Wondering how to journal and go deeper in God's Word? I hope the following pointers are helpful.
1. Prayerfully open God’s Word with a teachable heart.
2. Read a Bible passage several times, allowing Scripture to interpret itself.
3. Circle and highlight key words, themes, or phrases.
4. Highlight promises and words of encouragement.
5. Meditate on the passage and verses that speak to you.
6. Ask questions like:
- What is the message of this passage?
- What is the context surrounding the passage?
- What is God saying to me in this passage?
- What commands, instructions, and life principles are found here?
- What changes should I ask God to make in my life to align with this Scripture?
- What do I learn about God’s character in this passage?
- How does this passage show me a fresh picture of Jesus?
- How do I see the Great Controversy played out?
7. Pray the Bible passage verse by verse, personalizing it to your own life.
8. As you pray, listen to what the Holy Spirit shows you.
9. Journal the special insights God gives you.
10. Journal a prayer of worship, including praise, confession, thanksgiving, and surrender to God in response.
11. Write out your specific prayer requests, along with Bible promises to claim for those requests. Record any answers to prayer you receive.
12. Journal a summary thought from your time with God that you could share with someone today.
Call to Action: Additional Ideas for Deepening Your Bible Study
- Ask “Who, What, When, Where, Why, How” questions.
- Read the Bible passage in different Bible translations.
- Look up cross-references and parallel passages.
- Look up key words in Greek or Hebrew or use a Study Bible that explains key words.
- Consult other trustworthy Bible commentaries.
"Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart."
Jeremiah 15:16
All scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
