Blog - The Restored Orchard

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Restless

My wife and I have the absolute sweetest children. They are both so smart and they love to laugh, and run, and play, and their little imaginations are always so expansive. There are times, however, that those little lights aren’t as bright, they’re more fussy and not as willing to share. This usually occurs because they have gotten over tired. The concept of over tired is described as having a cup, and all day you’re pouring into that cup and when you sleep you empty the cup. On the other hand, sometimes you can overfill that same cup. When the cup becomes overfilled, especially for the younger one, bedtime even becomes a hassle because he has become like the characters in Kenny Rogers’ hit song “The Gambler,” too tired to sleep. Why, if you are tired, would you fight sleep? He has his own room, and a bed, and we control the temperature to make it the prime sleeping conditions, why fight the sleep?! As odd as it may sound, we are often the very same way in our own lives.

Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT) says “ Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light”

It begins with Jesus simply saying if you are tired, come to me and I will give you rest. We can rest in him. The things that cause us to be spiritually tired, he will take those burdens off of us. The burdens that are specifically stated in the Bible were speaking of religious custom. The religious leaders had requirements and ways of doing things that made religion seem cumbersome, but Jesus shows that a relationship with him is so much easier. When Jesus speaks of the yoke, he is making a reference to a harness that is placed onto two farm animals to plow fields. This is a metaphor to connection. So Jesus is saying the connection with him is the easier path to salvation rather that trying to follow all of the Old Testament laws and traditions (there were over 600). It’s about the formation of relationship rather than following the mold of religion.

So often we are spiritually burned out. We don’t bring things to God because we don’t feel like we are good enough Christians or we feel that the issue is too minor to worry our big God with. Because of this, we end up spiritually tired. We may sleep an entire night and not wake up rested because there is worry plaguing our minds. I’m reminded of the second stanza in the popular hymn “What a friend we have in Jesus” that says “Oh what peace we often forfeit, oh what needless pains we bear, all because we do not carry, everything to God in prayer” God has provided us with everything we need in him and all we have to do is go to Him for it.

To wrap up I’ll share a revelation I had the other week. My toddler son and I were upstairs in my office one day. I was trying to study a bit and he wanted to play on my keyboard. I, of course, cut it on and let him bang away at it. I then thought that this would be a good bonding activity and I proceeded to go over and try to play with him. He doesn’t even want my hands on the keyboard. He literally screams every time I get too close. I then say to him “I’m trying to help you.” I actually play those instruments and, although I do want him to learn one day, they are better suited in my hands for now. In that instance God showed me that we are like the young child. We think that we are handling situations and to us, it may look or sound good but the things that we are trying to handle, are better suited in His hands. He wants to help us and has the ability to help us but we have to release it to him.

This week I urge you to release some things to God whether it be at your home, or on your job, or even things dealing with your mental health, release them to God and allow him to be Jehovah Shalom, the God of peace, in your life.

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On a Personal Note – Refine.

Each week, I’ll share personal reflections from my own time with God, our Heavenly Father. On a Personal Note is where I’ll highlight takeaways and implications for walking with the Lord.

Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, ²²throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. ²³Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ²⁴Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 4:21-24 NLT

This season, one word has been resonating in my spirit.

Refine.

A quick search of the Merriam-Webster dictionary and you’ll find several definitions of the verb like “to free from impurities or unwanted materials” “to improve or perfect by pruning or polishing” or my favorite “to become pure or perfected.” As I journey through my walk with God, I realized that when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are saying yes to being refined for the rest of our lives.

Refining is a process.

As Believers, we acknowledge that we are sinners and that Jesus died for our sins. He is our Savior. Yet, we have to live like He is our Lord, meaning He is our ruler. Any person under an authoritative figure knows, they give us rules and parameters. Think of your work environment. When you’re hired, you have a supervisor with a specific set of rules. You can’t just do whatever you want to do and reap all of the benefits of being employed.

