Any time someone has a quick list of things that will help me improve, I am all for it, and this list is no different. I had an opportunity to listen to a Bible study class from a well known Bible Study teacher, and she offered a list of five ways to hear God through the Bible. She calls it the “Five P’s.” I thought it would be great to share my notes with you. Please Excuse the abbreviated style of note-taking.
1. Position
Position yourself to hear from God. Silence. Solitude. Get physically prepared to read the Word of God. Get spiritually prepared to hear from God as you read the Word.
Ask yourself questions like: What does the passage say about God? What is God trying to tell you? The more you know God, the more you will hear him.
2. Pour over the passage
Pour over the passage and paraphrase the major point. Pour over means to ponder it and meditate on what it says. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate the verses. Sit with the Scriptures. Please don’t read it like you would a chapter book.
3. Paraphrase
Pull out the Spiritual principles. Ask if there is a command I am supposed to follow? Is there a sin I am supposed to avoid in my own life? Is there an example for me to follow?
4. Pose the question
Ask myself if I am living according to this principle.
5. Plan obedience
Plan to obey, strategize for everything else. God speaks to be obeyed. Have you thought about how often God has asked you to do something, only to postpone your obedience or ignore it altogether?
Let’s apply the 5P’s for a quick exercise.
We will look at an example from Exodus 14:13-14.
13 Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.”
We see four things as we pour over these two passages.
- Do not be afraid
- Stand firm
- You’ll see
- Be still
Let’s paraphrase the two passages.
Verse 13 – Don’t be afraid, but stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today.
Verse 14 – You’ll never see those people again. The Lord will fight for you; be still.
Next, let’s pose the question.
Am I living in fear? Am I being still? When I consider my life, am I trusting the Lord in all things?
Get the idea?
When we read Scripture using the five P’s, we have better positioned ourselves to hear from God more.
Grab your Bible and apply these simple principles from the list as you are reading God’s Word. I hope your time in the Scriptures produces fruit – fruit that will last.
Blessings!
Recent Comments