6 ways to apply the Bible to your life.

James 1:22 tells us not to be just hearers of God's Word, but to do what it says. Sometimes that seems easier said than done. Well here are six practical ways we can do what God's Word says.

1.Ask God to meet you when you read your Bible.
-The message of the Bible is not help is coming, but that it has already arrived. We encounter the way, the truth, and the life every time we ask God to meet us through the Bible. Be open that Jesus can speak to you every time you read His book, then act accordingly. He will help you to live a Biblical life.

2.Keep your Bible handy and open at all times.
-Keep your Bible as close to you as you can. If you can take it to work, do so. If not the car would be fine as well. I have one in almost every room of my house(job hazard).
-Don't just have one near by, leave it open to the Scripture that you read that day. This is just a symbolic way of saying, "God my life is open to You throughout this day." Every time you walk past the open Bible, it reminds you of that Scripture you read. Also if you have time, stop and re-read one or two verses that really challenged you from earlier in the day.

3.Meditate on some specific Scripture throughout your day.
-You can’t meditate fast. Success in Bible reading is not the number of pages read. You are not trying to get youself through the Bible, but the Bible through you.

4.Read the Scriptures out loud.
-Now I am not telling you to start reading out loud at Wal-Mart and scare the people shopping for peanut butter. But during your time in the Bible choose a verse or two and read it out loud to yourself. There is something powerful about the spoken Word of God. God spoke the world into existence by His Word. How powerful is that.

5.Memorize a verse a week from an area of need.
-If you are struggling with anger, lust, worry, etc memorize a verse a week that deals with these areas. Let God's Word help you battle these things. That would be 52 verses a year. 52 ways to defeat the enemy of your soul and to follow Jesus daily.

6.Find one thing during this week from the Bible you can do, then do it.
-Remember we are not just to hear but to act. Some would say I can never find anything from God's Word to do. Well here is an example right from the same chapter in James chapter 1.

-James 1:26-27 26If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. 27Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

-James gives us 3 things we can do. (remember God will help you to act)
a. Verse 26 tells us to watch the words we allow to come out of our mouth. How would our week change if we did just this.

b. Verse 27 tells us to look after orphans and widows. To take care of them. The orphans and the widows are the poor and needy. Could you find someone poor and needy to help this week?

c. Verse 27 also tells us to keep ourselves from being polluted by the world. Is there something in your life that is polluting your relationship with God? If so speed this week getting rid of that thing, habit, attitude, etc.

God we want to be hearers and doers of your Word. James 1:21-25 says if are hearers and doers, the Word can save us. It also says we will be blessed. Let us see your blessings from hearing and doing what your Word says. In Jesus name, Amen.

I love you.

In Jesus' Service,