Faith in Action: Memorizing Scripture

I’ll just come out and say it – my friend, Julia Munz is a master at Scripture memory. I met Julia several years ago and began to develop a deeper relationship when we paired as memory verse accountability partners in a Bible study. I learned a lot from her then, and as we sat together for this conversation, I learned a lot once again.

What are the benefits of memorizing Scripture? Why is it important to practice and develop this faith-building discipline?  Julia shared her heart and her answers to these questions so that I could then share them with all of you. My prayer is that you’ll feel as inspired as I do after hearing Julia’s story. (I have paraphrased her comments but trust they are true to her meaning and intent.)

Me:  When did you begin to memorize Scripture regularly and what was your initial motivation?

Julia:  I participated in Awana growing up and worked on a lot of Scripture memory then. As an adult, I remember sitting in the kitchen of our apartment. It was a time in my life when I was diligent in Bible reading, study, and prayer. I was pregnant with our first child and recall thinking that with a baby coming, life was about to get chaotic. I knew that there were many time challenges ahead and if I didn’t hide God’s Word in my heart, I could easily lose some of the intimacy I enjoyed with God.

I was inspired by a woman who had memorized a whole book of the Bible. I remember asking if she memorized even the “unimportant” verses and yes, she had. I knew that if I wanted to know more, I needed to get beyond what I’d learned in Awana. I needed to re-institute the discipline that I’d learned all those years ago and develop fresh habits.

I wasn’t sure how I would start, but I looked in my Bible and saw that many verses were emphasized in bold print. I started with one of those and then moved on to the next. I wasn’t concerned at that time whether I could see immediate application in my life. I began to commit the verses to memory.

Me: What is the biggest blessing that you feel Scripture memorization adds to your walk with Christ?

Julia:  When trials strike – like a challenge that I faced just this morning - I find that verses I memorized some time ago suddenly shine important light on my circumstance. I’ve learned to stop worrying by asking God, “What does Your Word say?” I give His Word my mental focus instead of fretting over my situation. It strengthens me.

God’s Word says that He will keep in perfect peace all who trust in Him and whose thoughts are fixed on Him (Isaiah 26:3). When we come to times of crisis or stress, trials or overwhelming busyness, that peace is a wonderful blessing.

When my mind races in the middle of the night, I quiet it with Scriptures I have memorized. It gets me to a place of peace and I feel the Lord impress on my heart, “Rest in Me. Go to sleep and I will deal with it.”

Memorizing Scripture also ensures that we’ll have encouraging words to speak to others when they come to us in times of struggle.  It’s nice to offer comfort through God’s Word.

Me:  What is one thing that has helped you with this spiritual discipline?

Julia:  There are several things.  First, build confidence to know that you can do it. I started small and built on to what I was learning.

Second, review the verses that you’ve memorized. Otherwise, you’ll forget them quickly.

Next, have a partner. We may not memorize the same verses at the same time but when we share what we learn instead of keeping it to ourselves we discover that we truly have learned it! That helps build confidence and provides accountability.

It’s easiest to use a Bible translation that you’re comfortable with, one that uses language that you use every day. However, no matter what version you try to memorize, you can capture it with study and practice.  I’ve learned difficult KJV verses with “thee” and “thou.” Don’t let a wordy translation hold you back.

Push yourself, too, to know the address of the verses you memorize so that you can reference the context. There’s great teaching that comes before and after a memory verse and we shouldn’t lose sight of it by memorizing only what’s in the middle. Knowing the chapter and verse help us revisit the passage to review its meaning in context.

Me:  Can you describe the method of memorization that works best for you?

Note cards are a great tool. I start by writing the verse. Reading aloud and repetition are important. Talk to yourself – get your lips and tongue involved. Incorporating other senses is helpful. I use what I can see, feel, and hear, and often add movement. As I memorized Ephesians chapter 6, I put signs to it. I know a little sign language so some of the signs are true language, but many are simply symbolic to me and they help me remember.