Our Christian walk has parameters and the only way to know them is by reading the word of God. The Bible is our guide. It is the basis on which we rebuild our new foundation in Christ. I say rebuild because there are sections of our lives that we have built in our own power. Decisions that we’ve made using our own logic. Feelings of guilt or shame that we’ve stashed away. Situations that we think are hopeless. It is in those very areas that God’s word and the Holy Spirit convict and counsel us to walk forward in renewed freedom and righteousness.

The refining of our Creator unearths… purifies…, and places us in better positioning to do all that He has called us to do.

If we are going to do all that God has called us to do, we have to fully submit to the refining.

As we study the word of God, we should walk away with practical steps for our life. My takeaway – When we dive deeply into the Bible and listen to the nudges of the Spirit, we place ourselves in a position to be refined.

What about you? What’s your takeaway? How will you walk it out in your daily life?

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How the soul gets sick…

Have you ever gone to bed and woke up feeling terribly sick? A sniffle or scratchy throat had turned into a full-blown cold or flu overnight. When we fail to surrender offense quickly, our soul gets sick, too.

Two weeks ago, a person called me an ugly name. I took offense, but I didn’t say anything to her out of not wanting to cause conflict. I was in my feelings, but I realized quickly I didn’t want to feel so miserable. I prayed for God to help me forgive her as He had forgiven me.

Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.
Colossians 3:12-13

I released the offense to God and let it go. Proverbs 17:9 has more wisdom for handling offense, “Whoever conceals an offense promotes love, but whoever gossips about it separates friends.” The person who covers offense is the one who “seeks” love. Love is a foundational truth in Christianity. To overlook being offended and forgive leaves room for God’s vengeance. For He will repay, in due time (Romans 12:19).

Years ago, I would have held on to that offense. Stewed over it. Re-winded it over and over. Rehearsed my response to her although the moment had passed. This small blip in time would become a huge emotional snare. My soul would be overwhelmed with the sickness of offense.

When we allow our souls to get sick, it can throw our entire body-soul-spirit out of balance. The emotional offense will try to overshadow the Spirit and have you acting outside of where God wants you to be. Looking for ways to seek our own revenge, when it’s not even ours.

Let me encourage you to check your offenses. Release them to Jesus. Surrender it now. Only He has a balm for the sickness within your soul. The Lord will strengthen your Spirit and fill you with wisdom on navigating forward. We will no longer allow the actions and offenses of others to be our stumbling block!

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On a Personal Note – Are you Seasoned & Prepared?

Each week, I’ll share personal reflections from my own time with God, our Heavenly Father. On a Personal Note is where I’ll highlight takeaways and implications for walking with the Lord.

Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.
Colossians 4:6

If you flip over a package and read the ingredients, you’ll find sodium. If you looked in most kitchens, you’d find some form of salt. From table salt, sea salt, and even pink salt, it’s everywhere. So when reading Colossians, it is easy to skip right over the “seasoned with salt.” If you look a little deeper, there are gems to be mined from this phrase.

Within the Bible, salt had multiple uses and became symbolic of a variety of concepts. In ancient times, people would use salt to preserve and purify things. In times of war, armies would salt land to render them useless (Judges 9:45). And who can forget, when Lot’s wife looked back and God turned her into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26). These practices gave the foundation for salt’s association with life, death, and sacrifice.

In Colossians 4:6, we find Paul instructing the church at Colossae to be gracious and season their words. Given that salt was used to preserve and elevate the taste of food, the metaphor alludes to a conversation that is uplifting and life-giving.

Oftentimes, salt is one of the last things we add to a meal, before we consume it. What if Paul is instructing the people to stay prepared with words of encouragement for other people? What if he’s teaching us to be compassionate towards others with our words? How powerful would we be as believers?

As we study the word of God, we should walk away with practical steps for our life. My takeaway from this passage is to stay ready to speak life into others.

What about you? What’s your takeaway? How will you walk it out in your daily life?

Encouragement for Today

^{The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.}
Psalm 32:8 NLT

Have you ever been asked by God to do something and you feel unqualified? You ever feel like Lord, I have never done ____________ before or you’re filled with more questions than peace? God often chooses the most unlikely people to carry out His plans. The key is to focus our eyes on God, not ourselves.

