Apicontent

Is there something specific that you need God to do on your behalf? Are you wondering what He is doing in your life? Are you trying to discover a specific direction to take? Is there someone in your life who desperately needs God? Have you tried to talk with God about this, but it seems that you can’t seem to get an answer from Him? There is a key verse in Matthew 7 that gives us a great framework for our conversations with God:

“For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” —Matthew 7:8

Verses 9 through 11 go on to say: “Is there anyone among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you then, although you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!”

In another version of the Bible, The Message, these verses are translated: 

“Don’t bargain with God. Be direct. Ask for what you need. This isn’t a cat-and-mouse, hide-and-seek game we’re in. If your child asks for bread, do you trick him with sawdust? If he asks for fish, do you scare him with a live snake on his plate? As bad as you are, you wouldn’t think of such a thing. You’re at least decent to your own children. So don’t you think the God who conceived you in love will be even better?”

God will answer our prayers!

It is very common for Christians to know about prayer, study prayer, memorize prayers, read books about prayer, and still not believe that prayer makes any difference. We prove we don’t really believe what God says about prayer when we don’t actually pray. God has told us in His Word to ask and seek and knock … He will answer!

Let’s take a look at those key action words in Matthew 7:7–8 … ask, seek, and knock!

Step 1: “Ask” God

Prayer changes things in the physical and spiritual realm when you ask according to God’s guidelines. But it may take time before a change becomes noticeable. Are you watching for God’s answer? You can demonstrate your faith and anticipation while you are waiting by “seeking” and “knocking.”

But first, you must ask. James 4:2–3 says,

“You desire and you do not have; you murder and envy and you cannot obtain; you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask; you ask and do not receive because you ask wrongly, so you can spend it on your passions.”

John 14:13–14 says:

“And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.”

John 16:23–24 puts it this way:

“Whatever you ask the Father in my name he will give you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive it, so that your joy may be complete.”

Step 2: “Seek” God’s Answer

Seeking God’s answer means that we are looking for possible ways through which God may answer our prayer. With an attitude of expectation and a mindset of anticipation, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit’s promptings. Stay alert, fully open to God’s direction. If you believe God will answer your prayer, you will be looking for His answer. As the Holy Spirit makes you aware of possibilities, be faithful to pursue them until you have checked them out.

Prayer changes things in the physical and spiritual realm when you ask according to God’s guidelines. Seeking God’s answer means that we are looking for possible ways through which God may answer our prayer.

Part of seeking God’s answer is actually looking for Him. Think about that for a minute. It fits in perfectly with the verses related to “asking” according to God’s will. In the Old Testament, nearly all of the scriptures using the word “seek” refer to seeking after God. Here are just four verses that represent many!

“But if you seek the LORD your God from there, you will find him, if, indeed, you seek him with all your heart and soul.” —Deuteronomy 4:29

“The people of Judah assembled to ask for the LORD’s help; they came from all the cities of Judah to ask for the LORD’s help.” —2 Chronicles 20:4

“Seek the LORD and the strength he gives! Seek his presence continually!” —Psalm 105:4

“When you seek me in prayer and worship, you will find me available to you. If you seek me with all your heart.” —Jeremiah 29:13

Step 3: “Knock” on Possible Doors

When is the last time you knocked on someone’s door? You usually knock and then wait for that person to answer, right? So, have you knocked on God’s door, and are you waiting for an answer? As the Holy Spirit makes you aware of possibilities, be faithful to pursue them until you have checked them out. Knock on the door of a possibility and then wait to see if it will open wide or stay securely closed. God’s answers will present themselves clearly to you!

An Example

Here is an example of how the “Ask, Seek, and Knock” could play out in your life.

Let us assume you need a job. If you go job hunting without praying and asking God first for His direction and blessing, you will be at the mercy of the world system. In addition, if you ask God for a job but don’t bother to seek out possibilities, then you are not doing your part. Instead, you need to pray until you have the faith to believe God is going to grant your request. Then step out by faith, and seek options, trusting God to guide your steps. When you become aware of a possibility, knock and check it out. As you walk by faith continue to thank God that His answer is on the way. Although you do not know when it will arrive, the answer to your prayer will be right on schedule according to God’s timetable.

We must believe that God will answer. In 1 John 5:14–15 Jesus said, “And this is the confidence that we have before him: that whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in regard to whatever we ask, then we know that we have the requests that we have asked from him.”

“Ask” God for greater confidence!

Application

Ask God for something that you know is in line with his will for you.

Seek out God’s answer by staying alert to ways that He is working in your life.

Knock on the door of a possibility and then wait to see if it will open wide or stay securely closed.

Although you do not know when it will arrive, the answer to your prayer will be right on schedule according to God’s timetable.

Take time to “Ask, Seek, and Knock” and remember to thank God when He answers.

This lesson actually builds on the one previous to it. We learned in that lesson that God’s very nature is communicated to us through the names used for him in the Old Testament. Knowing who God really is and how He works in our lives gives us the confidence to fully trust Him. When we claim those names in our lives, we can depend on His character to sustain us through all of life.

Ten different names for God as “Jehovah” are included in this lesson. 

• Jehovah: LORD, I am who I am
• Jehovah-Jirah: The LORD provides
• Jehovah-Kaddesh: The LORD who makes you holy
• Jehovah-Nissi: The LORD is my banner
• Jehovah-Rohi: The LORD is my Shepherd
• Jehovah-Rophi: The LORD who heals
• Jehovah-Sabaoth: The LORD of hosts
• Jehovah-Shalom: The LORD is peace
• Jehovah-Shamma: The LORD is there
• Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The LORD is our righteousness

Study each name and its meaning, read the verses associated with each name, and take time to reflect upon how that specific name of God touches your life. God’s names reveal to us His very nature—He is waiting to meet you!