When we learned the ABC’s as children, we sang a song and memorized the sounds. We can use music to remember Bible passages. We have memorized the grocery store and know which types of items are in which parts of the store. Our minds categorize our thoughts and file them away. We can do this with Scripture verses too. 

When we start the practice, it’s not easy but the more we work on it, the simpler it becomes. When we discover that a verse has become comfortable, we can add another.  We take what’s easy and add on, then add on again and add on again.  A good aim is to memorize one verse per week, then review the familiar verses as we learn the new.

Me:  How do you help/encourage your children to memorize Scripture?

We learn Scriptures together with songs, writing, and activity. We pare it down into bite sized pieces and review often.

To help them apply what they learn, I’ll often use God’s Word instead of my own as I offer encouragement and correction. They’re still young. They know the right answers to give. My hope is that by helping them hide God’s Word in their hearts, they’ll use it as they face more mature situations. I pray they’ll follow God’s Word and instruction instead of the world’s.

Sometimes when they resist instruction, I’ll give them time alone to think, pray, and wrestle with the Scripture. Even at their young ages, they can work out their salvation.

Me: If you were sitting with someone who said, “I can’t memorize Scripture. I don’t have what it takes and don’t want to put the work into learning,” how would you respond?

Julia:  You have said that to me, Cathy.  J

Me: Yes, I’m afraid that’s true. And you helped me move out of that mindset.

Julia: I would encourage them to begin and tell them, “Yes you can.”  Start small. Choose one verse that applies to your life. I would respond with Scripture and remind them that God is working in us, giving us the desire and the power to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13). He will help you memorize His Word!

Start now. Don’t procrastinate. Choose one verse that hit your heart in a sermon or on the radio. Pray the verse. Write it down and study and memorize it. Find times when your mind wanders, like when we’re working out, or grocery shopping, or doing dishes. Use that time to keep the Word before your eyes, focus on it and commit it to memory. 

When we learned to cook, we first had to learn what the symbols and measurements were. Then we could read a recipe and follow its instructions. After we became more comfortable, we learned to make the recipe by heart and use it to make our families happy.  When children learn in school, they often learn facts first. Then they learn to process the information and later to apply wisdom and application. God’s Word works that way, too. Learn the facts and you’ll be surprised when the insight and application come.

Julia Munz is a busy, homeschooling mom of 3 kids, ages 3, 10 and 12.  She serves as the local Directory of Classical Conversations, a worldwide homeschool organization that directs foundations and essentials of students aged 4-12. She’s a proud Kansas State graduate who has been married to her husband, Brandon, for 16 years. They live in Firestone, Colorado.

Your Turn:

What struggles have you faced in Scripture memory?

How have you overcome?

What's your favorite method of memorizing God's Word?

I'd love your comments, feedback, and connection! Join the conversation on Facebook or Twitter or leave a comment below.  For more from Cathy McIntosh, visit www.strengthenedbytheword.com

Be Strengthened Today, By His Word
Psalm 119:28

Cathy

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.

Click here for more information.

Part Three: Memorizing Scripture (Back 2 Basics Series)

This is a guest post by Lauren C. Moye.

Why Memorizing Scripture is Important

When I was a child, I could start memorizing Scripture twenty minutes before leaving for church and would be able to spout all of it off verbatim. I know, what a preacher’s kid, right? I learned two things from those experiences, though: 1) memorizing Scripture is very important for a Christian and, 2) long-term memory takes a lot more work than a twenty-minute study session.

Three Reasons Why You Should Memorize Scripture

#1 - It Helps You Internalize God’s Word

As Christians, we talk about the need to apply God’s word to our lives. Often, people fall short of actually living out this desire. Why does that happen? In my own life, I find that I fail to apply the Bible to my life because I’ve forgotten what it actually says. I haven’t internalized God’s word.

