Abide through a Daily Time with God

Abiding is about worship, offering ourselves back to God through Jesus. We do that when we gather together each week but also when we take time each day to give God our undivided attention through prayer, Bible reading, and meditation.

If you are not currently reading the Bible, here are some suggestions to help you get started:

Determine a place and time where you can meet alone with God. Set aside 10 to 30 minutes when you are at your best and make your time with God a priority.

Choose a Bible in a translation that you can understand. Also, keep a pen and a journal, notebook, or paper handy to record what you are hearing from God.

Read the Bible for transformation rather than information. Our goal is to listen for God’s personal word to us, reading not to master the text but be mastered by it.

Check out some ways that others have found helpful:

New Testament Bible Reading Plan_0.pdf

Lectio Divina

(from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook
by Adele Calhoun)

1. Silencio – Prepare your heart. Become quiet and offer yourself to God.

2. Lectio – Read the Word. Slowly allow the words to resonate and settle in your heart. Linger on a word or phrase that catches your attention. Stop, listen and wait to what God may be saying to you.

3. Meditatio – Meditate. Read the passage again and listen to where the Word connects with your life right now. Enter the scene in your imagination. What do you experience as you watch and listen?

4. Oratio – Respond, pray. Read the passage one more time, listening attentively. How is God inviting you to respond? Allow the Scripture to lead you into a prayer response.

5. Contemplatio – Contemplate. Deeply receive God’s Word and rest in his presence and love.

6. Incarnatio – Incarnate. Take God’s Word with you and allow it to live through you.

Place Yourself in Scripture

(from Spiritual Disciplines Handbook
by Adele Calhoun)

When you read a biblical story, imagine yourself as an onlooker. Let the story settle deeply into you. What are the similarities between you and the characters? Is there one with whom you resonate? Where do you struggle like he or she does? Listen to what the Lord is saying to you through a character and his or her story? How does this story help you understand your own story? Talk to God about how his Word is speaking to you.

S.O.A.P. Journaling

How to Get Started Journaling

1. S (Scripture) – Read the passage for the day. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

2. O (Observation) -- What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words.

3. A (Application) -- Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write it down.

4. P (Prayer) -- This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Since prayer is a two way conversation, be sure to listen to what God has to say. Now, write it out.

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Abide through a Daily Time with God

Lectio Divina

Place Yourself in Scripture

S.O.A.P. Journaling

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Previous Readings

Abide through a Daily Time with God

Lectio Divina

Place Yourself in Scripture

S.O.A.P. Journaling