Jehovah: LORD, I am that I Am

Of all the names of God used in the Old Testament, Jehovah is the name used most frequently. It was also transcribed as Yahweh and is the proper name of the God of Israel. Anytime LORD appears in all capital letters in the Bible, it is translated from the word Jehovah, “I am”.

“This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created—when the LORD God made the earth and heavens.” —Genesis 2:4

“God said to Moses, ‘I am that I am.’ And he said, ‘You must say this to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘You must say this to the Israelites, “The LORD—the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.”’” —Exodus 3:14–15

“The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there and proclaimed the LORD by name. The LORD passed by before him and proclaimed: ‘The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, and abounding in loyal love and faithfulness, keeping loyal love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin. But he by no means leaves the guilty unpunished, responding to the transgression of fathers by dealing with children and children’s children, to the third and fourth generation.’” —Exodus 34:5–7

This is a very strong statement: “I am that I am”!

Jehovah-Jireh: The LORD Provides

In Genesis 22:8–14 we see a picture of God as provider:

“‘God will provide for himself the lamb for the burnt offering, my son,’ Abraham replied. The two of them continued on together. When they came to the place God had told him about, Abraham built the altar there and arranged the wood on it. Next he tied up his son Isaac and placed him on the altar on top of the wood. Then Abraham reached out his hand, took the knife, and prepared to slaughter his son. But the LORD’s angel called to him from heaven, ‘Abraham! Abraham!’ ’Here I am!’ he answered. ‘Do not harm the boy!’ the angel said. ‘Do not do anything to him, for now I know that you fear God because you did not withhold your son, your only son, from me.’
“Abraham looked up and saw behind him a ram caught in the bushes by its horns. So he went over and got the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. And Abraham called the name of that place ‘The LORD provides.’ It is said to this day, ‘In the mountain of the LORD provision will be made.’”

Jehovah-Kaddesh: The LORD Who Makes You Holy

“You must sanctify yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God.” —Leviticus 20:7

Jehovah-Nissi: The LORD is my banner

“Moses built an altar, and he called it ‘The LORD is my Banner.’” —Exodus 17:15

Jehovah-Rohi: The LORD is my Shepherd

“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” —Psalm 23:1

Jehovah-Rophe: The LORD who heals

“Then Moses led Israel to journey away from the Red Sea. They went out into the wilderness of Shur, walked for three days into the They traveled in this wilderness, and found no water. Then they came to Marah, but they were not able to drink the waters of Marah, because they were bitter. (That is why its name was Marah.) So the people murmured against Moses, saying, ‘What can we drink?’ He cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a tree. When Moses threw it into the water, the water became safe to drink. There the Lord made for them a binding ordinance, and there he tested them. He said, ‘If you will diligently obey the Lord your God, and do what is right in his sight, and pay attention to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, then all the diseases that I brought on the Egyptians I will not bring on you, for I, the Lord, am your healer.’” —Exodus 15:22–26

Jehovah-Sabaoth: The LORD of hosts

“The LORD of hosts” actually represents the God of deliverance. The “hosts” are the angels of heaven. When there seemed to be no other source of deliverance, the children of Israel came to know God as Jehovah-Sabaoth. This term is used a great deal in the prophet books in the Old Testament of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. It seems that it was when God’s chosen people found themselves failing and powerless, they realized their need for the LORD of hosts.

“This man would go up from his city year after year to worship and to sacrifice to the LORD of Heaven’s Armies at Shiloh. (It was there that the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, served as the LORD priests.” —I Samuel 1:3

“Moreover, this is what the LORD of Heaven’s Armies has said: ‘Pay close attention to these things also.’” —Haggai 1:7

“The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is on our side!” —Psalm 46:7

Jehovah-Shalom: The LORD is peace

“Gideon built an altar for the Lord there, and named it ‘The LORD is on friendly terms with me.’ To this day it is still there in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.” —Judges 6:24

Jehovah-Shammah: The LORD is there

“The circumference of the city will be six miles. The name of the city from that day forward will be: ‘The LORD Is There.’” —Ezekiel 48:35

Jehovah-Tsidkenu: The LORD is our righteousness

“Under his rule Judah will enjoy safety and Israel will live in security. This is the name he will go by: ‘The LORD has provided us with justice.” —Jeremiah 23:6

Righteousness actually means to be right with God! It is more than goodness. It is to do what God says is right, to live according to His standards. God extended His righteousness to us when He allowed His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for our sins on the cross. When we accept Christ as our personal Savior, we are made righteous before God. Jesus saves us from our sins. We do not earn it—God is our righteousness!

When we know who God really is and how He works in our lives, we will have the confidence to fully trust Him. By learning God’s names, we can depend on His very character to sustain us through all of life! 

Application

Here’s a great resource for learning more about God’s names as they are presented in the Bible: LORD, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God by Kay Arthur.

You can also go to bible.org and read the article, Names of God.

What is your name? Does it have any special meaning or significance? Even if you don’t know something specific about your name, your name was chosen especially for you. Our names are precious to us … they are a part of our identity.

In Bible times names were even more important than they are today. A person’s name was considered to reveal his or her character. God’s name also reveals His character.

Unfortunately, when we hear the name God or Lord, it typically conveys little more to us than the designation of a supreme being. But throughout Scripture, we find that the names of God actually present to us miniature portraits of who He is. Throughout the Bible, a person’s name identified them and stood for something specific. This is especially true of God. Naming carries special significance.

God’s names actually reveal His character and tell us about His very nature. By knowing God’s names, we gain strength for times of struggle, comfort for times of disappointment, and wisdom for times of confusion.

Many Christians experience confusion in their lives because they don’t really know God—who He really is or how He works in our lives. You can know God more fully by knowing and studying His names which in turn will give you strength for times of struggle, comfort for times of disappointment, and wisdom for times of confusion.

