Application: Make Your Bible Study Dynamic and Specific
BY RICK WARREN — OCTOBER 8, 2014
“But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.” (James 1:22 NLT)
Nothing becomes dynamic until it becomes specific. That’s why when you read God’s Word, you try to move it to what you need to do now — your application.
A great habit to get into after you read your Bible is to write a one-sentence application for what you’ve just read. It’ll help you become a “doer of the Word,” not just a hearer.
What makes a good application sentence? It has four characteristics:
It’s personal. You can’t write an application for somebody else. It’s not about what the world needs to do or what your husband needs to do or what your kids need to do. It’s about what you need to do!
It’s practical. Your application should be something you can actually do and something you are able to make a plan to do. Broad generalities won’t help you. In fact, they’ll produce little action and will make you feel helpless.
It’s possible. If you can’t actually accomplish your application, you’ll likely get discouraged. If your application is that you need to pray five hours a day, you won’t do it. It’s not practical! Don’t go a day without prayer. That’s practical.
It’s provable. You need to set yourself a deadline to check on yourself. Until you set a deadline and a goal, you can’t check yourself. Then it’s just a dream.
You can do this with any portion of the Bible you’re reading. The Bible says, “But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves” (James 1:22 NLT).
Talk It Over
- After reading this devotional, how will your quiet time change?
- What one-sentence application will you try to put into practice today?
- Do you have a desire to do what God’s Word says? How is that reflected in your life?
| Open Windows |
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| TODAY’S SCRIPTURE |
| “Bring all the tithes (the whole tenth of your income) into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and prove Me now by it, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.” |
| (Malachi 3:10, AMP) |
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| TODAY’S WORD from Joel and Victoria |
God promises to open the windows of heaven and pour out blessings on you today! But, you have to do your part of this verse. Your part is to be a faithful tither and be obedient to the Lord with your finances.
The truth is, we are all just stewards over the resources God has given us. When we are good and faithful stewards, the Lord entrusts us with more. He opens the windows of heaven. Have you ever thought about what kind of blessing would be so great that there would not be room enough to receive it? It may be hard to comprehend, but that’s what God’s Word promises!
Today, make the decision to be a giver. Be a tither. The tithe is the first tenth of your income. As the scripture says, get ready to prove the Lord because He is faithful. Thank Him today because He is going to pour out abundant blessings on every area of your life!
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| A PRAYER FOR TODAY |
| Father, You are so good! Thank You for choosing to bless me. Thank You for opening the windows of heaven in my life. I choose to be obedient to Your Word. I choose to be a giver. I choose to be a faithful steward of the resources You have entrusted to me in Jesus’ name. Amen. |
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