Internalization is a necessary part of applying God’s word to our lives. Once you have accepted a message as truth by internalizing it, you will not forget it. The secular world knows this well. Marketing is all about getting you to internalize a message about a product. Magicians use subliminal clues to help you internalize the things they want you to do. If the world recognizes the importance of internalizing a message, then shouldn’t Christians recognize it as well?

#2 - It Guards our Path

Another reason why I often fail to apply Scripture to my life is because I don’t recognize temptation when I should. It’s like walking with blinders on. By the time I recognize that I’m in the middle of temptation, it’s normally too late to practice what God’s word says about the situation.

But when I’ve memorized Scripture, I notice that it has a funny habit of coming to mind precisely when I need it to. Okay, you got me. It’s the Holy Spirit at work.

When I’m tired or have been dealing with a headache for most of the day, the last thing I want to do is be helpful to my equally hardworking and stressed husband. When he asks me to do something for him, my first thought is usually to snap, “I just put the baby to bed. It’s me time!” That’s when I remember Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourself. Each one should look out not only for their own interests, but also for the interests of others.”

If my husband has a bad moment and snaps unfairly at me, it’s tempting to have an angry wife meltdown. But before I say anything that would add to his frustrations, I think of Proverbs 16:24, “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the taste and health to the bones.”

As you go into the world, you’ll face all kinds of circumstances that will challenge you to step away from the way that God would have you handle them. When you’re in the moment, it’s hard to remember how we should act unless we have internalized God’s word. This is why memorizing Scripture helps guard our path.

#3 - It Assists Other Spiritual Disciplines

As much as I love personal Bible Study time, life is too chaotic for it to happen every single day. I’m not making trying to make excuses here; I’m talking about the unexpected curveballs that come up. Maybe it’s sickness in the family, having the UPS driver show up to talk about a missing package, or car trouble. Whatever it is, it takes away from the precious Bible study times you may have in a day. So how do I stay connected to the Word on the days when I cannot read it for myself? I refresh my memorized verses as I go about my chores.

If you are a person gifted with counseling others, you also know that you’re not in control of when somebody approaches you for help. Sometimes, you’re caught in a situation where you cannot physically look at the word of God. So how do you know you are sharing words that are in agreement with God’s word? Memorized scripture.

Memorized verses help me to stay focused while praying. When I’m struggling for the words, or struggling to know what to ask for, I fall back on my memorized Scripture. For example, I might use Proverbs 16:24 by praying, “God, please give me pleasant words to speak to people this day.”

There are so many applications to memorizing Scripture. I find that this Spiritual discipline intertwines with all others in my own life. But what if you aren’t very strong at memorizing things?

The Trick to Memorizing Scripture

Forget most of the ‘how-to’ articles or tips that you’ve heard on this subject. You don’t need flashcards unless they really help. There’s one very simple trick to memorizing Scripture: know your personal learning styles.

You see, not everybody learns the same way. For example, I learn by reading and writing. That’s why I could memorize verses so quickly as a child. There are many different ways to learn, which is why I’ve complied this list. Simply memorize according to your strengths:

·      Reading – The easiest one. Simply read the verse silently. Then, take a moment to see how much you can recall without looking, then go back to read it again. Repeat.

·      Writing – Write out the verse. Flip the page over or cover the verse up. Try to write it from memory. Repeat.

·      Auditory – You learn by hearing. Record yourself reading the verse or use an audible Bible. Play the verse back a few times. After a moment, see how much you can remember on your own.

·      Tactile – You learn by doing something with your hands. As you read the verse, use sign language or invent your own signs to go along with the verse. You might also try doodling or Bible journaling to help you memorize.

·      Visual/Spatial – Pictures and graphs. This one is a bit more difficult because it isn’t often that you’ll see pictures that perfectly fit a Bible verse. If this is you, try to think of images that go along with the verse.

·      Smell – For some people, memory is tied to scents. If you’re one of those people, burn a candle while memorizing Scripture. Others have success by chewing specific gum flavors. Later, when you want to recall it, think about the scent as well.