Seven different names for God that were used often in the New Testament are included in this lesson. Study each name and its meaning, read the verses associated with each name, and take time to reflect upon how that specific name of God touches your life. Know that God’s names reveal to us His very nature—He is waiting to meet you!

• Emmanuel: God with us
• Adonai: Lord and Master
• Elohim: God, the strong, faithful One
• El Elyon: The Most High God
• El Olam: Everlasting God
• El Roi: The God who sees
• El Shaddai: God Almighty

Emmanuel: God with us

“For this reason the LORD himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

To actually have the God of the Universe “with” us is a mind-staggering concept! Not just a God “out there,” but a God who is always with us! 

Adonai: Lord and Master

“Then both parties to the controversy must stand before the LORD, that is, before the priests and judges who will be in office in those days.” —Deuteronomy 19:17

When we have a relationship with God, He is our Lord and Master. The word “Lord” indicates a relationship, one in which we are submissive to God’s will over our lives. Sometimes this is a hard concept for people to accept. When God is “Adonai,” He has total possession of all that we are and all that we have.

“Look, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a female servant look to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes will look to the LORD, our God, until he shows us favor.” —Psalm 123:2

Elohim: God, the strong, faithful One

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” —Genesis 1:1

God has been the consistent, stable factor in all of creation since the very beginning of time. He has proven himself the strong, faithful One again and again.

El Elyon: Most High God

El Elyon is the name the Bible uses to tell us that God is the Most High God; the sovereign ruler of the entire universe.

“Worthy of praise is the Most High God, who delivered your enemies into your hand.” —Genesis 14:20

“The oracle of the one who hears the words of God, and who knows the knowledge of the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty.” —Numbers 24:16

El Olam: Everlasting God

“Abraham planted a tamarisk tree in Beer Sheba. There he worshiped the Lord, the eternal God.” —Genesis 21:33

El Roi: The God who sees

“So Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, ‘You are the God who sees me,’ for she said, ‘Here I have seen one who sees me!’” —Genesis 16:13

El Shaddai: God Almighty

“When Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘I am the Sovereign God. Walk before me and be blameless. Then I will confirm my covenant between me and you, and I will give you a multitude of descendants.’” —Genesis 17:1-2

Application

Reference the short JO App article titled “Names of God“.

A great resource for learning more about God’s names as they are presented in the Bible is Lord, I Want to Know You: A Devotional Study on the Names of God by Kay Arthur.

You can also go to this external resource, bible.org, and read the article “Names of God“.

Jesus fulfilled over three hundred scriptures that foretold of His coming to be the Messiah!

A “messiah” is an expected deliverer or savior of an entire people. In Jewish tradition, the Messiah is the expected king and deliverer of the Jews. In the Christian tradition, the Messiah is Jesus Christ—our Savior.

Throughout the Old Testament Scriptures, a spotless, unblemished lamb was required for a sin offering. This offering pointed to the future spotless Lamb of God, the Messiah, who would be God’s perfect sacrifice for our sins. John 1:29 records:

“On the next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!’”

Here is that “sin” concept again! Yes, our sin really does matter to God! It separates us from Him and only a sacrifice can pay for that sin. It is important to recognize and accept Jesus Christ as the Messiah, because without Him, we do not have a relationship with the God of the universe!

For centuries the prophets of Israel foretold the coming of the Messiah. Specifically, the prophet Isaiah wrote about the coming of Jesus the Messiah 700 years before Jesus was born. Over the span of fifteen hundred years, nearly three hundred specific references were made to his coming. All of these are recorded in Scripture.

The odds against one person fulfilling merely eight of these prophecies would be the same as a blindfolded person picking one special silver dollar from a two-foot-high stack of silver dollars over an area the size of Texas (greater than the entire nation of France.) Yet, Jesus Christ fulfilled over two hundred of them … exactly! And his sinless life qualified Him to be God’s perfect sacrifice for all of our sins.

Hebrews 9:11–15 explains,

“But now Christ has come as the high priest of the good things to come. He passed through the greater and more perfect tent not made with hands, that is, not of this creation, and he entered once for all into he most holy place not by the blood of goats and calves but by his own blood, and so he himself secured eternal redemption. For if the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow sprinkled on those who are defiled consecrated them and provided ritual purity, how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our consciences from dead works to worship the living God. And so he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the eternal inheritance he has promised, since he died to set them free from the violations committed under the first covenant.”

The Message translation of the Bible presents these verses in this way:

“If that animal blood and the other rituals of purification were effective in cleaning up certain matters of our religion and behavior, think how much more the blood of Christ cleans up our whole lives, inside and out. Through the Spirit, Christ offered himself as an unblemished sacrifice, freeing us from all those dead-end efforts to make ourselves respectable, so that we can live all out for God.”

Listed below are just a few Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah that were fulfilled by Jesus and are recorded in the New Testament.

Prophecy: “As for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, seemingly insignificant among the clans of Judah –—from you a king will emerge who will rule over Israel on my behalf, one whose origins are in the distant past.” —Micah 5:2

Fulfillment: “After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, in the time of King Herod, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem” —Matthew 2:1

For centuries the prophets of Israel foretold the coming of the Messiah.

