When you try to read the Bible, do you ever feel like it goes in one ear and out the other? It happens to me all the time. In the morning, I’m encouraged by a truth or promise I find in scripture, but by the time I clean up the 5th mess in the kitchen, I don’t have a clue about what it was.
After that 5th clean up, if my kids happen to push my buttons, I can snap or throw out a quick retort as fast as anyone. If someone hurts my feelings, I let my joy go down the drain. I don’t look at all like a woman who spent time with Jesus that very morning.
How Can I Let God’s Word Change Me?
When I read scripture, I want to engage with God and let Him change me, yet most mornings I’m reading His words with only half my mind. I have one eye on the book of Ephesians, and the other on my to-do list. Then there’s the temptation to take a quick look at Instagram or the news. I want to let God’s Word change me, so I can look a bit more like Jesus and less like a stressed-out Superwoman wannabee. Obviously, the “Read with Half Your Mind” method is not going to help me much, so what’s a hopelessly distracted woman like me to do?
To get God’s Word into my heart and mind, I know I need to find focus when I read it, yet most mornings I don’t have time for serious Bible study. Do you? Maybe we make it too complicated. We think Bible study means diving into a stack of Bible dictionaries and concordances, and we never get around to it.
I may not have time to do elaborate Bible study, but most mornings I can find time to write out one or two verses.
Writing out scripture is a small, simple, yet powerful way to get God’s Word in me.
God must think it’s powerful too because he gave the kings of Israel these instructions:
Copying scripture sounds mindless, but it’s not. Writing out a few verses makes God’s Word come alive in so many ways:
- The physical act of writings helps you focus on the words and think about them.
- Scripture becomes more personal to you.
- You’re more likely to remember it later.
- You make your own record of what you’re learning or what God is speaking.
What You Need:
- A Journal
- Pens in several different colors (In a pinch, you can make do with blue, black, and red.)
- About 15 minutes to read a passage, choose a few verses, and copy them.
What to Do
- Write your verse, thinking about the words as you go.
- Circle, box, or underline significant words or phrases in different colors
- You might embellish one word to make it stand out, or include a simple drawing in the margin.
- Let the words be your guide for a few minutes of prayer.
Writing out scripture is simple to do, but it’s a powerful way to connect with God. For just a few minutes, God’s Word comes alive and becomes part of us as we write it out. And that’s one small step towards transformation.
Are you looking for a new Bible study this summer?
I wrote 10 Days to More to encourage women to draw nearer to Jesus and to explore different ways of interacting with God’s Word. Add your email in the subscription box on the sidebar of this blog. I’ll send you a free copy. You’ll find encouragement and ideas to spark renewal in your relationship with Jesus. Together, we’ll look at a different way to do devotional Bible study each day.
I link up with Holly Barrett’s #TestimonyTuesday, Kelly Balarie’s #RaRaLinkup, Holley Gerth’s Coffee for your Heart, Crystal Storms’ #HeartEncouragement, Salt and Light with Shannon Guerin, and Arabah Joy’s Grace and Truth. Check out these communities for more encouragement.
Beautiful! Looks like God is tugging our hearts in same direction….more Word Study.
Hope you had a great break? Or are you still on vacation, Betsy?
God bless friend
Yes, I did have a good break, Ifeoma. Our fellowship had a family camp, and I gave one talk at it, so it was good to not have to think about other writing. 🙂
Betsy,
So simple, yet such a good idea to keep your head and heart focused on the word. I love your emphasis with color, outlining, and flowers :). Thanks for sharing!
Blessings,
Bev
Thanks for reading, Bev. My drawing skills are pretty much limited to hearts and flowers. 🙂 But I use my limited repertory whenever I can!
This is one of the best ways for me to begin memorizing verses, yet so often I get in a rush and forget this practical, powerful step. Thanks Betsy!
You are right, Kristine! Great point. I pretty much CANNOT memorize a verse without writing it down first!
Even Benjamin Franklin knew the effectiveness of this method. He became a writer by copying the words he admired from books. How much MORE should we be recording the words of God and seeking to embody them? Thanks, Betsy, for reminding me (kindly) of things that I know I should be doing.
Do you know, I was remembering that myself, Michele? He felt like it helped him be a better writer, didn’t he? I definitely think it helps me to think more about what I’m reading. 🙂
Love it! I almost never read my Bible without a pen (or two or several in all the pretty colors) close by so I can take notes and write out my favorite verses. Sometimes even personalizing them! So glad I’m not the only one who tends to end the day looking more like a MESS than the Messiah! XO
I love how pretty colored pens are cheap, practical. My favorites are Ink Joy. 🙂 So you look like a MESS some days too, Liz? Rather than the Messiah? You crack me up !
What a terrific idea, Betsy! I’very been working through the Psalms (again), and while God has talk me a lot about prayer, themes seem to be recurrent. Pardon me while I slip away to tackle a new psalm in a new way. Blessings from your neighbor at Kelly’s.
Glad if this encouraged you, Alice. The Psalms are my favorite. I read one almost every day. 🙂
Simple, beautiful and effective. I love this Betsy!
You know I’m sharing this, right? 🙂
Hugs and blessings to you, my friend.
Thanks so much, Marva. I appreciate you, friend.
Such a wonderful, practical way to help hide the word in our hearts. Thank you!
Glad you stopped by today, Lisa. Blessings to you.
What a great suggestion for those frantic days. . .a way to slow down and meditate. Thanks, Betsy!
