Bible Study Tip of The Day

Bible Study Tip of The Day -christyfitzwater.com

She blocked off the page on the overhead projector so the students could see only one sentence. Then she asked them about the verb tense and waited. A student answered her question correctly.

She remained quiet.

From my place of observation, I looked to see if she was distracted or something. No, she was silent and calmly looking around the room through intense eyes. On the next two sentences, she did the same thing. The grammar concept was challenging, and she was letting each example marinate in her students’ minds for an extraordinary length of time. I’ve never seen a teacher do that before.

What a great way to study the Bible, too.

For example, yesterday I was reading 1 Peter 2:17 (HCSB), in which Peter tells the believers:

Honor everyone.

I flew over the top of that command but then thought, Wait a minute.

Wait a minute.

Honor everyone.

To let that idea marinate for a long time, an uncomfortably long time, I did what I often do during my quiet time with the Lord –got up and started doing some housework. Folded the blankets on the couch and put them away.

Everyone?

Put all the remote controls back in the basket. (Why do we have so many of those?)

Do I really honor everyone in my life? That is a hard command.

Wait a minute.

Let it cement.

I let Peter’s command marinate for so long in my brain that I think it lodged there, and at least for now it’s making me mostly uncomfortable with the challenge of it.

Honor everyone? Oh boy.

This long thinking on short statements is how I study and absorb God’s word (which is why it took me three years to read my One Year Bible.) It’s also how I prefer to memorize Scripture and to be influenced by it in my thinking and actions.

Now here’s a test for you -does your morning Bible study stick with you all day? If not, try giving your brain more time to soak in a small piece of truth.

6 Comments

  1. Thank you for this timely reminder…It was used by God to remind me to relook at what He had said to me this morning. And just to make sure I did not miss the point, as I looked to the right on this page, I saw the Popular Post: Is self-pity a sin? Well, that “happened” to be the topic of my devotion this morning. Oswald Chambers (used by God) had reminded me that self-pity is of the devil” and if I continue in it God cannot use me for HIS purposes. So I am clinging to Ps. 34:17 that tells me the Lord hears me and will deliver me out of my “troubles” and self-pity. Today I am to focus on the blessings He has given me. And I have just reread your posting on self-pity and copied off the 7 Reasons Why It Is a Sin.( I am a very slow learner! Got to keep truth in front of me.) Blessings for you today.

  2. Vickye Hubbs says:

    Christy, I am so encouraged by your simple & realistic approach to Bible study. Taking on large amounts of scripture can sometimes leave me feeling like I need to do so much-and quickly! One word can impact our lives and bring about change when we spend time letting it soak in or “marinate” throughout the day.
    Thank you for helping women to walk with Jesus in obedience. Your honesty has helped me not to be so hard on myself and to understand the grace and mercy of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

    1. Yeah, I think a lot of times we feel like more must be better, but I would rather take a small bit of truth and truly live it.

  3. Wow! Exactly what I needed to hear. I will be trying this. Thanks so much for sharing.

  4. Thanks for this tip, reading the Bible won’t do me much good if I don’t absorb the meaning of the words (Mathew 13:13 comes to mind). Have a wonderful day!

  5. My style EXACTLY! Hadn’t thought of it as “marinating” but I like that concept!

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