Life as a Christian Woman

I had a friend tell me once that I was doing my Bible study “wrong.” My method, unconventional I’m sure, was to say a prayer, open my Bible randomly, and read whatever page I turned to.

Since she was well-versed in reading the verses, I bought a study guide and decided to follow it. That lasted about two weeks. Then I decided to follow one of those “read through the Bible in a year” plans. I didn’t make it past February.

No matter what plan I chose, I failed. My shelves were littered with the carcasses of Bible study guides that were only partially completed. I felt like a total failure in the realm of Bible study.

But then it dawned on me: There is no right way or wrong way, there is only God’s way. And for me, to allow God to speak through what appeared to others to be random passages, worked. I felt the spirit, felt closer to God.

And that is what Bible study should do, bring you closer to God, to understanding Him and His word.

So eventually I went back to my method. It still works for me. Now if I decide to do a specific study, I do it, but I don’t feel pressured to finish in a certain time frame. I may stop it and start it. I recently started an amazing Bible study on Esther, by Beth Moore. I love it, but if I miss a day, or even a week, I don’t panic. As long as I spend time in God’s word each day, I am growing in Him.

And, again, that is the point. Growing in God. Developing and nurturing a relationship with Him.

Make sure you spend time in the word, time alone with God, each day. But choose a path that works for you, that reaches into your soul. The reward will be worth it!