Bible Study & Prayer Journaling

Bible Study & prayer journaling is so beneficial…it provides a way to connect with God & helps to focus our thoughts.  Since I was 18 years old I have made journaling a regular habit…I use it to write out prayers to God, study/meditate on scripture, get my thought & worries out, and the list goes on and on.

I want to encourage you to start this practice by just writing out a bible verse and using that verse as a starting point for doing a bible study. One great bible study method I have been using recently is the S.O.A.P method. This acronym stands for the following:

S – Scripture

O– Observation

A– Application

P– Prayer

First, you write out  a Scripture that you want to focus on. This could be a verse from your favorite devotional or a sermon you heard recently. Writing the verse out is a great way to help with memorizing scripture….a great added benefit of this method of study!

Secondly, you write out any Observations you make from the scripture. Is there a word or phrase  that stands out to you? Maybe there is a cultural reference that you want to dig into deeper. You may want to notice who the author is and who is he writing to.  Understand the context of scripture is important in providing a framework of understanding what the author is trying to convey to you the reader.

Thirdly, is Application of the verse. How can you apply it to your life?  What is a truth from what you read applicable to your current life situation?  What hope or instruction do you receive from this scripture?

Lastly we have Prayer- Pray this verse out loud for your own life. Write out your prayer in your favorite journal/notebook. Pray and ask God to show you what He’s wanting to teach you. I also would encourage you to even pray before you start your bible study time using this S.O.A.P. method.  Sometimes our minds are so scattered and distracted by life….we need to invite the Holy Spirit into our bible study time to help us to focus.

You can start your Bible Study & prayer journaling with just a simple notebook or get something a little fancier.

I have a super cute new Prayer journal that is available on Amazon if you want a journal with a beautiful cover.

I hope this post was helpful insight into starting a simple bible study method that can help you grow in your faith. If you have question please feel free to leave them in the comments below!