God, please help me lose weight!
God, HELP! And give me a word to:
Help me lose weight…
Calm my anxious heart…
Show me what to do about my finances…
Fix this relationship issue…
Control my mouth, or my temper, or my kids…
Does this sound familiar?
Sometimes we make Bible study about "me” and “my” needs. (Personally, I’m guilty as charged!)
Then we take our problems and experiences and look through God’s Word to find answers to our questions. Now, going to God and His Word is ALWAYS a good thing! But I find that approaching God and His Word with “me” and “I” and “my” in mind is not necessarily the healthiest or best motivation for Bible study.
Living life for self (aka: self-centeredness) never seems to go in the right direction, does it? The same holds true for Bible study.
If I make time with God and Bible study about me, once I’m done with Bible study, I am so quick to make the next five minutes about me. And before I know it, the next hour becomes about me. And then, yep! You guessed it! The ENTIRE day becomes about me! Me, me, me, my, my, my, I, I, I.
Just like meeting a friend for coffee or tea, Bible study exists for relationship.
It’s about knowing God. Being with Him. The time and effort put forth into reading and understanding the Bible is intended to re-focus, re-orient and re-unite our hearts with God’s heart. It helps us see Him, know Him, love Him and approach the day WITH Him, through Him, and for Him.
Jesus affirms this:
But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33
When the focus of our time with God is about "God" versus "me” -when we give Him the gift of our presence- He is such a good God and blesses us abundantly more than we are able to bless Him. He blesses us with things like: the assurance of His promises, love, joy, grace, transformation, wisdom, peace, rest... and the list goes on and on and on.
Want the blessing? No matter our problem- whether weight, worry, money, relationships and anything else- God provides answers. He often speaks as we mingle with Him in His Word.
We just need the Father.
...for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Matthew 6:8
Engaging with God is the crux of inductive Bible study. The number one premise is to look at the Bible to see “What does this say about God?” If you’d like a taste, we’re just beginning our summer study of The Life of Joseph. Learn more at our Simply Bible YouTube channel and join our private Simply Bible Face Book group.
Lord God, it's mind blowing that You, the Creator and Possessor of heaven and earth desire to be our Father. You reveal so much about Your goodness in Your Word. Thank You! Help us to hunger and thirst to know You and seek You. Re-focus, re-orient and re-unite our hearts with Yours.
Looking ahead:
September: I & II Peter
January: Psalms
Leaders, need help? We'd love to study and help you lead others through Simply Bible this fall. Please contact us for more information.