·      Logical – If you like to reason things out, then you’ll probably find that you can memorize verses easier when you think out steps to apply them to your life.

Closing Words

Memorizing scripture is very important, but it’s more important to memorize the meaning of the Scripture than it is the actual words. Don’t stress about it too much if you struggle to remember Scripture word-for-word. Also, once a verse is memorized, you also have to consistently work to keep Scripture memorized beyond short-term. It helps to keep a journal of Scripture references so you can flip through and refresh yourself occasionally. The benefits of actually memorizing Scripture, however, make all the work worth it.

Biography: Lauren C. Moye is a stay-at-home mom, but in another life, she majored in Communications. She writes at www.chaoticlifeoflauren.com, where she is dedicated to helping busy Christian Moms manage life. For a similar post, see “The Importance of Learning the Bible.”

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Faith in Action: Prayer

I sat across the table from one of the most beautiful women in my life. She’s my mentor, but more importantly, she’s my friend and my sister in Christ. Her name is Doreen Ohlin – a woman with a quiet, gentle heart that’s sold out for Jesus.

A week or so earlier I’d asked if she would allow me to interview her for the Back 2 Basics blog series. Doreen and her husband Darwin (not the evolutionist) are modern-day prayer warriors. It’s more than what they do, it’s who they are. My hope was to capture her wisdom in a slightly more formal sense than we’re used to. She expressed her reluctance, especially when I mentioned that I might voice record our conversation as I took notes. “Well then,” I said, “Let’s just have lunch and talk. We’re good at that.” And that’s just what we did.

As we chatted and addressed a series of questions I’d provided beforehand, my heart nearly overflowed with gratitude, and blessing, and wonder. I want to be like Doreen when I grow up. I’ve known this for years, but as we sat over burritos (hers was tortilla-free and mine certainly should have been), that truth was made fresh. She follows Christ so closely she glows for Him. And when she speaks, wisdom and precious treasures flow freely.

Today I sit to write – to try to pare down our 90-minute conversation into something that makes sense on paper. And I feel bad for you, my reader. Because you can’t see her facial expressions, or hear the love in her voice, or experience her glow that comes from so much time in the presence of the Lord. I’m sorry, my friend. Putting this conversation on paper will never do it justice. But I’ll give it my all – just for you.  I'll paraphrase her answers because of the conversational nature of our discussion but will do my best to hold true to her heart and intent.  

Doreen and Cathy, 2014

A Recap of the “Interview”

Me:  Do you have a set routine for prayer?

Doreen:  First we must understand what prayer is. It’s so much more than requests, but constant communication with God and a lot of praise. For me, prayer is so constant there are times when I ask God, “Are you tired of all of my chatter?” I smile and know His answer. He loves close and constant communion with us. I know He doesn’t tire of it.

My prayer time is continual. I am always talking to God. When I’m at the grocery store and I see the same person in 2 different aisles, I believe the Lord wants me to pray for that person and so I do. At night, Darwin and I spend 45 minutes to an hour in our war room, praying over specific requests. We start on our knees in worship then seek Him in His Word before moving on to our requests.

I don’t sleep well at night and am up, often, praying and praising Him in the night. The Lord impressed on my heart, “You have the night shift and I am the night Supervisor.” I am blessed by Psalm 134:1-2 which says, “Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord, who stand by night in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!” (ESV, emphasis added).

Me:  When did you begin to pray regularly and what was your motivation?

Doreen:  I can’t remember a time in my life without prayer. My motivation, always, is to know the Lord better and grow in Him.

In the mid-1970’s I was invited to be a part of the board for the ministry of Evelyn Christenson. I learned a great deal from Evelyn. I talked to her daily and communicated prayer needs through a prayer chain. She propelled my growth in prayer and inspired me to be steadfast in it. She taught me that prayer does not need to be wordy. We can use our own language and a conversational tone with the Lord.