Prophecy: “For a child has been born to us, a son has been given to us. He shoulders responsibility and is called: Amazing Adviser, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His dominion will be vast and he will bring immeasurable prosperity. He will rule on David’s throne and over David’s kingdom, establishing it and strengthening it by promoting justice and fairness, from this time forward and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Heaven’s Armies will accomplish this.” —Isaiah 9:6–7

Fulfillment: “Listen: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and his kingdom will never end.” —Luke 1:31–33

Prophecy: “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? I groan in prayer, but help seems far away.” —Psalm 22:1

Fulfillment: “At about three o’clock Jesus shouted with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” —Matthew 27:46

Prophecy: “They are dividing up my clothes among themselves; they are rolling dice for my garments.” —Psalm 22:18

Fulfillment: “When they had crucified him, they divided his clothes by throwing dice.” —Matthew 27:35

Prophecy: “For this reason the Lord himself will give you a confirming sign. Look, this young woman is about to conceive and will give birth to a son. You, young woman, will name him Immanuel.” —Isaiah 7:14

Fulfillment: “The angel replied, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.’” —Luke 1:35

Jesus’ sinless life qualified Him to be God’s perfect sacrifice for all of our sins—the Savior of the world.

Application

Check out the article, “Was Jesus the Messiah?” for more information about Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus made several “I am” statements that tell us who He is!

• “I am the bread of life.”
• “I am the light of the world”
• “I am the good shepherd.”
• “I am the door.”
• “I am the resurrection and the life.”
• “I am the way … truth … and the life.”
• “I am the vine.”

There’s a lot of crazy information out there today about Jesus. Get it from the internet, or from a media outlet, or from some published resource … you can find almost anything out there that you want to believe! And even though there’s a good chance the information isn’t true, people will be spreading that information nonetheless! That’s why it’s more important than ever that you know what the Bible has to say about Jesus Christ. When you rely on the truth of God’s Word to ground you in your faith, you will be able to trust God in any situation! 

Jesus claimed to be God! He really did! And that’s one fact that can be proven in the Bible. Jesus actually claimed that He was the “I am” that God had called himself in the Old Testament. 

In Exodus 3:14–15 we read,

“God said to Moses, ‘I am that I am.’ And he said, ‘You must say this to the Israelites, “I am has sent me to you.”’ God also said to Moses, ‘You must say this to the Israelites, “The LORD— the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you. This is my name forever, and this is my memorial from generation to generation.”’

And then in John 8:59, Jesus said,

“I tell you the solemn truth, before Abraham came into existence, I am!”

Jesus also made other “I am” statements of himself:

“I am the bread of life. The one who comes to me will never go hungry, and the one who believes in me will never be thirsty.” —John 6:35

“I am the light of the world! The one who follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” —John 8:12

“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” —John 10:11

“I am the door. If anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will come in and go out, and find pasture.” —John 10:9

“I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live even if he dies” —John 11:25

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” —John 14:6

“I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.” —John 15:1

The leaders of other religions are dead (Confucius, Buddha, and Mohammad), but Jesus is alive! Jesus continues to be the “I am” because of his resurrection from the dead. Because Jesus is the “I am” and is alive today, He is continually working in each one of our lives!

In John 1:1–5, 9–14 we read:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was fully God. The Word was with God in the beginning. All things were created by him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and the life was the light of mankind. And the light shines on in the darkness, but the darkness has not mastered it.

“The true light, who gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was created by him, but the world did not recognize him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him. But to all who have received him—those who believe in his name—he has given the right to become God’s children—children not born by human parents or by human desire or a husband’s decision, but by God.

“Now the Word became flesh and took up residence among us. We saw his glory—the glory of the one and only, full of grace and truth, who came from the Father.”

In Colossians 1:15–20, we read, 

“He [Jesus] is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation, for all things in heaven and on earth were created in him—all things, whether visible or invisible, whether thrones or dominions, whether principalities or powers—all things were created through him and for him. He himself is before all things and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church, as well as the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he himself may become first in all things. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in the Son and through him to reconcile all things to himself by making peace through the blood of his cross—through him, whether things on earth or things in heaven.”

Hebrews 1:1–3 tells us, 

“After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

“You should have the same attitude toward one another that Christ Jesus had, who though he existed in the form of God did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking on the form of a slave, by looking like other men, and by sharing in human nature.  He humbled himself, by becoming obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross! As a result God highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that the name of Jesus every knee will bow—in heaven and on earth and under the earth—and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” —Philippians 2:5–11

The Message version of the Bible presents these verses in this way:

“Because of that obedience, God lifted him high and honored him far beyond anyone or anything, ever, so that all created beings in heaven and on earth—even those long ago dead and buried—will bow in worship before this Jesus Christ, and call out in praise that he is the Master of all, to the glorious honor of God the Father.”

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end!” —Revelation 22:13

Sometimes it’s hard for people to accept the fact that Jesus is God because they can’t see Him. “Doubting Thomas,” one of Jesus’ Disciples, was like that. We find his story in John 20:24–29: 

“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’ But he replied, ‘Unless I see the wounds from the nails in his hands, and put my finger into the wounds from the nails, and put my hand into his side, I will never believe it!’

“Eight days later the disciples were again together in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, ‘Peace be with you!’

“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here, and examine my hands. Extend your hand and put it into my side. Do not continue in your unbelief, but believe.’

“Thomas replied to him, ‘My Lord and my God!’

“Jesus said to him, ‘Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are the people who have not seen and yet have believed.’”

Application

God reveals His will to us through: His Word, the Holy Spirit, other people, and providential circumstances.

There is an old story about a man trapped on the top of his house during a flood or hurricane or tsunami (insert your own natural disaster). The water is swiftly rising. As this man sits on his roof, fearful of being swept away by the current, he cries out to God, “God please help me.”

A few moments later, a friend arrives with his boat. “Hey, friend, need a ride to safety?” he asks.

“No,” replies the man on top of his house. “God is going to help me.”

An hour later, the water is up to the gutters. A voluntary rescue person comes by on his yellow raft. “Hey, let’s get you off of there and on to safety,” he yells.

But the man on top of his house refuses to go. “God is going to help me.”

Another hour passes and now the water is halfway up the roof. The man is now on top of his chimney, nervously looking down at certain death.

