Has there been a time in your life where you neglected to read the Bible daily? For a good part of my twenties, I only opened my Bible when I needed an answer to something I felt I could not figure out on my own. See that? I relied on my understanding initially and wondered what Jesus would do secondarily. That is no way for a follower of Christ to live.
A follower should constantly be seeking out God’s will.
Do you agree?
Let me give you four reasons why it is imperative to read the Bible daily.
Reason number one…
The Bible is Our Daily Spiritual Nourishment
Humans need food and water to survive and prosper. The same goes for a follower of Christ. Spiritually we need nourishment for different things. Two things that come to my mind are to fight spiritual attacks and second to prosper as a disciple in the kingdom of God.
There are several other reasons that we need nourishment. I invite you to think of your own reasons and write them down.
Matthew 4:4 AMP says,
But Jesus replied, “It is written and forever remains written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God.’”
Next Reason,
The Bible teaches us who God is
The phrase, “Who wouldn’t want to know a God like this?!” is absolutely true. Our God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit is awesome! God is multifaceted. There is so much to learn about Him. I guarantee that not one of us will learn everything about God in our lifetime.
Deuteronomy 7:9 ESV says,
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
John 14:6 ESV says,
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Revelation 22:13 ESV says,
I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.”
Thirdly,
The Bible teaches us the truth
The Word is one of the ways that God speaks to us. It holds all truth and the promises of God toward us. God’s Word teaches us.
2 Timothy 3:16 NLT says,
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.
Hebrews 4:12 ESV says,
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Lastly,
The Bible shows God’s love for us
Honestly, self-love is such a struggle for many, but we find some clarity about how much God loves us in His Word.
John 3:16 ESV says,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 ESV says,
But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Wrap Up
These are just a few reasons why daily bible reading time is important. I encourage you my sisters, to commit as much time to read the Bible as possible. If you find yourself short on time, I have two ideas for you.
Prioritize your time in God’s Word to the top of your list of things to do.
If you find time to be an issue, consider using the Bible app or another resource to listen to God’s Word. You can do this while getting ready for your day, doing chores, or commuting to work.
Before you go, do you need prayer? If you feel led to, submit your prayer request here.
5 Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. 6 So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. Romans 8:5-6
Have you ever felt a sense of overwhelm around doing personal Bible study? Do you ever feel like you need Bible study made easy.
When I started working on my relationship with God, I experienced this. I felt like I didn’t know where to start and how to study. Let the truth be told, Bible study can be made easy. It doesn’t have to be this over-complicated and daunting task.
I believe personal Bible study should be about reading and examining the Word of God. I approach it with an expectancy that I will learn from God and apply it to how I live.
With that said, one can use various methods to study the Bible. I want to share with you the Bible study method that I use regularly.
bible study made easy with the S.O.A.P. Method
The S.O.A.P. Method provides a fun way to study scripture or passages with ease. I use this method frequently.
So let’s break down this acronym!
The S in the SOAP method stands for “Scripture.” In this step, slowly read the passage aloud or to yourself. Take your time reading. Use a journal to write out the scripture(s). Writing it out is great for repetition. Be sure to grab this free resource below. It has much more ideas to use on this step!
Secondly, the O in the SOAP Method stands for “Observation.” I use the observation step to exegete the passage of scripture. To exegete means to expound or interpret. Next is where my Bible study tools come into play. I begin by familiarizing myself with the book I am reading using the notes in my study Bible. Next, I consider the context of the scriptures I have read. Most times, I read through the entire chapter or section to understand the meaning of the text.
Thirdly, the A in the SOAP Method stands for “Application.” At this time, I like to consider what the passage is teaching me about God. I write out these details in my journal. More details are available here.
Lastly, the P in the SOAP Method stands for “Pray.” When I pray, I like to have a conversation with God. During this conversation, I tell God my intentions concerning what I have just studied. I also wait to hear anything the Holy Spirit has to say to me at that moment.
What’s next?
