Saturday 12 April 2008

Bible Study Survey - Where & When

A couple of blogger friends asked if I would ask the following questions on my site:

When do you study God's Word and Where? When & where do you have your personal devotional time with God?

I believe they are looking for ideas and suggestions.

Here in Florida I do both morning & evening. Not always both. In Michigan we have a "Prayer Cottage" on the campgrounds where we live. I go there most mornings at about 8:30am. They even have a CD player where you can play music in the background if you like. People can also leave their prayer requests on 3 x 5 cards. The cottage is open 24/7.

Any ideas? Comments? God Bless!

28 comments:

Darla said...

I have a spot in my house that is for my studies, and I love to meet God in the morning, although I am known to run back several times during the day, but when it is warmer out side, I love to meet him in the morning on my patio in my yard...it is evident when I don't meet with him.

CrossView said...

Bible study, for me, is sometimes just reading from His Word; reading it as a love letter.

And sometimes, it's a "pre-packaged" study. I have a Max Lucado workbook I'm looking forward to delving in to.

Sometimes, it's amazing discussions with my kids; whom I learn so much from, as we flip through Scripture.

And often, it's time with my husband when we sit together and read The Word and discuss what it means to us individually and how amazing it is that the same passage can be read differently depending on where we are; i.e. "the Living Word".

And then there's the Sunday sermons from an amazing young pastor as he causes me to say; "Hmmm" and "Aha".

And I have my favorites that I listen to on the radio since everywhere we go ends up being a lot of road time.

And I continually have books by my favorite authors. I keep a variety going so I can pick up whichever fits my mood at the moment.

Just me and God time is early morning and the very last thing at night. The study time is throughout the day.
=)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Crossview & Darla - I should have mentioned I use Max Lucado's "Grace for the Moment" devotional books.

CrossView said...

Ooh! And I can't believe I forgot the e-mail devotionals! =D

Carol said...

I do have a spot/place in my home where I meet with God on a daily basis (read my devotional material and journal in the mornings), but I have to be alone...no distractions. Sometimes that means I am up early, time on my knees in prayer first...me speaking to God, and then sitting at my desk in my sunroom reading my various devotional materials...God speaking to me. From those readings I get my quotes and notes for my blog.

I also walk the dogs every morning and listen to Christian music on cassette tapes while I walk. Sometimes I sing along, sometimes I just leave it off and talk to Jesus. I'm usually out early and if I can I like to catch the sunrise. For years I have preferred to walk alone for it is my quiet time with Jesus just as much as when I am in my sunroom in the house.

I like to read other inspirational books in the evenings...usually keep 4-5 going at a time (one chapter in each in rotation...okay, I'm querky). That prepares me for bed...tires me yet leaves my mind in a relaxed state rather than an agitated state like it would be if I listened to the news last thing before I went to bed. Boy, can the news ruin a good day!!

I believe quiet time with God must be intentional and habitual...and eventually it becomes a time you can't live without. It's the stabilizing force in life, the assurance that all is well with your soul, the knowledge that Jesus wants to be your Best Friend as well as your Savior and your Guide, and there is nothing in your life that He isn't aware of and wants to help you through.

As Christians we have access to the same Power that created the universe. Can we grasp that? That Power lives IN us...Jesus Christ the Hope of Glory!! How I love Him!!

Darla said...

I like those MAx Lucado -Grace for the moment too! We gave them away for Christmas and one of the nonbelievers is reading it and loves it. My other favorite small book is Experiencing God day by day by Henry Blackaby. But then I like My utmost for HIS highest too...I am pathetic in this area!!!

Indian Lake Papa said...

CDC & Crossview: I think the word devoted can come out of the word "devotional". WE need to be devoted to Christ 24/7. Blogging, emails, walking, driving, whenever 24/7!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Darla there is so much out there to read! And read we should!

Anonymous said...

Sounds to me like a lot of morning people here. I am not. I'm a night owl and go to bed anywhere from 1:00 - 3:00 a.m. Usually wake up around 8:30 a.m. and because I hate getting up, I spend some time in prayer and sing a few choruses before I ever get out of that bed.

I have no particular set time for devotions but am in the Word several times off and on during the day. My husband is not a night owl, so "my time" is late at night and that is when I really enjoy time with the Lord. I particularly like studying Paul's epistles.

Janis

Brandy said...

I read an article once about this family that had a prayer room in their house. They set it up like a sanctuary in church, complete with a stained glass window all. I always liked that idea and told Jake that if/when we ever had a house with the extra room, I'd like to do that. My mind wanders SO easily that I need a space where I can focus with no distractions. Ironically though, the place where I talk with God most is when I am driving. Weird I know huh? Driving or late at night when things around here are calm. They are NEVER calm in the mornings, ever, so that has never worked for me. I hope to change that though in the future. I've never liked that.

Indian Lake Papa said...

WElcome BACK Janis - glad you got to Ohio okay. I enjoy Paul's writings as well!

BRandy - I pray a lot in my van. In fact I have special places that I pray for people. For example, in MI we have a set of train tracks where we have to wait often for trains to pass. That is going to be my special time to pray for you.

Anonymous said...