Fortunately, a Red Cross volunteer swings by in a canoe and offers to take him to safety. But the man refuses. “No, God is going to help me.”

A couple of hours pass by and the water sweeps over the top of the house. The man is carried away by the current and drowns. When he gets to Heaven, he says to God, “I thought you were going to help me.”

God and says to the man, “I sent a boat, an inflatable raft, and a canoe—but you refused each one.”

And you laughed, right? But quite often this is a perfect analogy of our attempts to know God’s plan for our lives. We act as if God’s will is some sort of vague, mysterious amazing thing. It’s as if we want God to show us what He wants us to do, but we don’t really think He will make it clear to us. Ask God what He wants you to do … and then wait expectantly for Him to give you answer!

Many times, what God wants us to do is very clear. When we talk about knowing what God wants us to do this is sometimes referred to as “knowing God’s will.” We can know God’s will in two different ways: through His general will and His specific will.

God’s general will is always clear. We find His general will clearly revealed in Scripture. When we are considering whether or not God is directing us to do something, some decisions are objective enough to be eliminated on the basis of whether or not they conform to God’s Word. God will never lead us in a direction that will violate the principles He has given in the Bible. For example, He would not lead lie or cheat or steal, because this is clearly taught in the Bible as something that is wrong. Or He would not want you to pursue a relationship with a person who is married, because you would be committing adultery, which is in direct violation of what is taught throughout the Bible.

In Psalm 32:8 we read,

“I will instruct and teach you about how you should live. I will advise you as I look you in the eye.”

As we immerse ourselves in prayer and in the study of God’s Word, He will give us His wisdom to make decisions that are compatible with His principles.

Proverbs 3:5–6 reminds us, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.”

Here are some principles that can guide us as we seek to determine God’s general will: 

God has a plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says, “For I know what I have planned for you,” says the Lord. “I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you. I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.”

God desires that each and every person have a relationship with Him through His Son, Jesus Christ. 1 Timothy 2:4–5 tells us, “He [God] wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human.”

God promises to give us wisdom if we ask Him and believe that He will give it. James 1:5 tells us, “But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it these words, “I am able to do all things through the one who strengthens me.” And Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you! Don’t be frightened, for I am your God! I strengthen you—yes, I help you—yes, I uphold you with my saving right hand!”

God’s specific will at times is difficult to see clearly. Does he want me to take a job in a different city … or stay with the one that I have? Does he want me to marry this person that I am currently dating … or should I wait for someone else? Should I buy a new car … or a used one? Should I go to the university … or stay home with my family?

You can be sure of one thing: No one has perfect insight into God’s specific will. The soundest, most mature believers can and do make mistakes about God’s specific will. However, in determining God’s specific will there are some absolutes that never change. God reveals His specific will through His Word, the Bible (Psalm 119:105), through the Holy Spirit (John 14:26), through other people (Proverbs 15:22), and through providential circumstances (Proverbs 16:9).

As you study God’s Word and talk with Him about the specific things in your life that you need direction and discernment for, here are some questions that can help you make a decision. Each one of these questions is based on principles that run throughout the Bible. A specific Bible verse or passage is given for each principle as a reference, but you can find many other verses related to each question!

• Does it comply with the directions given in God’s written Word? (Psalm 119:133)
• Does it demonstrate love for God? (John 14:15)
• Does it demonstrate love for others? (Romans 13:9-10)
• Does it promote personal holiness? (1 Thessalonians 4:7)
• Does it reflect the fruit of the Spirit? (Galatians 5:22)
• Does it require faith and trust in God? (Hebrews 11:6)
• Does it make sense when you use reasoning that is based on God’s truth? (Romans 12:2)
• Does it generate a supernatural inner peace and calmness that cannot be attributed to your circumstances? (Philippians 4:6-7)

You do not have to be able to answer “yes” to each and every question in order to determine that the direction you are heading is the one God wants for you. There may be several questions that you simply cannot answer, but there should be a clear consensus among those that you can. If the answer is “no” to any of these questions, take time to wait on God to give you more confirmation before taking action. Many times, people believe God is leading them into an area, and He may be, but they plunge forward without getting His confirmation. Be patient and willing to wait on God.

Take time to recognize God’s direction through insights, impressions, conversations, circumstances, and counsel that may be God’s specific guidance. God promises to give us strength and courage for whatever life brings.

Application

Forgiveness … at times a very difficult word. A word that is critical to our relationship with God: We experience forgiveness because of what Christ did for us on the cross. 

When someone hurts us, we are often willing to forgive them based on the severity of their offense. If the offense doesn’t seem too severe, we will probably forgive them. But, if in our minds, or even in the minds of others, the offense is serious, we may hold our forgiveness back. 

However, forgiveness is necessary for our relationships with others: We extend forgiveness because we have experienced it.

Jesus tells us: “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, your Father will not forgive you your sins.” —Matthew 6:14–15

What does this mean?

Forgiveness frees us from the non-productive and destructive emotions which chain and enslaved us to the object of our anger and pain. Sometimes a story can help us understand a concept better than an explanation … Henry Brandt shares this story in his book, Heart of the Problem.

“At a conference in Zimbabwe, I told the audience the story of a Ugandan businessman I had met who had lost everything when Idi Amin’s soldiers had seized his possession and his family had to flee to the forests. This businessman had peace in his heart only after he had forgiven the soldiers.

“After my morning address, I received a note requesting a private meeting. To my surprise, I found myself sitting across from a couple from Uganda who had been urged by some friends to attend this conference. Deeply disturbed by a tragedy in their own lives, the couple had listened intently to the story of my Ugandan friend.

“As they sat before me, they hold me how they had struggled to keep their business going in spite of the turbulence of Uganda’s last twenty years.

