Category Archives: Study tips

How to Meditate on Scripture

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How to Meditate on Scripture

How to Meditate on Scripture

We are instructed in scripture to meditate on God’s word. Other terms used are the bible, scripture, the law of the Lord, His precepts, His testimonies, His commandments, and/or His statutes.

“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8 (ESV)

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers.” Psalm 1:1-3 (NIV)

The thing is, HOW does one meditate?

What IS meditation?

When we hear the word “meditate” I think some of us automatically picture a person sitting on the ground with their legs crossed, arms resting on their knees, palms facing upward with the thumb touching a finger, eyes closed, and humming or chanting some mantra. I’m pretty sure this isn’t what God has in mind though when He encourages us to meditate on scripture.

Some dictionary definitions of “meditate” include, “to engage in contemplation or reflection; to focus one’s thoughts on, reflect on, or ponder over; to think deeply about something; to dwell on any thing in thought; to study; to turn or revolve any subject in the mind; to ruminate”.

The Hebrew word used for meditate is “hâgâh”. This word means to murmur, ponder, imagine, mutter, speak, study, talk, or utter.

Therefore, based on these definitions, if I am to meditate on scripture I might find myself doing the following: Continue reading →

Multiple Intelligences—A Different Kind of Learning Preference

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Multiple Intelligences—A Different Kind of Learning Preference

A couple of weeks ago we discussed learning styles—more specifically those styles of Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. I showed you how even Jesus taught in all three of those learning styles. This week I thought I would introduce you to a different type of learning style or learning preference that we discuss in my classes. It’s called the theory of Multiple Intelligences.

The theory of multiple intelligences was an idea derived in 1983 by a Harvard Professor of Psychology named Howard Gardner[1]. Based on his research he believes that different people have different ways of processing information and different intellectual strengths. Gardner says these strengths are important in knowing how we best learn.

In other words, in discovering what our own individual strengths are (our own multiple intelligences), we can leverage these to enhance our own learning and understanding to be more successful–be it in school, at work, or even spiritual growth. We’ll discuss some strategies we can use to leverage our strengths in order to be more successful. 

We can leverage our strengths to enhance our learning and understanding to be more successful.

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See if you can see yourself in any of these descriptions…

Gardner’s Eight Multiple Intelligences:

  • Verbal/Linguistic—includes the ability to analyze, use, and manipulate language and words (written or spoken); strengths include reading, writing, telling stories and memorization
  • Musical/Rhythmic—includes the ability to use and make meaning out of sounds, rhythms, repetition, and tones; strengths include creating rhymes/rhythms/melodies/songs, singing, and/or playing an instrument
  • Logical/Mathematical—includes the ability to reason scientifically, understand and analyze patterns/equations/calculations, and make connections between complex and/or abstract items; strengths include problem-solving, critical thinking, logic, and reasoning
  • Visual/Spatial—includes the ability to see relationships between objects and to visual things in the mind; strengths include understanding maps/graphs/charts, making use of images, and creative processes such as designing, crafting, building, etc.
  • Bodily/Kinesthetic—includes the ability to connect the mind and body and learning through bodily activity and motion; strengths include good motor skills and controlling movement, using the body to create products, and/or excel in activities requiring physical activity such as medical careers, athletics, performance (dancing, acting, playing music, etc.), military, construction, etc.
  • Intrapersonal—includes the ability to be introspective and self-aware including evaluation of one’s own strengths/weaknesses; strengths include self-assessment and knowing oneself (own abilities and limits), predicting one’s own reactions and emotions, and ability to know and set boundaries for oneself
  • Interpersonal—includes the ability to utilize empathy and see things from other’s perspectives, discernment and proficiency in reading the people around oneself, and skill in social interaction; strengths include communication with others (both verbal and nonverbal), creating and managing relationships, negotiation, and cooperating within group settings
  • Naturalistic—includes the ability to connect with nature, relate information to the natural surroundings, and to recognize and classify things in nature; strengths include understanding patterns in living things (recognize distinct types of plants/animals/geography), feeling nurtured/invigorated in natural surroundings, and excelling in areas such as biological and environmental sciences, gardening/farming, hunting, culinary arts, etc.

