Does Your Daily Routine Include God’s Word?

It’s been called many things over the years: Quiet Time, Time Alone with God, Daily Devotional, Personal Study, and many others. Whatever you call it and however you do it, does yours include spending time listening to God by reading and meditating on His Word?

When I say “reading and meditating on God’s Word” I mean something more than reading a verse or two in a daily devotional booklet and calling it good. There’s nothing wrong with daily devotional booklets. Most of them are professionally written and good for some inspiration. What I’m talking about is something a little deeper that requires some thinking and meditating on your part. Here’s what I mean:

In the LifeJournal Christian Planner, there is a section called Bible Study. These are pages that you can use to get deeper insight into a favorite Bible passage by using a series of questions designed to get you to think and pray. 

Let’s try it out with Psalm 1:1-2: Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on His law day and night.

READ: Write down the scripture you read. Read a passage of scripture slowly. Then read it multiple times to become familiar with it.

This first step is pretty straightforward and necessary to catch what is being said.

ASK: questions of the passage, including God, humanity, commands, sin, and the Gospel.

What does the word, “blessed” mean? (Happiness, joy) Who are the “wicked?” (Those who intentionally disobey and mock God’s instructions) What is the “law of the Lord?” (God’s instructions to me on how to live my life to the fullest)

NOTES: As you read the scripture that is before you, note the main idea, key or repeated words, and themes being emphasize.

The main idea seems to be, how to be happy. The writer used, “walk, stand, sit” in describing every form of action that I would potentially take during my day.

SUMMARIZE the main idea of the passage in your own words.

The main idea seems to be that the real source of happiness and joy is to learn and live out God’s instructions for my life. To live life any other way is to “walk in step with the wicked…”

OBEY: Ask yourself and write down what would obedience to this passage look like in your life?

As I learn new truths/principles from the Bible, I need to intentionally put them into practice in my everyday life.

MEDITATE: Write down how you’ve seen the verses come to life during your day or use this space to work on memorization.

Today I decided to stop listening to a particular singer whose lyrics cause me to lust after the opposite sex.

If your daily routine doesn’t include God’s Word, it should and it can.

The RANSOM Method can be find here -->

By Joe Thorn and Jimmy Fowler
© 2018 Doctrine and Devotion
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by
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