“Then one day during the bloody reign of Idi Amin, they receive a note stating their twenty-six-year-old son had been kidnapped and was being held for ransom. The parents did nothing for a few days, and then received a note threatening that their son would be killed if they did not pay the ransom.

“The couple sought legal advice and consulted with the proper government authorities. They were advised to resist payment. Then came another note. This was the final warning. If payment was not made immediately, their son would be tortured and killed. As they agonized over what to do, they receive a note stating that their son was dead. Grief-stricken; the father tried to locate the body.

“Finally he found someone who, for a price, would lead him to his son’s body. When he arrived at the appointed place, he was seized by a group of soldiers and taken to a prison. In the same cell that had held his son, they stripped him to the waist, made him face a wall, and with a whip made of leather strips, they cut his back to ribbons. They loaded him into the back of a pickup truck and dropped him off on a street corner. They shouted at him that if he ever tried to locate his son again, he would be killed.

“Two years had passed. The couple had suffered bitter, deep hatred toward unknown soldiers who had murdered their son and beaten the father. They could no longer enjoy success in business, a spacious home in the country, and a happy family life. Now each day was filled with sorrow, hatred, and thoughts of revenge. The story of the Ugandan businessman had disturbed them; they wanted to know if I believed they were wrong to treasure their misery and keep their hatred alive. It seemed to them that resentment was normal and proper. To forgive the soldiers seemed to them to be inappropriate and disloyal to the memory of their son.

“What could I say? Theirs was a tragic story. Surely they had the option to choose their own approach to the cruel, heartless event that had clouded their lives. The problem was so far removed from my own life experiences that it seemed almost from another world. I required more wisdom than I possessed. ‘God, help me,’ I quietly prayed.

“We sat in silence in a dimly lit room. I couldn’t think of anything to say to this couple. The woman’s eyes were filled with tears. The gentleman sat with his elbows on his knees and both hands covering his face. The wife whispered, ‘It would be a relief to put this behind us and get on with the future.’ ‘Yes, it would,’ he replied. ‘Can you help us?’ 

“How could I help? I leaned back in my chair and thought to myself, ‘What would the Ugandan businessman who had lost everything say to them right now?’ I believe he would have said: ‘You must put away all bitterness, anger, wrath, quarreling, and slanderous talk—indeed all malice. Instead, be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ also forgave you’ (Ephesians 4:31-32).

“Murder and merciless beatings are heinous deeds. Many friends and associates had assured them that revenge, anger, and hatred were natural responses. To think of being kind and tenderhearted and forgiving was beyond consideration.

“As the three of us struggled in that dark room in Zimbabwe, it seemed to me that there was another presence in the room. God was there telling me to gently urge this dear couple to let go of their hostile spirit and let Him cleanse their hearts. He would give them a forgiving spirit. Jesus would say: ‘But I say to you, love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you’ (Matthew 5:44).

“I suggested that they needed to pray for such a change of heart. After a long silence, the man said in a trembling voice, ‘I am ready.’ His wife said, ‘So am I.’ 

“The three of us knelt by the bed in that quiet room. I have never heard such moving prayers. We stood up and embraced each other with tears of supernatural joy streaming down our cheeks. The next day the man and his wife stood before the entire gathering. He told the group that he and his wife were leaving a heavy burden behind and looking forward to a new life in the future.”

Dr. Brandt goes on to say:

“We want to know when it is acceptable not to forgive. We are confronted on all sides with physical abuse, sexual abuse, rape, unfaithfulness, suffering. The list is long. Is no one entitled to nurse resentment, bitterness, and to withhold forgiveness? Why should we forgive?

“The answer is clear. The Ugandan couple experienced miraculous healing when they released their anger and bitterness. Forgiveness freed them from the non-productive and destructive emotion which chained them and enslaved them to the object of their anger and pain. They found that forgiveness was the beginning of a free life.”

God’s children have full access to the limitless supply of the fruit of the Holy Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Isn’t it odd, therefore, that we should ever choose hatred, resentment, or anger, not over the great tragedies of life, but more often, over the small grievances of daily living?

Forgiveness is a tough concept! And one in which we grow and stretch and learn and process. It will be a life-long journey as God teaches about forgiveness and helps you to forgive.

Application

Take some time alone with God to confess your inability to forgive, and ask the Holy Spirit to forgive them through you. As you rely on Him, He will give you the power!

As we think about being connected to other people in the body of Christ, it’s good to stop and consider the topic of anger. What? Anger? Why? Because angry people are hard to get along with … and they disrupt life in the body of Christ! Christian psychologist Henry Brandt spent nearly his entire professional career talking to Christians about letting God take care of their anger!

When was the last time you saw or experienced the result of someone’s anger … on the road, at the store, in your family, with a friend? Believe it or not, the one emotion that plagues everyone is … anger. People seldom admit to actually being angry. Instead, they say, “I lost my temper,” or “I was out of control” or “That person really annoyed me.” Curious expressions, aren’t they? Rarely does anyone say, “I was really ticked off and I sinned”? Sin? Really? Yes, really. The truth is that rarely is our anger in and of itself a sin … but how we handle it often leads to sinful behavior. The one emotion that plagues everyone is … anger. No matter how you express it, anger is still anger … and it is a problem if you don’t deal with it in an appropriate way.

In his book entitled Heart of the Problem, Dr. Henry Brandt wrote, “I have never found anger to be a positive factor in problem-solving. I have never found anger to be righteous. It is always a hindrance to intelligent straight thinking and rational behavior. In an instant, anger can change a person from being satisfied, cheerful, and relaxed to being dissatisfied, unhappy, and tense. There is universal agreement that unrestrained anger can destroy us.”

The things that make you angry are situations and people that are outside of you that cause something inside of you to react.