A video interview with Howard Gardner on Multiple Intelligences

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What Are Your Preferred Learning Styles?

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What Are Your Preferred Learning Styles?

I love taking self-assessments. I’ve always found them fun and interesting. Many of my students over the years have seemed to enjoy them as well. Most people love to learn new things about themselves or confirm things they might already know. I think learning more about ourselves and getting some strategies to put into practice can help us to accomplish the tasks that God sets before us and help us to be successful in the things that God has called us to do and be. Since we discussed success a little last week, I thought it might be fun to share a learning styles self-assessment as a tool to add to our toolbox for success!

In the classes I teach, both a success skills class at a local college and a life skills class at a women’s restoration home, we spend some time learning about learning styles and preferences. Knowing how we learn can affect both our success in school and in our careers.  We can utilize these learning styles to our advantage to help throughout our lives.

Self-awareness and understanding that others sometimes learn, think and behave differently than we do can also help us manage relationships with others better (both personally AND professionally). Through self-assessments we can analyze and modify learning techniques and behavior patterns to get more out of learning, whether it’s at school, work or even learning and growing spiritually. 

Learn more about yourself to succeed in what God has called you to do and be.

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VAK Learning Styles: Visual, Auditory, & Kinesthetic

The first learning styles assessment we discuss in my class is the VAK system, which is an acronym that stands for Visual, Auditory, and Kinesthetic. This set of learning styles focuses on learning through our senses:

Visual: Learning by seeing

Auditory: Learning by hearing

Kinesthetic: Learning by movement

We all use all three when we learn, but most of us have one or two dominant learning styles or preferences. We typically default to our dominant preference when we take in new information.

Visual learners tend to take in and understand information by actually looking at it, either in writing or some other visual format (pictures, videos, demonstrations, or visualization). These are the people that when you ask for directions they will either write them out for you or draw you a map. If they are assembling a new piece of furniture, they will probably look over the directions first or watch a tutorial video on how to do it.

Auditory learners tend to take in and understand information by hearing it or talking about it. When asked for directions they will give you verbal instructions. If they are assembling a new piece of furniture, they will probably read the directions aloud, have someone else read the directions to them, or just ask somebody who has already put a similar piece together about how to do it.

Kinesthetic learners tend to take in and understand information while moving around or by touching things. These are the people that when you ask them for directions they might say, “Follow me. I’m driving right by there.” Additionally, they might use their hands and point a lot when describing the directions to you. If assembling a new piece of furniture, they will probably disregard the instruction manual altogether and just start assembling.

VAK in the Bible: Jesus even modeled visual, auditory, and kinesthetic styles

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A Different Approach to Bible Reading

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A Different Approach to Bible Reading

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash 

A Different Approach to Bible Reading

During the first of the year many Christians often resolve to be more purposeful in their spiritual growth. The Bible dedicates a significant amount of scripture to the importance of reading and meditating on God’s Word daily and spending quality time with God through prayer and praise. Because we know this, one of the main spiritual goals or resolutions at the start of a new year is to start a regular bible reading habit. Often people get off to a good start. Then, like many New Year’s Resolutions, what started off as a good intention gently fades, and it never quite becomes a habit or routine.

Two years ago I wrote a post on Tips to Start Reading the Bible on a Regular Basis. This might be a good time to go back and revisit that post for some great tips and a story about how and why I started my bible reading practice. This week I’d like to resume and expand on that discussion because I recently gained some more insight on a better way to approach bible reading.

Typical approaches: Duty & Application

My pastor, Whit George, just shared a different approach with our church[1]. Pastor Whit said that many of us approach bible reading in a couple of different ways. First, many of us approach our quiet times and reading like a duty, out of obligation or out of guilt. This approach is not as meaningful. It is not really “delighting” in God’s Word as Psalms teaches.

“Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful; but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.” Psalm 1:1-2 (NKJV)

Secondly, others of us approach scripture like reading a self-help book or instruction manual. We read it only for application. Reading for application is not bad—it’s actually a good thing. However, this approach doesn’t work when you read something that you can’t apply or when you don’t get anything out of what you read that day. To be perfectly honest, I have been guilty of both the “duty” approach and the “application-only” approach.

