For years, I struggled with how to study my Bible. Reading a quick two-minute devotion in the morning seemed like eating a piece of candy instead of a full meal and reading through a chapter or two of the Bible didn't really seem to stick either. I'd put it down when I was done, and that would be it for the day. In 2015 though, I attended a women's conference and what I learned during one of the workshops changed the way I do my devotions completely.
Courtney Joseph, founder of Women Living Well, spoke on the topic of how to study your Bible for busy moms. Since then, I've learned a lot about the subject (and am still learning.)
- Quality of quantity. You don't have to power through a whole chapter of the Bible at a time. If there are a couple of verses that stand out to you, focus on them that day.
- Every piece of Scripture is applicable to ME.
- Commentaries and study Bibles can be very helpful, but remember that they were written by people. Fallible, imperfect people just like me. Weigh everything you read and hear against the Bible.
- Make God part of your everyday conversation. At first it may feel forced, but the more time you spend with Him and the more you practice making Him a part of your life, the easier it will become.
- Practice making prayer a true conversation and not just a quick "Dear God, I need this and help this person get better. Amen." I keep a running prayer list on my phone of praises, requests, etc. I've also found it helpful to set my timer for five minutes and spend that time praying so I don't rush through it.
Courtney Joseph introduced me to the SOAK method of Bible study, and I've been using it ever since. The letters in SOAK stand for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Kneel in prayer. I've also heard it referred to as the SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer) method, but I like SOAK because it reminds me that I need to soak in God's Word.
Let's break it down a little bit more.
- S-Scripture. This is the Scripture that you're reading that day.
- O-Observation. This is your observations from the Scripture you read.
- A-Application. How does this Scripture apply to you?
- K-Kneel in prayer. Spend some time in prayer. I usually write a short prayer regarding what I learned in my devotions that day and then spend five minutes praying through my prayer list.
Please ignore the fact that I have super messy handwriting...this is why I normally type instead of handwriting things, lol. |
I've found that it also helps to have some accountability. I have a secret Facebook group for me and a couple of friends to study the Bible together, learn from, encourage, and pray for each other.
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How I study the Bible using the SOAK method + Free Printables
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I've had a printable devotional using the SOAK method available in my shop for a while, but I just changed the price so now it's free and always will be! I hope you enjoy it and are able to use it to grow your relationship with Christ. You can find it here or by clicking on the graphic below.
I'd love to hear how you study your Bible. Share your tips in the comments or on Facebook!
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Amazing!
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