Now that you have some basic information about the S.O.A.P. method, please grab the free resource below. It goes deeper into this style of Bible study. I also include an example of the method from my personal Bible study notes.
Well, I hope that the S.O.A.P. method will prove to be valuable to you. If you try it out, please come back and share with me what you think of it.
Before you go, do you need prayer? If you feel led to, submit your prayer request here.
“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.” Romans 12:12
An effective nightly routine to improve sleep and reduce depression is essential. A sleep routine has benefited me after years of difficulty with insomnia and depression.
Today, I want to share some statistics with you about the link between sleep issues and depression. Also, I am going to share what remedies have been beneficial to me.
Sleep Foundation Statistics
So, let us start with some statistics from the Sleep Foundation.
Almost all people with depression experience sleep issues.
Insomnia is the most common sleep issue associated with depression. It is estimated to occur in about 75% of adult patients with depression.
Sleep issues may contribute to the development of depression through changes in the function of the neurotransmitter serotonin.
That’s unbelievable, right?!
I have to Admit
First, I will say that my sleep and insomnia issues have caused me to fall into a more deepened depression than usual. Many of you already know that I have a bipolar one disorder. A lack of sleep also springs me into bits of mania. Mania is the high mood, while depression is the low mood. To learn more about bipolar disorder, visit the link here.
Next, when I began to have sleep issues accompanied by depression, I made my psychiatrist and psychotherapist aware of it. I would suggest that you start with your primary care doctor or mental health providers if you learn that you are suffering from sleep issues and depression.
Effective NightLY Routine Ideas
Now, I want to get into what remedies have helped me get better sleep and overcome insomnia. These are in no particular order.
Medication
The first is sleep aid medication. When my insomnia was unbearable, my psychiatrist prescribed me a sleep aid to get my sleeping stabilized. When some time had passed, my psychiatrist suggested I conclude the sleep aid medication and try some home remedies. Neither one of us wanted me to become dependent on the sleep aid. I also have found that the longer I am on a sleep aid medication, the less effective it is overtime.
Bible
Number two is reading the Bible,listening to the Bible, or meditating on scripture before bedtime. A verse that I have memorized is Proverbs 3:24.
It says,
You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly.
When I meditate on this verse, I can release every fear and care to God. I know I can lay my head down and sleep safely, without fear of danger or my anxious imaginations coming to life.
Prayer
Three is to say a nighttime prayer. Prayer is the perfect way to cast all your worries at the feet of God. Sometimes I will opt for prayer journaling which is also very therapeutic.
hot tea
Four is tea. It is the perfect way to de-stress before bed.
My favorite teas are:
Bigelow, Cozy Chamomile Herbal Tea
Celestial Seasonings Peppermint Herbal Tea
Bigelow Lemon Ginger with Probiotics Herbal Tea…I use this tea to soothe my stomach when I am experiencing IBS brought on by nighttime anxiety.
Aroma
Number five is misting my pillow, sheets, and air with lavender. My go-to brand is Nature’s Truth Mist Spray, Rejuvenating Lavender. Lavender spray helps me to relax, fall asleep and stay to sleep most nights. It has been one of my favorite home remedies.
Limit the light
About an hour before bed, I have my phone automatically switch over to soft screen lighting. I also begin to limit my screen time 30 minutes before bedtime.
Background Noise and music
Next, seven involves noise. There is nothing like relaxing sounds to set the mood for sleep! I enjoy using the White Noise phone app for Apple and Android devices. I also listen to music from time to time. I love searching for traditional classical or instrumental worship music! I like to use the Spotify music app.
there’s more
Also, other ways to encourage your body to fall asleep are a soothing bath/shower, creating a to-do list for the next day, guided meditation, melatonin, focusing on something positive, dimming down the lights, tidying up rooms like the kitchen, office, or living room before bed, etc.
EFFECTIVE NIGHTLY ROUTINE Take away
Most importantly, choose what practices fit best into your bedtime routine and be consistent. Commit to and adapt to it.
