In the beginning…
That’s how all stories start. Everything has a beginning; an exact time of creation, a first breath of air breathed, an origin of existence. We celebrate the beginnings of our lives, our birthdays, and often miss the significance of each day lived in between.
Let’s go back to the very beginning. The origin of all life…that was created by the One who has no beginning- the God of the universe, the Alpha and the Omega, the Great I AM. In the beginning, also, was the very Word of God. The literal utterances from the mouth of the Author of Life were spoken in the beginning of the world. (John 1:1)
And we have these very words today!
Deep in us, there’s an itch in our souls to live a life of fullness and joy. But many of us don’t know where to start. The best place to begin is always at the…beginning.
Reading God’s Word daily is the bread and water to our existence. Jesus came so that we would have life abundantly (to the full, exceedingly, spilling over). Here’s a few ways to study God’s Word for yourself and to grasp the immeasurable life He gives:
1. Read through the Bible Chronologically.
- Long Hollow Women began the journey of reading through the Whole Truth of God’s Word in January 2011. This year marks the second read through of the Bible. We would love for you to join us Tuesdays for teaching by Julie Woodruff, women’s minister at Long Hollow. For more details on women in the Word, go here.
2. Study the depths of the words in the Bible.
- The Bible was originally written in Hebrew and Greek. As the Bible has been translated into English, some of the deeper meanings of words have been lost. For instance, the word “love” has many meanings that can only be unveiled when read in the original context. You don’t have to be a scholar to find these meanings, though! Studying the Bible in Greek and Hebrew will add richness to your quiet time!
- Here’s what you do:
- Choose a book of the Bible, or a particular word or verse, you would like to study.
- Read several translations of the verse at Bible Gateway. Oftentimes, reading a verse in different translations brings added understanding to the truths in it!
- Study the context of the verse/book of the Bible. In order to truly get the meaning, we have to know what was happening at that time. There are many online commentaries available to use!
- Break the verse down. Word-by-word. Study the words and what they mean. See where the specific word is used in other places in the Bible. Two great places to do this are at Blue Letter Bible or Study Light. Simply type in the verse/word and look at the Hebrew or Greek meaning.
- Memorize the verse. Hand-writing Scripture is a powerful way to sear it onto our hearts and minds. Joshua tells us to never let God’s Word depart from our mouths. What better way than to read it aloud and imprint it on our souls?
3. Pray His Word. We truly don’t understand the power of prayer until we’ve known the God who hears and answers prayer. The more we know God’s Word, the more we know His heart, the more we earnestly long to be in continual conversation with Him throughout the day. Pray always. Hiding His Word in your heart will produce the abundant life He longs for us to have!
Just as the rain falls to the earth and causes flowers to blossom, plants to sprout, and vegetation to grow, so does His Word always produce a yield in our life. (Isaiah 55:11)
Just as the beginning of a story is important, so is the end. As you study the Bible from beginning to end, you will treasure the middle like precious jewels in the midst of a desert. Each truth you unveil will shine new light on life…and it will radically change the story your life is writing when you give God the pen.
In the end…
Jesus comes to take His own. May we be women who spill over the love of Jesus onto others as we uncover the abundance of God’s Word!
“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.” ~Revelation 22:21