God guides you along the path of life.

Today, I want to encourage you to keep your eye on God! The Lord knows exactly who you are and He has chosen you to carry out His purpose. The process of following requires you relying on Him to show you exactly where you need to be. Pay attention to how the Lord moves; He leads, guides, and directs, if you watch Him.

Don’t forget to check out our new Bible Reading Plan on Identity at The Restored Orchard Store!!!

Weekly Declaration

As believers, we are God’s children. A child of God will reflect His character. Each week, we focus on one scripture while highlighting a declaration (Who God is) and affirmation (Who we are as believers).

This week’s scripture is:

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, and almost before Jacob had left his father, Esau returned from his hunt. ³¹Esau prepared a delicious meal and brought it to his father. Then he said, “Sit up, my father, and eat my wild game so you can give me your blessing.” ³²But Isaac asked him, “Who are you?” Esau replied, “It’s your son, your firstborn son, Esau.” ³³Isaac began to tremble uncontrollably and said, “Then who just served me wild game? I have already eaten it, and I blessed him just before you came. And yes, that blessing must stand!”³⁴When Esau heard his father’s words, he let out a loud and bitter cry. “Oh my father, what about me? Bless me, too!” he begged.
Genesis 27:30-34 NLT

Declaration

God’s plan triumphs over everything.

Affirmation

I will not force my wants over God’s plan.

God has an expectation of His children to move in faith. When faith is absent, we move in selfish or deceptive ways. We impose our wants, our thoughts, our wishes on our lives, often resulting in a complicated mess. This is the case with Jacob and Esau. Each one made self driven actions, but Isaac recognized that that God’s plan was at work. Regardless of what Isaac did, the Lord’s plan would prevail. We have to recognize that and put our wants in submission to God’s plan.

A Prayer Starter…

Heavenly Father, You are all knowing and Your plan will prevail over everything. Lord, forgive me for all the times that I tried to force my wants and wishes over Your plan. Help me to submit to your will…. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Don’t forget to check out our newest notebooks at The Restored Orchard Store!!!

Weekly Meditation – Genesis 27:27-29

God’s word provides clear instruction to His children. As we meditate on His Word, we find exactly what we need to continue our journey through this life.

This week, our passage for meditation is Genesis 27:27-29.

So Jacob went over and kissed him. And when Isaac caught the smell of his clothes, he was finally convinced, and he blessed his son. He said, “Ah! The smell of my son is like the smell of the outdoors, which the Lord has blessed!
28 “From the dew of heaven
and the richness of the earth,
may God always give you abundant harvests of grain
and bountiful new wine.
29 May many nations become your servants,
and may they bow down to you.
May you be the master over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
All who curse you will be cursed,
and all who bless you will be blessed.”
Genesis 27:27-29 NLT

PAUSE

Approaching the word of God for meditation requires us to pause (the creation of space).

Create an environment to reduce interruption of thought.
Grab some resources, like different bible versions or commentaries.
Quiet your thoughts in order to receive God’s wisdom and instruction.

How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3

PRAY

Heavenly Father, Thank you for the gift of God-inspired scripture. It is through Your word that I am able to gain heavenly instruction. God, use this meditation time to impart Your wisdom into my spirit. Teach me more about who You are, Lord. Show me how to become a better image bearer and shine Your light into this world. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

*This is a prayer starter. Feel free to modify as the Holy Spirit leads you.

PONDER

Review the passage.
- Explore the context.
  - Who was the author? Who was the original audience?
  - When was it written? Are there any historical events taking place?
  - What is the overall message of this book of the bible?
- Explore the language.
  - Review different translations.
  - Are there any themes in the language?
  - Review cross-references from different areas of the bible.
- Explore further.
  - Review trusted commentaries.
  - Where does this story fit into the bigger story of redemption?
  - What principles are found in the passage?
Listen for God’s wisdom.
Examine your takeaways.
Look for ways to apply what you have learned.

