • Luke 15:11-32
  • Romans 5:1-8  

Filed Under: Spiritual Disciplines Tagged With: ,
February 12, 2019

Spiritual Disciplines: SACRED Reading

This post is part of my Spiritual Disciplines where we will explore practices that connect us with Jesus in His Word. If you want to find out more about Spiritual Disciplines you can look here. 

One of the most memorable meals I ever had happened in Brussels, Belgium. My family and I were on a European tour–a bargain bus trip. One of those if-it’s-Tuesday-this-must-be-Germany tours.

We arrived in Brussels around 5:00 pm and were informed that we only had the evening to explore the city. Early in the morning, the bus would be on its way to Luxembourg. So my husband and two teenage kids strolled from our hotel to the city center. We had every intention of finding a nice restaurant for dinner, but then I saw it–the famous Leonidas Belgian Chocolate shop. I couldn’t resist a peek inside, thinking I would come back after dinner for dessert. But inside, I saw the hundreds of chocolate possibilities and had the bright idea: Why don’t we have chocolate for dinner?

So we all picked out a bag of our favorites and went out into the city square to savor our chocolate treasures. Each bite was so delicious I wanted it to last forever. I let each morsel melt until it was gone, enjoying each chocolatey moment.

SACRED Reading

SACRED Reading is a way to savor God’s Word like I reveled in those chocolates. It helps us to meditate on Scripture. As we savor God’s Word, it melts into our hearts and the Holy Spirit transforms us.

To focus on Scripture in this way, I choose a short passage of no more than eight verses and use the word SACRED to guide the process:

Silence your thoughts. Begin by quieting your spirit. Call on the name of the triune God and ask the Holy Spirit to guide your time of listening. At first, your wandering thoughts may seem to crowd out any quietness, but simply bring your thoughts back to the Father and eventually the cacophony in your head will die down.

Attend to the passage. Read your chosen verses. Ideally, you will read the passage out loud. Read slowly. Pause when it seems that God is drawing your attention to a particular sentence or phrase. Let the words resonate in your heart.

Contemplate the Word. Meditate on the passage, especially on any words the Holy Spirit seems to be speaking directly to you today. Do not hurry this time. Allow the Holy Spirit to bring up any feelings, doubts, or fears buried deep in the recesses of your soul. Thoroughly explore your soul for your most genuine response to these words of God.

Respond to the text. After you have taken time to listen, speak. That is, pray, pouring out your heart to God in response to what He has just spoken to you. If the passage inspired joy, offer thanks. If it brought a sense of conviction, confess.

Exhale and rest. Read the text again and rest in the love of God. Simply wait with the Lord who loves you more than you can know.

Dwell in the Word. As you come out of this restful state, ask the Spirit, “What truth can I carry into my day?” Think about a truth or promise you received that will help you live out God’s Word.

SACRED Reading helps me slow down long enough to hear God’s voice. It’s the difference between gulping down a sandwich and letting every bit of a Belgian chocolate melt on my tongue.

Savor and Receive

Let’s savor God’s Word. God longs to speak to us. In His Word we receive His wisdom and instruction for our everyday lives. We receive His unfailing love and His transcendent joy. We receive peace and stillness for our souls.

As we savor God's Word, it melts into our hearts and the Holy Spirit transforms us. Share on X

Next step: Try SACRED Reading for the next five days. Here is a list of Scriptures to get you started:

  • Psalm 1
  • Isaiah 40:28-31
  • Isaiah 43:1-7
  • Matthew 5:3-10
  • Ephesians 3:14-21

204196 - Copy (2)This post is adapted from my Bible study book: Soul Spa: 40 Days of Spiritual Renewal (CPH). This book examines Spiritual Disciplines as a way to develop intimacy with the Savior and to care for our souls. It is available here and here.

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