Go Deeper: How To Stay Rooted
If you’ve been struggling to be engaged in your devotional time or are looking for a fresh way to revive it, I want to share a method that has been a blessing to me. I learned this technique and have since added my own spin to it.
Here’s a step-by-step guide:
Choose a Book to Study: For example, I am currently studying Ephesians.
Day 1: Read the first chapter from start to finish. The goal is to understand the context: who is writing, who the audience is, and the purpose of the writing.
Subsequent Days: Read only ONE verse per day. This is meant to be a slow study.
Repeat: Continue this process for each chapter in the book. You can repeat this method with subsequent books as well.
Summarize the Verse: Write a summary of the verse in your own words.
⚠️ Do Not Jump to Application Immediately:
First, understand: How does this verse help me understand more about God and who He is?
Next, understand: How does this help me understand more about who I am in Christ?
Finally, apply: How does this truth need to be applied (in deed, prayer, etc.)?
Read Multiple Versions: Consider versions like ESV, NLT, CSB, NASB, NKJV, AMPC, etc. Highlight or note any translations or words that stand out or need defining.
Use Resources: Tools like Bible Hub’s Lexicon feature can be helpful for deeper study.
Look Up Related Verses: This helps the Bible interpret itself and provides a deeper understanding of similar phrases or topics.
Meditate on the Word: As David did, aim to deeply engage with Scripture rather than simply reading and forgetting it. Truly digest it, as Psalm 1 describes, particularly in verse 2: "But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night."
Re-Read and Reflect: Go over everything you’ve written, from summaries to different versions to related verses. Write down any additional insights that come to mind.
Pray: We are called to pray at all times. Pray God's word and truth over every aspect of your life, your family, and friends. Let the truth of who God is guide you. Even if circumstances don’t change as you wish, God will be an anchor for your soul through prayer. Remember, heaven and earth will pass away, but His word will remain (Matthew 24:35), and it does not return void (Isaiah 55:11).
In our deeper studies, commentaries can be incredibly useful. However, it's crucial to remember that our primary focus should always be on engaging with the Word through the Holy Spirit. While commentaries can offer valuable insights—and I often use them myself—we must never rely on them more than we seek wisdom and revelation from the Holy Spirit, who is our ultimate Teacher, Helper, and Counselor.