PRAY(SE)

As your meditation time begins to wrap up, honor God through prayer and praise for new insights and wisdom from His Heavenly Kingdom.

Weekly Pruning – Pursuit of Silence

It’s Saturday and the perfect opportunity to reflect and put the week (or maybe even life) in perspective. Each day, we take care of our minds, our bodies, our souls. How many times can we honestly say we take time to prune negative mindsets or beliefs hindering our walk with God?

How often do you care for your Spirit?

Each week, I’ll share one or two questions that we all can reflect on. My hope is that we’ll uncover something to lay at the father’s feet; something to uproot and replace with God’s truth.

How often do you silence the noise of the world to hear the Lord speaking? In what ways can you pursue silence to truly hear the voice of God?

After reflecting, is there something that you’ve discovered that needs to be released to the Lord?

Take a moment to pray and surrender it at Jesus’ feet. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to truth in the Lord’s word. Embrace God’s divine wisdom and thank Him for being present in every situation, past and future.

Spirit Led

My family is very supportive of me. So much, in fact, that we picked up our whole household and moved to a completely different city for me to complete a Master’s program. The issue with moving is that you start over; you have to find new restaurants for your favorite foods, new stores to shop at, there is a new elementary school, a new, considerably more expensive, daycare, and new roads to travel to reach all of those destinations. Fortunately for us, it is the year 2022 and I am an “apple-stolic” Christian so my iPhone can tell me how to get to any of those things. With a simple search, all the information I need is at my fingertips. Life is also full of constantly changing destinations and filled with choices that weigh heavier than “where are the best buffalo wings.” Tom Cochrane proclaimed in his 1991 hit song that “Life is a highway” and while he may have wanted to ride it all night long, I don’t want to waste time not walking in what God has for me because I took unnecessary detours. Everyday, decisions arise that determine the trajectory of our future but God has given us our own GPS in the form of the Holy Spirit.

It is crazy to think that the concept of being Spirit led is foreign to so many in the body of Christ. Without the guidance of the Holy Spirit we are dependent on ourselves to make important decisions. You see, we could have moved up here and just wandered around street by street until we found the things that we needed and we would have, in time, found everything but the same way our gps saved us time, being in tune with the Holy Spirit saves you from unnecessary detours spiritually. I specifically use the word detour because what is ordained for you, is yours, but the path you take to get there can vary. One example that I heard used by Pastor Tony Evans is that the Holy Spirit is like a dimmer switch on your lights, you may be able to see with the lights low, but inevitably, there will be times that you need more light and need to turn it up. The more time you spend in prayer and in Scripture, the better you can hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you and the brighter your path is for you to see.

Over the next few weeks we are going to discuss the ways that the Holy Spirit speaks to us and how to recognize his voice. I urge you to start by spending intentional time with God. Maybe turn on some worship music and carve out a little extra time for prayer and let the Holy Spirit fill the space that you are in.

On a personal note – Overcoming Jealousy

But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.
james 3:14-16 nlt

Question. How often have you said to yourself, “They may have a big house, but who knows what’s going on inside of there” or “They have xyz, but I bet they’re probably struggling”? You can insert whatever item or situation inside that phrase, but the sentiment is the same. You perceived that someone else had an advantage or better blessing than you and created a judgement to make yourself feel better. Why? Because there is some level of jealousy or envy that you were trying to placate or soothe.

Jealousy, though often seen in a negative light, is eye opening in the spiritual maturation process. This is because emotions are a great indicator of the position of your heart. When we have jealousy or envy in our hearts, we come up with ways to alleviate it on our own instead of embracing the truth of God.

One way of avoidance is by judging others. The Bible is clear on judging; “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1). Yet, so often, that’s the first thing we turn to dull jealousy’s sting. So how do we heal the root of jealousy? God’s Truth. Let’s look at Colossians 3:13-15, it teaches us to forgive and put on love. First, we must ask for God’s forgiveness for the times when we judge others; for the Lord alone is our judge (James 4:12). Next, we forgive ourselves for trying to alleviate jealousy in our own strength. And lastly, we love others and cling to harmony instead of ill will or conflict.