You can only correct what is wrong with your spirit by accessing God’s power. Anger is defined as “an emotional reaction of extreme displeasure and/or antagonism.” Other words we might use to describe anger are: annoyance, irritation, antagonism, resentment, and indignation. Anger is expressed in many ways. It can be murderous rage or mild inner annoyance and irritation. You may not lose your temper and throw things, but you get terribly “irritated” about a lot of things. Many of us nurture our anger into something else: either a physical action or verbal assault that is hurtful, bitter, or a plan for revenge … you name it!

What does a mean, angry, hostile Christian look like? Well, let’s take a look at the guy who walks into the office on Friday morning. His face is smiling and calm. However, as is the case with most people, he can usually control the way his face looks, but he can’t control his spirit. This guy is saying to himself, “My boss makes me mad, my wife drives me crazy, my kids annoy me, and my coworkers are idiots.” Where is this person supposed to go to find peace when he has all these people aggravating him all the time? He is angry and his anger is causing him to focus on many negative things. Throughout the morning he begins to interact in negative ways with all of these people. He sighs, he shouts, he rolls his eyes, he is sarcastic. 

Your joy, happiness, and contentment do not depend on the behavior of other people. When you insist on life being the way you want it, all sorts of things will disturb you.

If you really look at your anger, you will find that when you are angry, irritated, and frustrated it is because something has not gone your way. But, and here’s the problem, the things that make you angry are situations and people that are outside of you; and they are causing something inside of you to react. The problem is not really what is making you angry, but how you are responding to it. The problem is your spirit. And you can only correct what is wrong with your spirit by accessing God’s power. 

Henry Brandt says that many people try to cope with their anger… but what they need is a cure! Angry reactions are triggered by anything that causes us to be annoyed, disgruntled, upset, uncomfortable, bitter, or envious. Contention, disagreement, discord, hostility, temper tantrums, rage, screaming, arguing, and anger are all words describing a fundamental response we exhibit when we don’t get our own way! Strife, wrangling, arguing, and shouting are often the result. Nearly everyone thinks that their anger is a justifiable response to the way they were treated. God’s Word teaches us to get rid of our anger. 

In Colossians 3:8, the Bible tells us to “put off all such things as anger, rage, malice, slander, abusive language from your mouth.”

When you insist on life being the way you want it, all sorts of things will disturb you. The fact remains that each one of us needs to learn how to deal with our personal anger. Society’s solutions include “ignoring it,” “sharing” (or more accurately blasting) people with it so that we will feel better, hiding it, or finding a way to “control it.” All of these solutions are actually asking us to simply “live with” the anger.

But as Henry Brandt points out in nearly all of his books, the Bible has another approach altogether. God’s Word teaches us to get rid of our anger. Carefully study these verses:

“For human anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.” —James 1:20

“A person who has a quick temper will do foolish things, and a person with crafty schemes will be hated.” —Proverbs 14:17

“Scornful people inflame a city, but those who are wise turn away wrath.” —Proverbs 29:8

“A fool lets fly with all his temper, but a wise person keeps it back.” —Proverbs 29:11

“An angry person stirs up dissension, and a wrathful person is abounding in transgression.” —Proverbs 29:22

“Do not be angry and frustrated! Do not fret! That only leads to trouble!” —Psalm 37:8

“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on the cause of your anger. Do not give the devil an opportunity.” —Ephesians 4:26–27

So how do we get rid of our anger? You cannot have a peaceful heart when you are allowing a number of things to “trigger” your emotions. Can you be “filled with the Spirit” when you are angry? Are you going to settle for being an angry person and justify it by saying, “That’s just the way I am?” You need to allow the Holy Spirit to rid you of your anger.

The idea here is not to learn to control, stuff or channel your anger into meaningful activity. Acknowledge your anger and let God deal with it. Now is the time to talk to God and acknowledge the anger you have become aware of and want to release. Forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against. Thank God for forgiving your sin of anger. Ask Him to bless the ones you are angry with and to love them through you. You will have a huge load lifted from your shoulders! 

Application

Take a notepad and pencil with you and for twenty-four hours list everything that “triggers” your anger … in any form. Then take some time to evaluate what you have been angry about. You will be surprised! Talk to God about it. Ask the Holy Spirit to change you from the inside. Let God direct your emotional responses to your circumstances. Keep a record of how God is working in your life in this area.

As we’ve considered the different ways for you to grow in your relationship with God by hearing, reading, studying, and memorizing His Word, we’ve actually also been meditating on His truth, which is the focus of this lesson. Meditating involves taking a prayerful, serious approach to reflecting on a specific verse or passage.

As you’ve learned how to listen and read and study and memorize, you’ve also been meditating. But in this lesson, we’re going to specifically focus on meditation as its own discipline. 

There really is no better way to grow in your relationship with Christ than to meditate on God’s promises throughout the day. Whenever something stressful happens (and it will), you can think about a verse that applies to your situation. 

Meditating means you are giving extended, careful thought to God’s Word with the intent of conforming your life to His will. Meditating on God’s Word will result in knowing Him intimately and being obedient to Him in everything. Meditating means you are giving extended, careful thought to God’s Word with the intent of conforming your life to His will. 

Two questions to consider whenever you are meditating on a passage of scripture:

1. What is the meaning of this verse or passage based on its context?
2. How can/should this verse or passage affect my life?

Use these two questions right now as you consider Philippians 4:6–7:

“Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”

Power Over Bondage

In 1977, New York City was in turmoil because a troubled twenty-four-year-old man, David Berkowitz, who the media labeled “Son of Sam,” went on a killing spree. His target was young women, and before he was finally caught, five young women and one man were dead.

During his time in prison, David was approached by a young prisoner named Ricky Lopez. Ricky told David that regardless of what he had done, Jesus loved him and died for him.