In in the morn - I usually have read from one Bible while in the bathroom (as embarassing as that may be) during the day, I read with my girls in the living room for school and in the evening - I like to laze in a very keep recliner that I am becoming very fond of here at the Blessing House. Hhhmmm...a prayer cottage?!?!? I'm going to remember that and tell my husband for our time on the farm (for our retreat/ministry) THAT'S COOL!

Tanya said...

I do most of my time with the Lord in the morning. I do it before the children get up. I also listen to sermons from good preachers. I have also spent time in the evening. But, in the summer I take the kids to the park and I sit in the sun and just spend that time with my Father.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Lori - I love our prayer cottage in Mi. It is very well done.

Tanya - morning time is good as it helps us start the day w/God by our side.

Tam said...

I have a spot in the living room, the green comfy chair, that I occupy in the morning before the family gets up. Sometimes i dig in the Word and pray and sometimes I just pray. It depends. Admittedly, sometimes i fall to sleep. But not often. Really! But I'm a day long pray'er. I pray throughout my day every day. As people are laid on my heart, I pray. I love that!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Tam - the best way to fall asleep is praying!!

Anonymous said...

*blush* Glad I'm not the only one who falls asleep praying! :lol: hahaha!!!

Papa, you warm my heart! :D And make me smile really big! :D Train tracks are perfect. ;-) Trains are big in our house. ;-)

Indian Lake Papa said...

Brandy - long trains too - 130 cars plus running slow! Plenty of time to pray! :o)

mandy said...

i sat outside this morning for five minutes. and it was somewhere below 40 degrees. but i miss the outdoors. i was raised in southeast georgia, and was able to have a LOT of my devotional times outside. i miss that...

enjoy Florida for me papa!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Mandy - my front porch in MI works well - here in Florida we use the "Florida Room" A kind of closed in porch. Thanks for stopping by!

Brandy said...

My heart was heavy last night as I layed in bed and I thought of this post and it prompted me to just stop and talk with God. Like Tammy, I chit chat with him all day, but at night I don't usually b/c I want to go to sleep. haha! But last night I just talked out loud forever like someone was sitting there with me. ;-)

Love you Papa!

Indian Lake Papa said...

Brandy- Last night mama and I prayed aloud for you and your family during this transition. Any word on a house yet?

Life Adapted said...

As far as time carved out each week, I belong to MITI (Moms In Touch International - we pray for our children, their school and their teachers) on Thursday afternoon, a Wed. morning Ladies Bible Study (the best ever), prayer with my husband each and every night and family devotions when we eat dinner together, which is not as often as we like, you know 3 active teenagers. Good question with good answers. Thanks for asking. Loved the blog about the horse, it made me cry. Be blessed.

Indian Lake Papa said...

LA - thanks for stopping by! Family prayer time is very important. KeEp that a big priority!

Kathi said...

I am going through every Beth Moore workbook I can get my hands on. I'm learning so much. I get up at 4:30 and spend 45 min. a day. My first one was called "Breaking Free." I feel like a different Christian. My faith is in Christ. I have less fear and more peace.

Many days I am too tired to get up and do my study. I end up praying in the shower, and reading a few Psalms.

I also read Stormie Omartian books Power of a Praying Parent and Power of a Praying Wife, through out the day. God bless you, Kathi

Indian Lake Papa said...

Kathi - isn't getting up at 4:30 in the afternoon a little late to start your day ?? Certainly you don't get up at 4:30AM !! :o) I mean, thats pushing this devotional thing a little much - isn't it? Can't we just kind of "take it or leave it" when it's convenient? Mama has taken several study groups on Beth Moore's materials. Which is fine, as long as she remains submissive and obedient. :o) Thanks for stopping by!

Robin said...

I'm finally getting caught up on blogs - its crazy how you can get so far behind so quickly...

I don't have a special place in my home like many people have mentioned, but they are making me wish I did. I will have to work on it.

Having small children I don't always have the uninterupted time in the morning or ever really, so I have to take it where I can get it. Usually throughout the day in small chunks.

You may think this is odd, but I go to the gym 6 days a week and I try to spend my time on the treadmill praying and reading devotional material and sometimes Christian fiction. It was challenging at first to block out the noise, but its possible. When I first joined the gym I spent my time reading the ridiculous magazines and talk shows on their tvs and God showed me that this time could be edifying to body and spirit.

I listen to worship music to keep me focused on God. But I've also found that sometimes its good to just be quiet too. Quiet is rare around here though since little ones can be noisy...

I coordinate the prayer chain for my church so I'm praying throughout the day as requests come through.

As someone else mentioned doing Bible study with the children we have Bible as part of our home school curriculum also. I work with the kids on Scripture memory too. I want to get better at that because verses I memorized as a child and teen are still with me. For my daughter's handwriting she often writes Scripture verses. Of all the kids in our church my 7 year old daughter was the only child to learn all the books of the Bible. Each month she learns her children's church memory verse too. Our children's Pastor was impressed, but I told him she had an unfair advantage since she is homeschooled and I can incorporate what she is learning at church into her curriculum.

Since I read a book "Be Still and Know that I am God" I've been trying to meditate on Scripture more which means sometimes its not a lot, but I think about it more and let it delve deeper in. I wrote a little about this book on my memorize this blog on the Feb 8, 2008 post.

Indian Lake Papa said...

Robin - I can have music on and even the TV can be on and I can have my devotions. I learned this in the military! long story! We all seem to have a uniqueness about our devotional time!