kristaphillips 
My hubby and I are studying the book of James so most of my WWOW’s will come from that book for a while.
James 1:22-25 NLT
But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
Ohhhh, what a fun verse this is! Don’t be just hearers of the word, but be DOERS of the word!
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat down with my Bible, read a few verses or a chapter, taken a deep breath, and went on with my life. That chore was done. I’ve put in my obligatory Bible reading so the lightning from heaven won’t strick me down.
God doesn’t want us to spend time in the word just as an obligation. He wants us to read it and APPLY it.
As I mentioned, hubby and I are trying to do better at this. I am making him (Yes, MAKING him) get up with me before I leave for work in the morning to read the Bible together. We aren’t reading a lot, usually just a few verses, then talking about how we can apply it.
I wish I could be one of those Bible scholors who sits for hours devouring the word, but when I do that, it all goes in one ear and out the other. Nothing sticks. I want to REMEMBER.
This is one of the reasons I love Christian fiction so much. I spend hours reading a book that usually has a powerful Christian theme that can soak into my heart as I read. There’s a reason Jesus used parables. Stories stick!
I pray that I can write stories that stick to my readers as well, stories that will ignite their fire for God and encourage them to delve deep into the Word of God (without the dreaded P word of course!)
So… anyone have any methods of Bible study you use to help the message stick? Or, any methods you use to weave the Spiritual Themes in your books without smacking your reader upside the head with a Bible?
What a convicting verse! We did James in our small group at church not too long ago. Full of good stuff! Thanks for those thoughts on it!
I love this verse. It’s a gentle reminder every time I read it to read, then act! GRRR, not very good at it yet, though.
I get up every morning, then before my run/bike/whatever, I get it done. I’m reading the Chronological Bible in a year….it’s been great.
Getting into a groove of reading daily has helped. Then, I meet weekly with a couple gals and we hold each other accountable…talk about what we’ve been reading. Things have stuck in better that way.
I’ve NEVER been strong at memorizing, even when I was in school….so I often remember a verse (not word for word), but can’t remember where I saw it.
Keep at it, Krista!
Avily, I’m loving the study of James at the moment. Every day it seems like it’s exactly what I needed that day!
Lynn, you are so right. A daily routine is key. It’s just so easy to get up and say, “oh, I’ll just skip ONE day…” and then it becomes two or three or so on…
Trying not to do that this time!!