To sum it up, when I have a restful night of sleep and get the optimal number of sleeping hours…I am energized, in a better mood, and more alert.
I hope these ideas help you create your effective sleep time routine.
Before you go, do you need prayer? If you feel led to, submit your prayer request here.
Anxiety is quite a struggle for women and men alike. Many of us are constantly working to overcome overwhelming anxiety. Anxiety is very inconvenient and takes no thought of what I’m trying to accomplish. Come to think of if it is an invasion of my peace.
I also find that anxiety shows up whether I’m ready or not. I have felt it creep up on me in moments like during or after time with family or friends.
That is out of line, right?!
Next, it’s important for you to know that anxiety often presents itself as quick-moving thoughts, a restless leg, upset stomach, tension headache, shortness of breath, you name it!
CIRCUMSTANTIAL or relationship driven anxiety
Most commonly, my anxiety stems from a circumstance involving other individuals. By this, I mean that it is as a result of a person or persons attending an event or person(s) involved with certain news.
These are a few examples of how anxiety can be brought on as a result of interaction with someone.
These circumstances can produce panic.
Example 1 – I’m attending an event/gathering with family and/or friends. A conversation triggers me, sending me to a place of insecurity or offense toward another person(s).
Example 2 – I’m attending an event/gathering with family and friends. A person walks in the room who triggers my insecurities or changes my comfort level.
Example 3 – Watching the news or having a conversation with someone sends me into a whirlwind of emotions.
So, do any of these examples resonate with you? If you seem to encounter anxiety as a result of your circumstances with others, I want to share some hope.
What Would God Have me do To overcome overwhelming anxiety?
God’s will is that we would serve him and that his sons and daughters would love, honor and respect one another. As we serve God and are being filled with the Holy Spirit, he wants three things from us.
Number one, as believers we should walk this earth always remembering the bright future we have ahead of us. We can always take joy in the certainty we have of the second coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and the eternal glory we will experience.
Secondly, life on this earth is difficult even for believers. This is not our home. Heaven is our home. We face situations that cause us to become frantic and stressed. But the word of God says for us to be patient in distress. Patience requires us to take a deep breath and dial the intensity back. We may not receive an answer immediately or solve a problem instantaneously with a brother or sister, but having patience allows us to endure as we wait on God to have his way.
Finally, we must stay committed to prayer. God wants to hear from us about everything. As scripture mentions, he wants us to come to Him for wisdom, guidance, and strength. We must not stop praying, even when it’s hard to. Prayer ultimately assists us in our relationships and interactions with others. Call out the name of Jesus, even if you cannot manage to utter the prayer you desire. He will hear your cry, guaranteed.
So, you may be wondering why there is a connection between anxiety and the circumstances/people related to it. Staying hopeful, patient, and prayerful will lower the heightened response that often turns into anxiety and panic.
Wrap up
The anxious thoughts and the physical feelings of distress may come, but I have found that when I focus on what gives me hope, become patient and pray tirelessly that my anxiety begins to lower.
For example, the other night, I was in a lot of pain from stomach spasms brought on by stress. The stress came about after obsessing over what others may think of me. It was so intense. Instead of suffering in pain, I practiced hopefulness, patience, and prayer. Ultimately, God took my pain away. Not only that, he placed me into a state of peace.
It’s is amazing!
Above all, the next time anxiety arises in your life due to your interactions and responses to other people, slow your thinking down and try out these biblical practices. They will assist you in your desire to overcome overwhelming anxiety.
Before you go, do you need prayer? If you feel led to, submit your prayer request here.
Weekly Scripture
“Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.” Romans 12:12
I believe in medicine and therapy, but I also value my faith as a way to cope with the anxiety that I experience. In today’s video, I share 3 Bible verses that are sure to help you fight through anxiety. I break down there scriptures and present takeaways that apply to everyday. Let’s normalize using the Word as our weapon against mental illness.
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