Hey there Jarm! Thanks for reading. 🙂
Even in the craziness, I can’t help but believe that God’s Word finds a place to settle into in the expectant heart. He promises His Word won’t return void.
As layers and layers of truth settle in and make themselves at home over time, they take root as we continue to water them, as the Holy Spirit works.
I find devotional times come and go. I get restless, bored, with routine. But never with Him.
I know what you mean about getting bored, I think. I have to constantly change the way I do things. 🙂 Amen to His Word not returning void! And yes to His Word taking root in our hearts.
These are helpful ideas, Betsy. I find because I do so much work and writing on the computer, I very, very rarely write Scripture (or anything else!) down by hand. Yet I know there is something about the process of handwriting that makes the words enter our brains in a different way. I did a Beth Moore study on I Thessalonians and she got us to write out the passage for each lesson – it was a bit time-consuming but I definitely remembered the passage far better than if I’d just skimmed it with my eyes.
That is interesting about writing out the passage. I typically write just 1-3 verses, but I’ve heard of people writing passages too. I find that if my hands are doing something, my brain works better. And yes, I’ve heard about the handwriting process waking something in the brain. I’m reading a book about writing, and the author recommended using handwriting at the brainstorming stage.
I am single, retired, and do have time for intensive Bible study with dictionaries and concordances, but I STILL get just as distracted! (and I’m pretty sure you are not hopeless in anything 🙂 Writing it down is a huge help. I use index cards for scriptures and some of them go on planes with me 😉 Great article!
I love using index cards too, Melinda. They’re easy to carry around! Thanks for reading today.
Excellent idea! It is so fun to see how interacting and giving attention to the details enables us to retain the message.
It’s true, Devri. It also helps me determine which message God is speaking to ME!
Beautiful simplicity. We make it harder than it needs to be! Shared on FB!
Thanks for sharing, Aimee. And yes to simplicity. 🙂
I can identify with ‘reading with half a mind’ so well, Betsy, and writing it out is such a good suggestion. We have to focus in order to write and our brains make a different sort of connection with the words than merely reading. Adding multiple colors isn’t my thing, but I can certainly circle and underline meaningful words. Would you mind if I share this with my readers? I would send them to faith spilling over after an intro.
Yes, that is fine, Cathy. Thank you for sharing. You’re talking about putting the first paragraph or your own intro on your site and sending people here? That is lovely of you. And I know now everyone can be as big a fan of colored pens as I am. 🙂 It is so true that the act of writing triggers different connections in our brains. 🙂
I just recently started using a journaling Bible (after doing my reading online for years) and I agree that it makes a big difference when you slow down and take the time to write down scriptures! BTW….your handwriting is beautiful!
Oh thanks for the compliment on my handwriting, Dawn! And yes slowing down to really ask yourself, “What is God saying to me here?” makes all the difference for me.
Hi Betsy, I started trying this with you a couple of days ago. I love it! I’m still working my way through Psalms, and this really opens my heart to the truth God wants me to harvest in each one. Like you, I’m no artist, but I learned something power in a reading cohort. If you can translate an idea into even a rudimentary sketch, you understand it much better. Thanks again for sharing this rewarding tip!
Thanks so much, Alice, for letting me know this! I’m praying for you now, that your times with God will be encouraging!
Betsy, when my mother passed away, I got to keep her journals. I was kinda disappointed because it was full of Bible verses she had written down and no other insights. But, you’ve pointed out the beauty and power in writing down scripture. Thank you for your insight. I will view the journals differently now.
I can understand your disappointment, Rachel. totally. 🙂 But what a wonderful treasure to have copies of the scriptures that were most important to her. Yes, a record of God’s voice to her, in a way.
Yes! The intentional act of writing it helps me so much!
Me too, Sarah!
I’ve noticed that when I write scripture down words jump out that I wouldn’t have noticed before that make the meaning personal for me as God speaks through His Word.
Yes, it’s true that words pop out at us when we write! It happened to me this morning, Valerie. 🙂
Great article, Betsy! I love handwriting, and also trying hand lettering as time allows. It’s a great way for me to keep my mind focused on the Lord.
Yes, Karen. It definitely helps me to keep my mind more centered. 🙂
Love this, Betsy! I agree, writing scripture has so many benefits! I know for me, it helps me to absorb it better. I’ve heard writing it in color helps you to memorize things better as well, which is looks like you do! Thanks for sharing with us at Salt & Light linkup!
I do this with sticky notes o small pieces of paper that I carry in my pocket most days. I haven’t there to remind me to keep on track & plan to read it when I’m in confusion or distress. However, there are times I forget it until the end of the day when I’m cleaning the tissues & “stuff” out of my pockets. Thats when im trying to make tjings work out to my will, not God’s. Often though, the verse or exerpt firm a reading is just what I need to get me back on track. Thanks, Betsy, for making it real!!
I love that idea, Patty. I think I might want to quote you in the book I’m writing. Would that be okay? I’ll email you. <3
Hi Betsy, thank you for sharing this delightful, simple and powerful tool. I love it. It made me realize my writings don’t have to be perfect. Simple is beautiful. I love the flowers and hearts. The word came alive to me this morning and I loved personalizing it as if God wrote it just for me. I look forward to walking this journey with you and connecting. Thank you Gaynor
Thanks so much for your thoughts, Gaynor. I love hearing that God’s Word came alive to you. That’s what we always want! More of Him through His Word.