I’ve learned to stay fully surrendered in prayer – not demanding answers or outcomes, but presenting my needs and asking that the Lord’s will be done.  When our daughter, Annie, became critically ill as a toddler, even while our hearts were broken we prayed - not our will but His be done. Over the years, we’ve watched as God used both her death and her life in indescribable ways.

Still today when we face trials, we’re reminded that all things are for His glory. When I question His reasons or become anxious, He reminds me. I often read 2 Chronicles 20 for encouragement. The battle is not ours but His.

Me:  What is the biggest blessing that you believe prayer adds to your walk with Christ?

Doreen:  His constant and continual presence. Knowing that He, the Creator of the Universe, takes time to listen, that He cares for my needs, is overwhelming. When we pray, we build our relationship with Him. Daniel 9:23 is beautiful. It says, “At the beginning of your petitions an answer went out, and I have come to give it, for you are treasured by God.” (HCSB).* Even while we are praying, God is answering.

Years ago, we studied the book Experiencing God and learned that God is constantly at work. We must watch and see what He’s doing. When we seek and expect to see His activity, we will. If we don’t expect Him to move, we won’t even be watching for His hand at work. We try to live our lives always watching for God.

The truth is, we don’t really know how to pray. God likes to give us more than we can comprehend, more than we ask or imagine. He answers in ways that are bigger and better than we ever dreamed.

We continually ask that God will expose every lie and reveal the truth. Jesus Himself is the Truth.

Me:  Why would you encourage others to pray?

Doreen:  For the joy of being with Him. He gives a heart of contentment and a knowledge of our intimacy with Him. We pray not to get, but to share of ourselves with Him. In turn, He shares Himself with us.

God is always available to us. We don’t have to ask Him to put something aside to listen. With Him, we can relax, find peace and be completely ourselves. We can’t hide a thing from Him that He doesn’t already know, and He loves us anyway.

Through prayer, we can know Him more. It’s about relationship with Him. What bigger blessing could we have?

Before we ended our conversation, Doreen explained that she hasn’t always felt comfortable praying on her knees next to Darwin. Years ago, she learned that his jaw seemed connected to his feet and that when they went for walks, they’d enjoy great conversation. Over time, their walks started to include prayer and then times of singing and worship. Eventually, that partnership in prayer developed to what it is today.

* Doreen quoted this verse to me from memory and I don’t recall which version she used. I provided it here from the HCSB.

Normally, I provide a “Your Turn” section on the blog. This time, however, I’ll just ask that you take some time to absorb the wisdom of my beloved friend. Take it in. Ask the Lord to help you live it out. I know I continue to do so.

Until next week when we look at Scripture memorization in our Back 2 Basics series,

Be Strengthened by His Word,

Psalm 119:28

Cathy
www.strengthenedbytheword.com

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.

Click here for more information.

Part Two: A Surprising Reason to Pray (Back 2 Basics Series)

As we turn our focus to prayer in this Back 2 Basic series, I’ll admit that I’m sometimes amazed that there are people who are uncomfortable praying. That is - until I recall that I once held the same fears.

Have you ever experienced a fear or overwhelming anxiety then suddenly realize you no longer feel it? Consider talking in front of people, for example. Statistics show that more people fear public speaking than dying. I remember the trepidation I felt during my very first speech class in college, yet when I speak publicly now, I feel more excitement and anticipation than fear. By facing my fear, praying, and working hard to overcome it, I’ve reached a point where I can barely remember feeling afraid. Public speaking feels nearly second nature now (although I do still get nervous jitters from time to time).

The Lord has helped me overcome my hesitation to pray in the same way. In fact, when I am about to pray aloud with others, I am now more afraid that I’ll ramble on with too much chatter as opposed to not knowing what to say. But there was a season in my spiritual life when I was too self-conscious and insecure in my prayer life to share it with others. It’s a fear worth facing.

Why should we pray?

