You’ve probably not seen a devotional like this. Here’s why: Over the next few minutes you’ll spend more time engaging in Scripture and recording your own thoughts than you will reading our thoughts about the Scripture. There’s nothing wrong with reading other’s thoughts about Scripture, but we are committed to pure, raw experiences in God’s Word. We use three simple steps (which can also be three simple prayers) that will open up Scripture like never before. We use these steps and prayers in all of InWord’s devotionals (and small-group studies). But here’s the thing: you can use these helpful steps and prayers on your own with any verse, chapter, or book of the Bible. This will change the way you experience God’s Word.
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1. Digging In (God, Show Me!)
This step is the backbone of InWord’s devos. We ask you to do more than simply read Scripture—we prompt you with things to look for in the Scripture passages. God has something He wants to show us in every verse. By breathing a simple prayer, “God, show me what you want me to see,” you give God a chance to reveal life-changing detail. And here’s the kicker: when you see something, do something. Mark it. Highlight it. Write a thought. Record a question. These actions engage your thinking and your senses which will deepen your understanding and, in turn, draw you closer to God.
Try It:
The passages below are two of the most famous Bible passages of all time regarding God’s Word. To best interact with these verses you may want to print them or paste them into an e-doc. As you read these verses, first, see something: Look for anything that describes Scripture or the Word of God (what it is or what it can do). Then, do something: When you see something that describes Scripture or the Word of God, highlight the descriptions (i.e., circle them, draw a Bible symbol over them, select/highlight them if you are using an e-device).
2 Tim 3:16-17 (NIV)
16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Hebrews 4:12 (NIV)
12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2. Taking It Inward (God, Teach Me!)
Once you have “seen” the information in Scripture, the next simple prayer to breathe is “God, teach me what you want me to learn.” Listen to what comes to your mind. This is when the information on the page moves from your head to your heart. Meditate on it, probe it, question it.
Try It:
Look at the descriptions you’ve circled in the passages from 2 Timothy 3 and Hebrews 4. Take a minute to write out your thoughts on these questions.
Which description is most convicting?
Which makes you go “wow!”?
Which most motivates you?
Which most humbles you?
Take another good look at 2 Timothy 3:17, “…so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” This verse describes the end result of all that Scripture can do. Meditate on this verse and write a sentence or two about what this verse is saying to you.
To dig a little more on this subject, look up the passages below and put the “see something, do something” whammy on these verses.
Proverbs 2:1-9 Psalm 119 (any chunk of 10 verses) Colossians 3:16
3. Putting Into Practice (God, Change Me!)
The final step and prayer you breathe is more of a commitment than a request: “God, change me the way you want me to change.” When you breathe this prayer you are expressing a commitment to adjust an attitude or change a behavior. This is when information becomes transformation. It is the ultimate “do something.” If we don’t get to this point, we have missed the point of what God’s Word is all about.
Try It:
Respond prayerfully to these questions, writing down thoughts as they come to mind. Be as specific as possible when it comes to actions.
- Do you trust Scripture to do what it says it can do?
- What can you do to show your trust?
- What can you change in your Bible habits to show your trust of God’s Word?
Where to go from here:
- Share your insights with friends and followers through your favorite social media app.
- Embark on a one-week “see something, do something” journey through a one-chapter book of the Bible like Philemon or Jude.
- “Read the red,” the words of Jesus in Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. Then “do” what those words say.