Take a few minutes to read the Renewing Your Mind tools below. They are yours to use while reading the Bible, in order to help you better understand God's best for you.
Pray
God sent His Holy Spirit to teach you and guide you toward His good plans. (John 14:26, 16:13) "Lord, speak to me. Help me to listen, understand and obey."
Observation
What does it say?
- What is the main idea?
- Who is it talking about or to?
- What is actually happening?
- Are there any commands?
- Are there any promises?
- Are there any repeated words or phrases?
- Are there any results or conclusions (look for therefore or so that)?
Interpretation
What does it mean?
- Are there any words or phrases that need t be defined?
- How does the passage fit into the broader context of the chapter & book?
- What was the author of this book trying to say?
- What did the audience understand the author to have been saying?
Application
What is God asking me to become/say/do?
- What attitude does this passage teach me to have?
- What action does this passage direct me to take?
- What does this passage instruct me to believe?
- What does this passage tell me to avoid?
How I can find God's Best
Believe that God is good, like a perfect Father, and wants a relationship with me.
Believe that God can be completely trusted in my whole life.
Saying No
To things that may be conforming me to the pattern of this world.
Consider a 3, 5, or 10 day fast ([from] TV, Internet, computer, ratio).
Say "No" to things that might squeeze your thinking, worship, lifestyle, and beliefs into something other than God's good plans.
Saying Yes
To things that will renew my mind and transform my life.
Fill your fasting time with:
- Consider a 20 minute time in God's Word, using the Renewing Your Mind tools [above].
- Replace drive time radio with worship music or a teaching CD.
- Replace Internet time with a Bible Study.
Posted with permission from the local church, 2011.