If we think back, I believe most of us will identify a progression of prayer that looks something like this:

•             As a child, we prayed before bed and asked God to bless the people we love. We might even ask Him to give us particular desires like toys, or pets, or the fulfillment of other wishes. For me, my bedtime prayer was by rote – I was taught to use the same words night after night.
•             As teens, we silently prayed for answers to tests, for the affection of a certain someone, or perhaps for a friend who was struggling.
•             After high school, we might have prayed for admission into a specific university, for true love with the spouse of our dreams, or for the beginning of a lucrative career.
•             As parents, we pray that our kids will be free from heartache and pain, that our spouse will find success, that our marriage will hold together, and for other significant needs.

There’s a common theme to all that praying:  Asking. We spend our prayers asking for things we believe we need and for the desires of our heart. But according to the context of Scripture, there are many different reasons to pray, with one primary reason that may surprise you.  Some of those reasons are outlined below:

·      Throughout the Word of God, we see that prayer gives us the privilege to watch God work. When we ask and then see Him answer, our faith is increased. Would you agree? It’s a gift from the Lord to see evidence of His power and might, and through prayer, He offers that gift to us. (For examples see 1 Kings 17:21-22 and Mark 5:21-43).

·      We see prayer used as spiritual warfare (see Ephesians 6). According to scripture, there are armies of heavenly host who seem to receive fuel and strengthening by the prayers of the saints.

·      It is a pleasing sacrifice – an aromatic offering to God. See Psalm 141:2.

·      Here’s the reason that may surprise you. It’s one that I find to be one of the most compelling reasons of all: To build and deepen our relationship with God.

Pastor Chip Ingram describes it like this: 

"In Luke 11, we read that even the disciples struggled with really knowing God. One day when they were observing Jesus’ deep communion with the Father while He prayed, they noticed how He spoke to God intimately. He wasn’t caught up with following certain rules or rituals. The disciples wanted to have that same connection so they asked Jesus to tell them His secret to having close communion with the Father.

Jesus revealed the answer to them in an astounding parable, which is summed up in verses 9-10: “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seek finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.” 

Jesus’ message -- for all of us as God’s children -- is that God earnestly desires to talk to us and spend time with us through prayer. And when we come to the Lord in prayer we can be certain that He is not reluctant to help us, but instead He is exceedingly ready to come to our aide and to bless us."

When I first prayed as a child, or when I first made a commitment to steadfast and consistent prayer as an adult (you can read that story here), I had no idea that this spiritual practice would strengthen my relationship with God. It was a glorious surprise and an offered a gift I never want to be without. It’s become my primary motivation for spending time with Him in prayer.

How to develop the practice of prayer:

The most basic and easiest form of prayer to practice is that of the Lord’s prayer that Jesus described in Matthew 6:9-13. His model teaches us to:

·      Express our gratitude

·      Worship God’s character

·      Confess our Sins

·      Ask for our needs

I think it’s important in a post like this to reiterate that it is not wrong to ask for our needs and desires. God wants to hear our hearts. But prayer is much more than petitioning Him for our wants. If we stop there, we’ve missed a bountiful blessing. We’ve missed the best He has to offer – Himself.

I also learned the value seeking the Lord’s presence and listening for His response. His whisper comes by way of His Word (the Bible), promptings by the Holy Spirit, and confirmation that comes through other followers of Christ. These, too, are important aspects to prayer life.  In fact, I’ve learned that these aspects are critical. They offer a foundational way to discern more about God’s character. Through prayer, through what I read in His Word, the prompting counsel of the Holy Spirit, and by watching Him move through the lives of the Believers around me, I began to grasp His Character. He reveals His nature to me.

Then, when I return to prayer, my communion with Him is sweeter. It becomes more intimate, real, and personal. They cycle continues and I receive deeper revelation about His character, which enhances my prayer life, and the process continues.

In all of the faith building practices that we’ll cover in this Back 2 Basics series, I believe you’ll see a common thread: prayer. Without prayer, our time in the Word will be less powerful than we might desire. Without prayer, our time of fasting has no purpose. Without prayer, we’re less able to memorize Scripture. And we’ll find that through our times of prayer, our worship best magnifies the Lord and offers the pleasing aroma of sacrifice to Him.