A better approach: Read for relationship

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Study the Devil

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Study the Devil …to become familiar with his evil schemes, tactics, and ways.

Study the Devil…to become familiar with his evil schemes, tactics, and ways.

“So that Satan will not outsmart us. For we are familiar with his evil schemes.” 2 Corinthians 2:11 (NLT)

Last week I shared about a dream I had and how I felt like it meant that the devil was studying me. I gave a few tips that came up during one of my quiet time devotions about how to engage the enemy. After some more prayer and insight into my dream, I felt like God told me to study the devil.

After I heard “Study him,” I knew I was supposed to be aware of HOW he attacks and be able to recognize some of his ways, tactics, and strategies. I needed to study the devil to start paying attention to how he does things and how/when he lies and causes trouble. Additionally, I needed to think about how he has attacked me in the past.

Now that I knew the devil was studying me, I could be preemptive by turning the tables. Two could play this game!

More insight about my dream

First, I started thinking some more about my dream and some of the possible symbolism in it. I could start by attempting to study the devil in my dream. If the man in my dream was symbolic of the devil, what could I discern from his character in my dream? Here were some of my thoughts…

He disguises himself as less threatening

The man that appeared in my dream seemed fairly unthreatening (skinny, gangly, pale guy). Likewise, the things that the devil uses to come against us might not seem harmful at first glance.

“But I am not surprised! Even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14 (NLT)

He trespasses and invades into areas where he shouldn’t

In the dream I had a sense that the man was asking me questions that he shouldn’t be asking or that he might be trying to do something illegal. The devil is the same way. He tries to do things that he has no right to do. He interferes and invades in areas that aren’t his territory. The devil is an intruder.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who sneaks over the wall of a sheepfold, rather than going through the gate, must surely be a thief and a robber!” John 10:1 (NLT)

He tries to make us trip, stumble, and fall

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Tips for Understanding the Bible

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Check out some of these tips for understanding the Bible better...

Tips for Understanding the Bible

A couple of weeks ago I wrote a post that included a prayer to help understand the Bible better when we read it.  However, even after praying at times there are still things we don’t always understand right away. There are occasions where we may want to do a little further study when we are having trouble understanding.  Today I thought I’d share with you some of my own processes and tips for understanding the Bible based on things that seem to help me, personally.

I’ve been a consistent Bible reader and “student” for many years now, and there are STILL things I don’t understand. It might be a word, a custom, or it might even be when the Bible seems to contradict itself.  We’re not crazy, abnormal, or unintelligent if we read some things that seem a bit confusing or out of whack!  Even pastors who have been studying scripture for decades have questions and don’t always understand everything that they read.  Take heart…we’re in good company! 

We’re not abnormal or unintelligent if we read things in scripture that confuse us!

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A different take on struggles with understanding

Recently, after reading some of his devotions on my Bible app, I started following a guy named Dave Adamson.   He has an Instagram feed with daily photo devotions that are always absolutely amazing!  One of his posts this week fit right in line with how we struggle when we read the Bible at times. Dave had some tips for understanding the bible when we struggle based off of the story of Jacob, who was renamed Isaac.  He posted a picture of his girls wrestling on the lawn at the National Mall in Washington DC.  He compared it to how we wrestle with God and with scripture sometimes…

“See, I used to carry a lot of guilt whenever I questioned a paradox in Scripture or disagreed with something I heard in church. But there’s a story in the Bible of a man named Jacob who one night literally wrestles with God. By morning, God walks away from the fight and changes Jacob’s name to Israel, which in Hebrew means “struggles” or “wrestles with God.” This name is prophetic, signifying that God’s people will always wrestle with Him. The ancient Jews believed God invites you into this wonderful wrestling match with Him. Author Athol Dickson says, “What if God placed these paradoxes within the Scriptures to cause me to struggle for the truth? What if it is the struggle he desires as much as the truth itself?” When you wrestle with God, He’s right there with you, just like my daughters are with each other in this picture. So the next time you struggle with faith, that’s not a time for guilt, but celebration. God is inviting you to wrestle with Him so you can be connected with the Creator of the universe.”[1]

I love how he used this analogy to free us from some of the guilt of having doubts and questions.  You can also see more of Dave’s amazing photo devotions on his reading plans on the Bible app (YouVersion): 7 Hebrew Words Every Believer Should Know and 7 More Hebrew Words Every Believer Should Know.  Dave also has a photo devotional book called Chasing the Light.