Ricky gave David a Bible. As David Berkowitz read the Bible, God’s power began breaking him of his bondage to sin. In time, the Word of God brought him to a point of complete repentance—and the “Son of Sam” surrendered his life completely to Christ. Today, as he continues to serve his life sentence, David Berkowitz is the chaplain’s assistant at Sullivan Correctional Facility. (Read this, and other stories of God’s transforming power, in Fresh Power, by Jim Cymbala.)

David Berkowitz was transformed because he replaced his human viewpoint of life with God’s viewpoint.! He meditated on God’s truth! There really is no better way to grow in your relationship with God than to meditate on His promises throughout the day.

Psalm 1:1–3 says, “How blessed is the one who does not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand in the pathway with sinners, or sit in the assembly of scoffers! Instead, he finds pleasure in obeying the LORD’s commands; he meditates on his commands day and night. He is like a tree planted by flowing streams; it yields its fruit at the proper time, and its leaves never fall off. He succeeds in everything he attempts.”

Make sure your roots are deeply planted in God’s Word … just like a tree that survives and grows and bears fruit because its roots tap deep into the soil below.

In Psalm 119:97–105, what promises are made to the person who continually meditates?

“O how I love your law! All day long I meditate on it.
Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for I am always aware of them.
I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your rules.
I am more discerning than those older than I, for I observe your precepts.
I stay away from every evil path, so that I might keep your instructions.
I do not turn aside from your regulations, for you teach me.
Your words are sweeter in my mouth than honey!
Your precepts give me discernment. Therefore I hate all deceitful actions.
Your word is a lamp to walk by, and a light to illumine my path.”

Luke 6:45 says,

“The good person out of the good treasury of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasury produces evil, for his mouth speaks from what fills his heart.”

Meditating means thinking deeply about something. To meditate is to focus your thinking on something specific. It means to focus, contemplate, reflect, or think deeply about. You do it long enough that something changes (attitude, purpose, conviction), and then you have the perspective and wisdom to get up and make changes. In other words, meditation causes life change! 

It is important to think rightly and to have God’s perspective and discernment about everything, including money, Jesus, sin, marriage, sex, divorce, obedience, kids, work, honesty, trouble, yourself, the future, and a host of other things. Think like Jesus thinks, have His mindset. Meditation on God’s Word will help you to do that. But …. it will take planning and time. If you don’t plan it, it won’t happen. 

J. I. Packer wrote: “Meditation is the activity of calling to mind, thinking over, dwelling on, and applying to oneself the various things that one knows about the works, ways, purposes, and the promises of God. Its effect is to humble us as we contemplate God’s greatness and our own littleness—to encourage and reassure us as we contemplate the unsearchable riches of God as displayed in the Lord Jesus Christ” (Knowing God).

So meditate, but don’t meditate on your problems, your irritations, your hurts, and/or your enemies. Rather, meditate on the truth of God’s Word! The purpose of meditation is a life change. You want to experience God! Meditate until you not only understand a passage of God’s Word but until can’t wait to apply it! 

Application

Choose a verse or passage of scripture to meditate on … and then do it!

As we have been discussing, there are five basic ways for you to grow in your knowledge and experience with God’s Word: hear it, read it, study it, memorize it, and meditate on it. In this lesson we will consider how memorizing God’s Word will help you tremendously.

One of the most important reasons for memorizing Scripture is because our memories are short. Research has shown that after 24 hours you accurately remember:

5% of what you hear

15% of what you read

35% of what you study

57% of what you see and hear

100% of what you memorize

Noted author and counselor, Henry Brandt, once wrote: “I still consider Bible memorization the single most important aid in my Christian life and in my counseling.”

Dawson Trotman, past president of the Navigators said, “I know of no form of intake of the Word which pays greater dividends for the time invested than Scripture memory.”

In Matthew 4:1–10, we see Jesus overcoming Satan’s temptations by using scripture. He probably didn’t have the scriptures in written form … he was using them because he had learned them as a child and could recite them! Here’s the story:

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After he fasted forty days and forty nights he was famished. The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become bread.’ But he answered, ‘It is written, “Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’

“Then the devil took him to the holy city, had him stand on the highest point of the temple, and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you” and “with their hands, they will lift you up so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Jesus said to him, ‘Once again it is written: “You are not to put the Lord your God to the test.’

 “Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their grandeur. And he said to him, ‘I will give you all these things if you throw yourself to the ground and worship me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Go away, Satan! For it is written: “You are to worship the Lord your God and serve only him.” Then the devil left him, and angels came and began ministering to his needs.”

People often say “I just can’t memorize things.” But that simply is not true! We memorize information all the time for business, sales presentations, stock market quotes, sports, and daily commitments. Athletes memorize whole playbooks, team standings, player stats, etc. It’s not a memory that is lacking, it’s motivation.

It’s actually easy to memorize verses: 

Start with one verse. Write it down if possible.
Repeat it several times.
Say it in your own words. Identify why it is important.
Repeat it to a friend or family member.
Think about how you might apply it to your life.
Once you have it memorized, review it every day for 30 days.
It will be yours to take with you wherever you go!

Here are a few verses for you to memorize to get started!

“How can a young person maintain a pure life? By guarding it according to your instructions! … In my heart I store up your words, so I might not sin against you.” —Psalm 119:9, 11

“Fix these words of mine into your mind and being, and tie them as a reminder on your hands and let them be symbols on your forehead. Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, as you lie down, and as you get up.” —Deuteronomy 11:18–19

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and exhorting one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, all with grace in your hearts to God.” —Colossians 3:16

“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor heavenly rulers, nor things that are present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” —Romans 8:38–39

One way to improve your knowledge of the Bible, deepen your walk with God, and memorize verses that will carry you through the hard times of life is by using The Navigator’s Topical Memory System. You can online search for a way to obtain it or it is available in most Christian book stores.

Application

Choose a verse or passage today to start memorizing!