One Thing--HOW (pt. 4)

3. Reflect

The third (and most important) step in having God’s word abide in you is to reflect (meditate) on it. It’s similar to the four compartments in a cow’s stomach. Every time the food goes into a different part the cow gets more nutrition from it. In the same way, if we “chew the cud” of God’s word regularly (meditate) we will extract more and more nutrition from it.

Fill in the blanks with the word(s) from the verses that show how to reflect.

●               ___________: Philippians 4:8 (use it or lose it)

●               ___________: Psalm 19:14 (not just for Buddhists)

●               _________________: Eph 5:18-19 (schizophrenic conversation)

●               ___________: Psalm 143:5 (very entertaining)

●               ___________: Luke 2:19 (it didn’t start on Bonanza)

●               ___________: 2Tim 2:7

Fill in the following blanks with the following italicized words that shows what to meditate upon: godly teaching, works, word, God.

●               Psalm 63:6—_____

●               Psalm 119:48—God’s ____________

●               Psalm 77:11— God’s ____________

●               1Tim 4:1-15—_____________ ________________________

Discussion

What are some “dead” times during the day when you can meditate? Shower, walking to and from the car, washing dishes, computer crashes,

4. Request

The fourth step in having God’s word abide in you is to request it (ask--prayer).

Jms 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ⁶But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. ⁷For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. ⁸A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

James says “ye have not because ye ask not.”

5. Research

The fifth step in having God’s word abide in you is to research (study) the Bible. Whereas general reading shows how the whole Bible fits together, study dissects (divides) the Bible so you can understand its parts.

2Tim 2:15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

This is done by searching the scriptures about specific topics. Again, this is not passive—you must apply your heart.

John 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Acts 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

Eccl 12:9 And moreover, because the preacher was wise, he still taught the people knowledge; yea, he gave good heed, and sought out, and set in order many proverbs. ¹⁰The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.