When we look at God’s Word, we recognize that God is not holding out on us. God is a good father and He doesn’t withhold from His children. “So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:6 -‬ 7 NLT). God will bless you according to His will in due time, so there’s no place for jealousy or envy in your heart. You have the power to overcome jealousy by rooting yourself in God’s Word. Lean into God and not your own strength.

When was the last time that you recognized that you were jealous or even envious of someone else? How can you uproot those thoughts and replace them with God’s Truth today?

Deeper Roots – Genesis 26:1-14

A humbled and open heart is fertile soil for God’s seeds of wisdom. Establishing deeper roots requires analyzing God’s word to discover truths, values, and lessons for application to our lives. Periodically, a scripture or passage calls for further exploration, like Genesis 26:1-14.

A severe famine now struck the land, as had happened before in Abraham’s time. So Isaac moved to Gerar, where Abimelech, king of the Philistines, lived.
2 The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. 3 Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. 4 I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. 5 I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.” 6 So Isaac stayed in Gerar.
7 When the men who lived there asked Isaac about his wife, Rebekah, he said, “She is my sister.” He was afraid to say, “She is my wife.” He thought, “They will kill me to get her, because she is so beautiful.” 8 But some time later, Abimelech, king of the Philistines, looked out his window and saw Isaac caressing Rebekah.
9 Immediately, Abimelech called for Isaac and exclaimed, “She is obviously your wife! Why did you say, ‘She is my sister’?”
“Because I was afraid someone would kill me to get her from me,” Isaac replied.
10 “How could you do this to us?” Abimelech exclaimed. “One of my people might easily have taken your wife and slept with her, and you would have made us guilty of great sin.”
11 Then Abimelech issued a public proclamation: “Anyone who touches this man or his wife will be put to death!”
12 When Isaac planted his crops that year, he harvested a hundred times more grain than he planted, for the Lord blessed him. 13 He became a very rich man, and his wealth continued to grow. 14 He acquired so many flocks of sheep and goats, herds of cattle, and servants that the Philistines became jealous of him. 15 So the Philistines filled up all of Isaac’s wells with dirt. These were the wells that had been dug by the servants of his father, Abraham.
Genesis 26:1-14 NLT

Our Deeper Roots passage in Genesis shows that God can still bless us, even when we make mistakes. Our scripture selection begins in a season of famine. Isaac returned to Gerar, a place that his father, Abraham, had once lived. Once there, the Lord confirms the promise given to his father, Abraham, now covers him. Yet, being a foreigner made Isaac fear for his life and he lied about Rebekah being his sister. So when King Abimelech saw Isaac caressing Rebekah, he knew they were more than brother and sister. King Abimelech confronted Issac and Isaac admitted that he was afraid of being killed. So the king decrees that no one could touch Isaac and Rebekah or they would face death. Time passes and Isaac begins to harvest his crops. He gets 100 times more back than he planted and the surrounding people began to get jealous. They begin to sabotage him by filling his wells with dirt.

Isaac had a word from the Lord and yet, he was still afraid. The promise of God being with him was not sufficient enough to quiet his fear of death at the hands of the Philistines. Fear caused Isaac to make decisions that had the potential to defile his marriage or even cost him his life. Yet. the King’s observation protected Isaac’s marriage and also, gave Isaac a false sense of protection, since no one could bother him and his wife. What’s interesting in this passage is that Isaac prospered in times of famine, so much so that his neighbors were getting jealous. The key piece is that the Lord was still with Isaac despite his missteps.

This passage shows that what’s going on around us has no bearing on God, nor His provision. God can provide for us, even in the middle of a famine, drought, or other people’s sabotage. There are numerous biblical examples of God ensuring that His children are provided for even when the world is in chaos. It also demonstrates that when we are afraid and make moves based in fear, God can redeem every single misstep. God’s faithfulness and mercy towards us is on full display when we admit our sins. This is a reminder that repentance (repent means a change in our attitudes and actions away from sin and towards obedience to God) is a catalyst for blessings. Our confession and behavior change demonstrate to God that we are positioning ourselves into a place for Him to do His best work in and through us.