Later this week, I’ll share a conversation I recently had with my mentor, Doreen Ohlin, on the topic of prayer. She and her husband are mighty prayer warriors and as I interviewed her on the topic, I could barely contain my tears. The wisdom she shared truly touched my heart, even though we’ve had many such conversations over the years. I can’t wait to share her insights with you.

In the meantime, I’ve written several posts on prayer. You can read them by clicking the links below.

            We Don’t Pray Big Enough (on Lauren C. Moye’s blog, Chaotic Life of Lauren) 

            10 Ways to Pray for a Hurting Friend 

            How to Pray in 4 Simple Steps 

            21 Prayers for Law Enforcement Officers 

            Shifting from Empty Prayers: For Moms 

As I mentioned, prayer is a valuable faith-building practice and worthy of our time and effort. While we have a tendency to believe that prayer changes our lives our circumstance, in truth, our time with God in prayer changes us. We learn more about His heart and become more like Him. That’s something I don’t ever wish to be without.

Your Turn:

When have you seen the Lord move with power in your prayer life?

Are there times when you’ve prayed and have not seen the results that you desire, and feel that your faith was shaken as a result? What do you believe might be God’s motivation in giving you an answer of “no” or “wait,” instead of giving you a “yes”?

Continue the conversation by leaving a comment below or sharing your thoughts on Facebook or Twitter. I’d love to connect with you!

Be Strengthened Today, by His Word

Psalm 119:28

Cathy
www.strengthenedbytheword.com

Cathy McIntosh is the author of Victorious: Finding Triumph When Hope Seems Lost. When you can’t see God’s activity in your situation, you might begin to feel hopeless. You’re tempted to doubt His care and involvement in your life because He feels so . . . absent. Victory feels elusive, as if God intends it for everyone but you.

But God is never absent. He is as involved in your life today as He was when He protected Queen Esther and the entire Jewish nation from annihilation, and He will bring victory.

Click here for more information.

Faith in Action: Reading the Bible

Tickled pink.  That’s how I feel about this post.

I have a focused aim as we cover each of the five faith-building practices in this Back 2 Basics series: Share the how and why behind each of the disciplines on Tuesday, then follow up on Thursday with testimonies from real people who are living out the practices. We’ll learn personal stories of struggle and celebration as new habits were established. We’ll hear about God-given passions to encourage others to model similar behavior and receive God’s best in the process.

I believe we’re encouraged by seeing faith in action. It’s one thing to read about what we “should” do, and another to receive inspiration, and motivation from those who have established the disciplines. From those in the trenches - those actually doing the hard work. (Yes, I said hard. Faith building is in no way a life of ease).

Today, I have the privilege of sharing the personal testimony of a new friend of mine. Her name is Lisa Morris and the instant you read her bio, I’m sure you’ll see why we connected. (Just in case you don’t yet know me well enough to see it… We both love the Lord and His Word, we’re wives of law enforcement officers, and we each write women’s Bible studies, teach, and blog).  You could say we have a few things in common. J

Last month, our church’s women’s group went through Lisa’s study on Titus and came away blessed and enriched. Her dedication to the Bible and her desire to walk in conformity to its teachings were immediately apparent as we studied under her teaching. AND, the study is free. How generous is that?

Following is an email conversation between Lisa and me as we discussed the practice of daily time in God’s Word. If you’d like to read the original post on this topic, click here.

Stand by to receive a blessing as Lisa shares her heart.

Me:       Can you describe your routine of spending daily time with God in His Word?

