I am a local church girl through and through (and have been since I was a toddler), I’ve been digging deep in various Bible study groups for well over 20 years, but nothing has grown my faith more than personally engaging in Scripture on my own. Please don’t get me wrong, being part of a local church body will always be crucial to my faith walk, as well as connecting with others and learning in a small group setting.
But I need more and so do you.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.
1 Peter 2:2-3
At church and in small group Bible studies, we taste and see that the Lord is good. This should make us crave more of His presence and goodness. We live in a day and age where the Bible is available to us in whatever translation we desire 24/7. We are without excuse. The problem is everything else is available to us 24/7 as well. Life has become crowded and noisy.
We must choose to quiet ourselves and to draw near to the Lord.
Babies aren’t fed just once or twice a week. In order to grow they eat OFTEN. Without eating they get fussy. And with a pattern of not eating, they fail to thrive. In fact, when that happens, we consider it neglect. Our heavenly Father does not neglect us! He has not left us to fend for ourselves. He desires to nourish us with everything we need for spiritual growth, but in order to thrive, we must eat what He has beautifully prepared and set before us.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Many years ago my daughter took violin lessons from an instructor who taught by the Suzuki method. This particular method of learning includes these elements: parent involvement, early beginning, listening, repetition, encouragement and learning with other children
As we continue to grow in our Christian life these elements are important for us as well:
- Parent involvement: a pastor, Bible study leader, mentor, someone even a step ahead of us.
- Early beginning: there’s no better time than now, we must humble ourselves to learn like a child.
- Listening: you cannot learn unless you quiet yourself and pay attention.
- Repetition: hear it, read it, write it, speak it – repeat.
- Encouragement: God’s Word infuses us with courage like nothing else can.
- Learning with other children: we are sons and daughters on the same team, we need each other.
Before the start of each lesson, the instructor would hold her violin and bow towards Kellie saying, “Please help me teach you.” Kellie would in turn hold her violin, bow towards the instructor and say, “Please help me learn.”
This reminds me of the stance Samuel had, as a young boy learning to hear the voice of the Lord.
The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”
1 Samuel 3:10
The Lord desires to teach us from His Word. We can help Him teach us by listening with undivided attention. What an incredible honor and privilege it is to live on this side of the cross. Jesus took the lowest place, paying the price for our sin, so that we could draw near to Him with confidence. As we open Scripture, let’s bow our heads and humbly say, “Please help me learn.” Let’s lean in close to listen. Let’s apply and put into practice what we’re learning. Let’s keep coming back to glean more.
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Romans 15:4
I don’t presume to know what your circumstances are today, but I do know – in Jesus – you have what it takes to endure and mature. I also know from personal experience, you will find hope and wisdom when you open God’s Word and allow it to transform you.
How about you? How are you actively listening to the Lord?
