Do you struggle with finding routine in your bible reading? You want to pick up your bible, but you don’t really know where to start? Or maybe you’re struggling with feeling like you don’t get anything out of your reading.
I know I have these troubles.
Enter the Selah Bible Study Method.
Before I get into the method itself, I wanted to take a moment to talk about the meaning of selah. Leah talks about selah in this post, but I’ll give you the short version. Selah is all about taking time to pause, to stop, to listen.
That definition fits so perfectly with how we should approach our time in the Word. Press pause on life. All the things can wait while we soak in His presence, in His Word.
As Leah mentions in her post, selah is not always easy, but it is necessary. God longs for the times we choose to drop everything and sit with Him.
So let’s get into the Selah Bible Study Method!
In this bible study method, Selah stands for: Sit, Engage, Listen, Apply, Heart
Sit
Find a quiet place and create an atmosphere of worship. I know it’s tempting to squeeze in your bible reading on your phone while waiting at the doctor’s office or during your kids soccer practice. And there’s nothing wrong with this! But if this is the only bible reading time you have, you’re missing out!
There is so much more to be gained when there are no distractions!
I like to get up in the morning before my daughter and read. I snuggle in the corner of my couch and get ready for what God has for me.
Just make sure you’re creating the atmosphere YOU need to commune with God. Maybe that looks like lighting some candles or diffusing some essential oils, or playing some soft worship music. Just make sure that how you choose to set the scene isn’t too distracting.
Engage
Read! Whether you are reading the scriptures alone, or in tandem with a devotional, it’s important to get into the Word. This is one of the most important ways we have to hear God’s heart for us.
Pray! Talk to God about what you’re reading. Ask for clarity. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
Write! I know sometimes it’s hard to make your mind stop wandering. I have major problems with this. Keeping a journal or pad of paper nearby when you have your quiet time can be really helpful. Writing your prayers and thoughts down as you go can help you stay focused. Plus, you then have a record of your encounters with God and what you’re learning!
Listen
I know it can be hard to be quiet. As I mentioned above I have problems keeping my mind from wandering. But we’re missing a key part of engaging with God if we don’t take time to listen. Try your very hardest to just sit in silence and let Him speak.
Apply
Did God speak a word to you? Did a passage jump out at you as you were reading? Do you feel convicted about something? Take those things that God has given you and apply them to your situation, to your life. God wants to teach us things. He wants us to learn from our mistakes. He wants to shed light on our circumstances.
This is another time when writing things down can be helpful. You can make notes of things that stick out, the lessons you’re learning and the changes you’re making in your life.
Heart
All the previous steps are for nothing if you don’t let God change your heart. Change is hard, I know. A lot of the things God calls us to change are rooted deep in our hearts. There is often hard work and pain involved in heart change. But it’s all for our good, that’s what the bible tells us in Romans 8:28
I hope that this simple bible study method helps you in your quiet time with the Lord.
To keep you on track, here is a free printable guide you can tuck in your bible. Simply sign up to receive emails from us and you’ll get access to all the FREE printables in our downloads library!
What study methods do you use?
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