Lisa:     I start my study in prayer and I continue to pray as I walk through my verses for the day.  I try to spend about an hour or two hours a day in Bible study. I read through the book I am studying every day if the book is small. If the book is large like Romans, I write out a reading schedule to read the book through in a week.  For example, right now I am studying through the book of 1 Peter. It’s a small book, only five chapters. I do my best to read it every day. Reading the text through on a daily basis helps keep the context of the book in my mind as I study. I study through an entire book before moving on to another. I use a notebook and write out the verses I am studying for the day. After I write the verses, I cross reference with other Scriptures and do word studies on any word that I need the meaning of. I do not have a set amount of verses I study in a day. One day I might study through 10 verses. On another day it might only be two to three verses. It depends on the text and whether or not I understand what is being taught.

One other thing I do is to go through the book I am studying and record everything I learn about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. I write this out in the same notebook I use for writing out the verses and word studies.

Me:  When did you establish a solid habit of reading and studying the Word?

Lisa:  I established this study habit about nine years ago. The Lord placed a great desire in my heart to write and lead Bible studies. This way of study for me not only deepens my faith but helps me in writing my studies so other women can grow in their faith.

Me:  What’s the biggest blessing you feel it adds to your daily walk with Christ?

Lisa:  The biggest blessing I receive from this ay of study is learning what the Word teaches me about the Godhead. By focusing my attention on what the text teaches about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit, I learn who my heavenly Father is, what He has done for me through Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit in my salvation. I believe without basic truths about the work of the Trinity in our salvation we will struggle in our Christian walk.

Me:  What one thing has most profoundly helped you develop this spiritual discipline?

Lisa: I would say without a doubt prayer is the one thing that has helped me develop this spiritual discipline. On my own I would fail. Going to God in prayer before during and after my studies helps keep me focused and accountable to Him for my growth.

Me:  What do you notice about days when you don’t spend this time with God?

Lisa:  I am so thankful you asked this question. So often we can read about someone else’s habit in study and become very discouraged thinking they have it all together and never miss a day in the Word! We can heap guilt upon ourselves for missing a day here and there. I do not know about you but life happens. My best plans are often interrupted. Yes, I miss days in the Word. When I do miss time in the Word I feel lost and my day does not feel the same. I have missed time with the most important person there is in my life. I am learning to give myself grace when life happens to me. I hope you give yourself some grace as well when you miss some time in the Word. Do not give yourself too much grace, though, Bible Study and prayer are very important disciplines in our Christian walk. J

Me:  Why would you encourage others to dig into God’s Word every day?

Lisa:  I would encourage others to dig deep into God’s Word to know Him and learn to enjoy Him forever. Our main goal, if I may say it that way, is to know God and to understand how we are to live as aliens and strangers in a world that is not our home. Without being in the Word we will not know how to live a life pleasing to Him. There is much false teaching today! If you and I are not studying the real truth we will be ill-equipped to know the schemes of the devil and the God spoken Truth.

2 Peter 1:3 teaches us that God’s “divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”

Be in the Word! It is sufficient for life and godliness.  Thank you, Cathy, for this opportunity. Thank you for your heart to encourage and equip women with the truth of God’s Word and to point them to the only truth we have!

Hi, my name is Lisa. I am a born-again child of God, a police officer’s wife, and a mom to 3 amazing kids. I am a Bible study writer, teacher, and blogger. My desire is to encourage and equip you by offering Bible studies and articles that help you grow in your relationship with Christ.

To visit Lisa's blog or view her Bible studies, click here. 

Your Turn:

What do you find inspirational about Lisa’s story?  Is there something here that motivates you to action?

What one thing can you learn from Lisa and begin to implement today? Remember, she didn’t study for hours the first time she picked up a Bible. She grew into the habit.  Can you identify a starting point for developing a habit of time in the Word for yourself?

Lisa and I would both be encouraged by your comments and conversation. Join the discussion with the Strengthened by the Word Ministries Facebook page or on Twitter. Cathy’s Twitter: @cathymcintosh33  Lisa’s Twitter: @LisaMorris3703.  You can also leave a comment below.

Next week, we’ll delve into the importance of prayer in your spiritual walk. Meet me right back here and we’ll dig in together.

Be Strengthened Today by His Word,

Psalm 119:28

Cathy