Faith Friday #2

We’ve been given the word of God and told to heed its valuable instructions for life. Some passages are easy to understand, the words are just jumping out at us and we fill out pages of notes in our journals. We grasp the simple truths, the immediate applications. We feel empowered and encouraged. But some passages just aren’t. I mean, who needs to know the full genealogy of someone, tracing names and generations that seem utterly irrelevant to our modern lives? Or, who can make sense of the complex symbolism and apocalyptic imagery of a book like Revelation, a whirlwind of beasts and judgments that’s clearly impossible to understand, right? Not quite.

We might be tempted to skip over these difficult parts, to focus only on the verses that resonate with us, the ones that offer hope and instant gratification. But that’s missing the point. Every passage, every verse, and every word is intentional. It all has meaning. God didn’t include anything in Scripture by accident. He knew scripture would live on for generations, and there is a reason He didn’t order for the Bible to be changed according to each generation’s standards or morals. And because He does and says everything for a reason, we can believe this is a sign that even today, the detailed study of His word is relevant. Every story, every commandment, and even the seemingly insignificant details contribute to a greater understanding of God’s character, His relationship with us, and His plan for the world.

The consistent message across various authors, time periods, and literary styles points to a singular author, the Holy Spirit, who guided each of these writers to accurately write His message to us. This refusal to conform to the ever-changing values of each era serves as a promise to the Bible’s ability to challenge and transform the hearts and minds of those who read it. Every name, every event, every seemingly insignificant detail is there for a reason, meant to shape our understanding of Him and His will.

But it’s also important to know that reading the Bible isn’t just about understanding it, through that’s crucial to applying it. Reading the Bible is about learning from the attitudes of others and applying God’s word to our lives. It’s about transformation, not just education. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve intellectually grasped a biblical concept, dissected its meaning, and even been able to articulate it flawlessly. Yet, my actions, my habits, and my overall demeanor remained stubbornly unchanged. I wasn’t allowing what I learned to change me. It was as if I were a spectator, observing the biblical narrative without allowing it to actively shape me. I wasn’t allowing The Word to become real and tangible in my own life. And I’m not going to lie and say I’m over that habit—It still happens to me sometimes, and I need to remind myself consistently to do what I’m reading, not just store it in my brain with a mentality of, “I’ll change it later.”

True study of the Bible is all about allowing the stories, the commands, and the prophecies to transform us from the inside out. Now, you’re probably asking, “How am I supposed to do that if I don’t understand it? ” or “Ana, this sounds great, but not every Bible passage tells me how to apply it; In fact, most don’t.” But we think this way, because we think of the Bible wrongly. The Bible isn’t a self-help book, with step-by-step instructions for every situation. It is a living document, meant to be engaged with, pondered, and wrestled with. Today, I’m going to share with you some Bible study techniques to help you get the most out of the Bible, not just to understand the words, but to allow the word to truly transform your life. 

1. The SOAP Method: Soap is an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. First is scripture, what verse, or verses stand out to you? Why do you think they speak to you the way they do? Is it connected with struggles or decisions you've faced recently? Then observation. What attitudes or behaviors can you observe and how are they making a difference in people? Then, application. How can you actually apply these verses, attitudes, or behaviors to your life today? Be specific and clear, maybe even writing down one specific situation you're going to apply this in today and be on the lookout for opportunites. Last but not least – prayer. You can’t rely on your own strength to apply it. Satan is going to try everything in his power to make you forget and keep you from applying what you learned. So pray asking God for the strength to rely on Him. 

2. Takeaway Method: this is pretty much what it sounds like, so I'm not going to dwell on this one. Put simply, what can you take away from the passage? This is a method for easier to understand passages, when the applications jump out at you immediately. Even if the takeaway feels obvious and comes to me straightaway, I still take some time to journal about it and pray, helping me to remember and apply what I've learned each day.

3. Space Pets: Wait a sec… Space What? Yep, I said it: Space Pets. Don’t worry, it’s only another acronym, though it would be pretty cool to see some pets in space suits. Space Pets is another method if you can’t find a takeaway for application. If you're on a time crunch, look for one or more of the things mentioned below. Or if you really want to dive deep into the scripture, I challenge you to find and write down all of them. This method is really nice to look back on later when reviewing the same piece of scripture. Reading the same piece of scripture, you can still learn new things from it each time you read it. 

• Sin to Confess: Does this passage convict you in any way? Maybe you’ve been sinning secretively or maybe you didn’t even know what you were doing was wrong. This is your chance to confess to the Lord that you’ve messed up and you need His help to change. I’m not asking you to go tell all your family and friends about this; you can keep this between you and God. I know confessing sins can be scary, but the truth is He already knows, it’s just about you showing the humility to confess your mistake and ask for His guidance as you turn this around.

• Promise to Claim: Is there a promise within these passages you can hold onto in times of need? Maybe it’s the promise that God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Or maybe it’s the promise that God’s with you wherever you go. Knowing all of God’s promises and keeping them in your pocket can be helpful when you’re doubting him or just need some comfort.

• Attitude to Change: You need to change your attitude! Yes, we’ve all heard this phrase from friends, parents, or siblings. But did you know the Bible can tell us this too? Everybody has an attitude that needs to change. Whether it’s gossiping, lying, hanging out with the wrong crowd, or doubting God, there are always attitudes in our lives we can change. 

• Command to Obey: Does the passage give you a command to obey? Every command is easy for some people and hard for others. No command hits in the same way for every person. So in this passage is there a command you must remember to obey or maybe one you haven’t been following that you know you should be? Write it down and follow the command. 

• Example to follow (or not follow…): What examples are being made clear to you in this passage? The Bible is filled with people who make choices, good or bad, and they all set examples for us. Is there someone’s example you feel drawn to follow? Why? How will you apply this to your life today?

• Prayer to Pray: just as a conversation goes two ways, so should our time spent with God. We can’t just let him speak to us by reading his words and be done for the day. No. We need to pray and converse with him. Tell Him about your wins and defeats, tell Him about your areas of struggle. God knows what you struggle with, and is waiting for you to give Him the reins and let him lead you in His paths. 

• Error to Avoid: Similar to example to follow, is there an example you shouldn’t follow? Does a Bible character make a mistake and do something wrong? What led them to make this mistake? If you’ve made the same mistake, ask yourself, “What causes me to make this mistake, and how can I change it?”

• Truth to Believe: Is there a truth God opened your eyes to? Maybe it’s one you’ve never heard before, or maybe it’s one you’ve forgotten. Some of our greatest misbeliefs and fears are rooted in lies. But when we find out the truth, we can beat our insecurities and fears knowing that they’re only deep-seated lies trying to knock us down. 

• Something to Be Thankful For: After reading this scripture, is there something you should thank God for? So often, we overlook the mundane blessings in our lives, but we need to remind ourselves to be thankful for every good and perfect gift that the Lord has given to us. Some scriptures can remind us to live with an “attitude of gratitude!”