Encouragement for Today

⁸And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool [afternoon breeze] of the day, so the man and his wife hid and kept themselves hidden from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. ⁹But the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, “Where are you?” ¹⁰He said, “I heard the sound of You [walking] in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid myself.” ¹¹God said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten [fruit] from the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?”
Genesis 3:8-11 AMP

If you want to get somewhere, there’s two things you have to know; the destination and the starting point. As Christians, the destination is clear. And most of you can recall where you started your journey with Christ. But if I asked you, where are you right now on your journey to eternity, How would you respond?

God knows your location.

Today, I want to encourage you to know where you are! Assessing where you are in life is a bit more challenging than following directions on a GPS. But God knows where you started, where you are, and where you’re going. When you stay close to God, He will let you know where you truly are. Always remember, if you’ve drifted off course, the Lord will get you back on track if you listen to His directions.

Weekly Declaration

This week’s scripture is:

From there Isaac moved to Beersheba, where the Lord appeared to him on the night of his arrival. “I am the God of your father, Abraham,” he said. “Do not be afraid, for I am with you and will bless you. I will multiply your descendants, and they will become a great nation. I will do this because of my promise to Abraham, my servant.” Then Isaac built an altar there and worshiped the Lord. He set up his camp at that place, and his servants dug another well.
Genesis 26:23‭-‬25 NLT

Declaration

God protects His children.

Affirmation

I will not fear because I am protected by God.

Isaac was travelling through foreign lands in a time of famine. All along the way, he was met with hurdle after hurdle. And missteps were made. Yet, we still see God speaking with Isaac; confirming His promises. And in response, Isaac builds an altar and worships the Lord. He then establishes a camp there. When God has given us a promise, we need to trust that He will protect us while we accomplish it.

A Prayer Starter…

Heavenly Father, You are forgiving. Thank You for protecting me, even when I make mistakes. Lord, I will praise You during the journey, not just after the promise is fulfilled… In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Weekly Meditation – Genesis 26:2‭-‬5

God’s word provides clear instruction to His children. As we meditate on His Word, we find exactly what we need to continue our journey through this life.

This week, our passage for meditation is Genesis 26:2‭-‬5.

The Lord appeared to Isaac and said, “Do not go down to Egypt, but do as I tell you. Live here as a foreigner in this land, and I will be with you and bless you. I hereby confirm that I will give all these lands to you and your descendants, just as I solemnly promised Abraham, your father. I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed. I will do this because Abraham listened to me and obeyed all my requirements, commands, decrees, and instructions.”
Genesis 26:2‭-‬5 NLT

PAUSE

Approaching the word of God for meditation requires us to pause (the creation of space).

Create an environment to reduce interruption of thought.
Grab some resources, like different bible versions or commentaries.
Quiet your thoughts in order to receive God’s wisdom and instruction.

How happy is the one who does not walk in the advice of the wicked
or stand in the pathway with sinners or sit in the company of mockers!
Instead, his delight is in the LORD’s instruction,
and he meditates on it day and night.
He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers.
Psalm 1:1-3

PRAY

*This is a prayer starter. Feel free to modify as the Spirit leads you.

PONDER

Review the passage.
- Explore the context.
  - Who was the author? Who was the original audience?
  - When was it written? Are there any historical events taking place?
  - What is the overall message of this book of the bible?
- Explore the language.
  - Review different translations.
  - Are there any themes in the language?
  - Review cross-references from different areas of the bible.
- Explore further.
  - Review trusted commentaries.
  - Where does this story fit into the bigger story of redemption?
  - What principles are found in the passage?
Listen for God’s wisdom.
Examine your takeaways.
Look for ways to apply what you have learned.

PRAY(SE)

As your meditation time begins to wrap up, honor God through prayer and praise for new insights and wisdom from His Heavenly Kingdom.