Walk Daily with God

“Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

Psalm 119:105

There’s no denying that the Holy Bible is fundamental in our walk with Christ. When you talk about a physical workout you need to include stretching and warming up your muscles. In our spiritual workout, we can’t even begin without getting into His Word. The Bible is how God will speak to us most of the time. We simply must feed on God’s Word daily.

In this hectic fast-paced world we now live in, I’m afraid this simple practice is neglected far too much. Forget the excuses! If its important to us, we’ll find a way to spend time in His Word.

To get it done daily will take real discipline. One hour of Bible study is 4% of our day. So, let’s think about some ways to make that happen!

Pastor Rick Warren offers these tips to an effective Bible Study: 1) ask the right questions, 2) write down your observations, 3) apply God’s Word, 4) study systematically, and 5) read it again and again! Remember, there are a lot of tools and resources available to us as we begin to study. You can do this effectively!

In Psalms 119, the psalmist posed the question “How can a young person stay pure?” He answered his own question in the next few verses:

• Live according to God’s Word
• Treasure God’s Word in our heart
• Rejoice in God’s Word
• Meditate on God’s Word

I’d like to introduce you (perhaps for the first time) to a study method known as Lectio Divina. This is translated “Divine Reading.” Select a passage of scripture to read. Start by reading slowly. Read it several times. Listen with your heart, not just your ears. Then reflect on the words. Give attention to any portion that begins to speak to you. Respond to that portion that seems to be significant. “Press” then to your heart and then pray (speak to God). Lastly, rest and listen. Be in God’s presence. Listen for God to speak to you through that passage.

Obviously, there are many ways to study the Bible. We can study books of the Bible, we can study topics or characters. There are ‘apps’ that can guide us through a study. We can even do a word study. We are not just reading a novel, we are reading the Holy Bible. Let’s meditate on what we’ve read. 

Here are five tips for your daily walk with God:

1. Equip yourself - get ready to dive in! Have a good study Bible, maybe even more than one translation.
2. Be determined - make up your mind that this is a priority and that you will treat it as such.
3. Commit to study! You can read or you can study, meditating on the words with the intention of applying the Word obediently. Have courage!
4. Start and finish with prayer (at the very least)!
5. Be the salt and light in the world - go and share the Good News! We are to make disciples.

So, don’t just sit there. Get up and find your Bible, resources and your note pad. This workout will be great. 

Be sure and listen in to my recent podcast episode "God's Treasure Map" on "Training for Godliness - A Podcast Program of Spiritual Fitness Ministries." You can find the podcast on Apple Podcast, Google Play, and Podbean.

Until next time...

"His faithful love endures forever."

Chaplain Gray