God wants us to understand

Nevertheless, like I said before… God wants us to read our Bible and to understand it. He doesn’t want it to be difficult or overwhelming for us. Because God is not a God of confusion, we should be at peace and not in a state of confusion. Scripture is given to us to help us, not to hinder us. It’s meant to be useful for us.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

“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.” 2 Timothy 3:16(NLT)

So on to the tips!

8 Tips for Understanding the Bible:

  1. Try these 8 tips to help you understand the Bible better

    Find a translation that makes it easy to understand the Bible verses and passages

  2. Read a verse or passage in multiple translations
  3. Use a Bible commentary
  4. Read related verses or cross references
  5. Use a concordance
  6. Ask someone else
  7. Look up or research what you don’t understand
  8. Pray more specifically about a particular part that you don’t understand

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Prayer to Help Understand the Bible

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Say this prayer to help you understand the Bible better...

Prayer to Help Understand the Bible

Sometimes it’s hard to understand the Bible, which can be very frustrating. Often this will tempt us to just stop and give up trying. This is especially true if we’re not in a habit of reading it on a regular basis. However, I will say it gets easier the more consistent we get in our reading habit. Today, I’d like to share some scriptures and a prayer based off of scripture that we can pray to before we begin reading in order to glean the most out of our reading session.

God wants us to read our Bible. He also wants us to understand the Bible. He doesn’t want it to be difficult or overwhelming for us. We should be at peace and not in a state of confusion. God is not a God of confusion. Scripture is given to us to help us, not to hinder us. It’s meant to be useful for us to help us lead a successful, happy, healthy and prosperous life. It is effective and powerful and always relevant to any and every situation we face.

“For God is not a God of confusion but of peace…” 1 Corinthians 14:33 (ESV)

“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.” 2 Timothy 3:16 (NLT)

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 (NIV) 

Scripture is effective and powerful and always relevant to any and every situation we face.

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There is simplicity in Christ

Pastor Beth Jones explained once that we don’t have to understand all of the complex parts of the Bible to learn about Jesus and have relationship with him. Beth compared it to driving a car. You don’t have to understand all of the inner workings of a car engine to be able to drive the car.

Similarly, you don’t have to be all deep and philosophical and intellectual when reading scripture. He’ll help you out along the way. You’ll grow in knowledge and understanding as you walk with him. In fact, Jesus liked to keep things simple. It was the other religious leaders of the day that tried to make things confusing, complex, and super formal. He’ll meet you where you are and help you to understand little by little.

“But I fear, lest somehow, he serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.” 2 Corinthians 11:3 (NKJV)

 Scriptures to use when we need to understand the Bible 

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How to Conduct Research

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How to Conduct Research

How to Conduct Research

Recently, I wrote a post on Barabbas and discussed how I encountered some conflicting information. I decided to do some research. During that process I found both credible and not-so-credible resources. The thought came to me that some people may not know how to discern if material is reliable or not. So this week I thought I’d share just some basic tips on how to conduct research and evaluate information.

They do teach some of this in high school and in college. So many of you might already know how to do this effectively. Sometimes though it’s nice to have refreshers. You might also learn a few tips and tricks of which you may have been unaware. I think you’ll also find some techniques very helpful when doing some Bible study and research.

Additionally, there may be some readers who find this helpful—especially in our current culture of biased media, people throwing out inaccurate data, and a world full of activist agendas. Even if you feel proficient in conducting research, feel free to watch the short video clips and learn a few tricks for web searches and such.

The CRAAP Test

I teach the CRAAP Test in my college classes. Sounds kinda crude doesn’t it? I joke with my students that this is the method they’ll use to recognize fact from crap! 😉 In all seriousness though, it’s a method used to help you know how to evaluate sources and material. It will help you determine which is good information and which isn’t.

Basically, CRAAP is just an acronym for Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose. To give you a basic rundown of what it entails, I’ll describe each step. Continue reading →