How to Choose the Perfect Bible as a Christmas Gift Giving a Bible is one of the most beneficial gifts you can offer, and Christmas is a great time to gift one. The Word of God is transformational and contains the answers to the deep questions in people's hearts. It represents an invitation into hope, comfort, guidance, and life with God. If you are choosing a Bible for a family member, a friend, or someone just beginning to explore faith, taking time to choose the right one

If you have been here long enough, you will know I enjoy Scripture writing. This post contains a quick rundown of how I do this. You could do the same or adapt it to suit your needs. Writing out large or small portions of Scripture can easily be incorporated into your devotional routine or quiet time. But first, what is Scripture writing? What is Scripture Writing? Scripture writing involves handwriting Bible verses, passages or whole Books of the Bible, often as part of a st

Writing Scripture is a spiritual discipline that helps deepen our engagement with God's Word. Daily Scripture writing is a great habit to form. Read about the benefits and join me in writing out one of my favourite books of the Bible in easy bitesize portions. The Benefits of Scripture Writing I love to Write the Scriptures. Here are some key reasons people write Scripture and make it a habit: 1. Deeper Understanding Writing verses by hand encourages you to slow down and med

Welcome to the world of verse mapping! If you want a deeper understanding and connection with Scripture, this comprehensive Bible study method is just what you need. This guide will walk you through the process of verse mapping, with an example to inspire you to implement it confidently. Whether you are new to verse mapping or want a refresher, there is something for all. What is Verse Mapping? Verse mapping is a creative and immersive method of delving into a particular Bibl

Do you want to understand the Bible better? Are you looking for a simple and practical approach to studying Scripture? The SOAP method could be the answer. The SOAP method of Bible Study is a simple yet powerful technique that can revolutionise your Bible study routine. What is the SOAP Method? The SOAP method, an acronym for Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer, provides a structured framework for engaging with the Word of God. Here's how each step of this method

Studying the Bible is a transformational practice that can provide guidance, inspiration, and wisdom. Regular and consistent Bible study can lead to a strong foundation in Christ. Bible study is more than reading or listening to the Bible. It is the active pursuit of understanding God's Word. Whether you are a long-time Believer or new to the faith, studying the Bible is essential for Biblical character formation and growth in Christ-likeness. However, if you don't know how o

With 176 verses, Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm and longest chapter in the Bible. It can be read in around 15 minutes, depending on translation and reading speed. In the original language, it is written as an acrostic poem with 22 stanzas. Each stanza has 8 couplets. The couplets in the first stanza begin with the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The couplets in the second stanza begin with the second letter of the Hebrew alphabet and so on to the end of the Hebrew alphab

Reading the Bible is a fundamental part of growing as a Christian. Reading the Bible can inspire us to go deeper with the Word of God . We benefit from studying, memorising and meditating on the Word of God. These activities come from reading the Word of God and wanting more . Reading is simply asking, "What does the Bible say?". We can better answer this question through study, memorisation and meditation. These disciplines help us go from knowing what the Word says to under

What is Scripture Memorisation? As a result of attending church, reading our Bibles, listening to preaching online, attending prayer meetings or reading Christian literature we will hear certain Bible references over and over again. Eventually, we will commit some of them to memory. When we talk about memorising Scripture we mean to do it with intent. It is to decide to learn specific portions of the Bible. This could be verses, chapters or whole books of the Bible. Some peop

Even if we are not looking for a new Bible it can be useful to understand how our preferred Bible has been translated.

Here's 5 ways you can go deeper with the Word of God today.

I have fallen in love with writing out a short piece of the Bible each day. I'm not new to writing down verses that stand out to me. I am rarely without a notebook and pen because I enjoy and know the value of writing down what matters to me. My prayer board is covered in Bible verses I've written by hand or typed out, cut down and pinned to the board. As I sit at my desk I often take a moment to cast my eyes across these verses and always find a reason to pray or praise God.

I have read the Bible through before but not for some time. Inspired by the Holy Spirit and motivated by a recent teaching on the Word of God at my church, I decided to read through the New Testament. I did not use a Bible Reading Plan but jumped straight into reading for an hour a day. Around three days in, I started to put a Bible Reading Plan together to help me record my intention and track my progress. I found that reading the New Testament for an hour a day meant I coul

There are 66 books in the Bible - 39 in the Old Testament and 27 in the New Testament. However, the Bible probably does not take as long to read as many might think. A Bible-in-a-Year reading plan requires a commitment of just 12 minutes a day on average. Most of us, if not all, can find 12 minutes in each day. 12 minutes is much shorter than a TV show episode, less time than most commutes, and less time than many of us spend on social media each day. How Long Does it Take to

This month I am reading The Book of Proverbs. Twice. Why? On January 1, I will start The Way of Wisdom: A Year of Daily Devotions in the Book of Proverbs , by Timothy Keller. I have had the book since spring and have dipped into it now and again, but as it is a dated devotional starting on the first of the year, I have been waiting for the New Year to begin it properly. In preparation, I wanted to familiarise myself with The Book of Proverbs and decided to go through it twice

We do not know whether Jabez had to persevere in prayer to receive his breakthrough. I do know that his prayer is the kind you may not know has been granted right away - not if you are looking for physical evidence. I do not think his territory immediately expanded, or material blessings miraculously appeared before him the moment he finished his prayer. No, his name was still Jabez, so he would have had to stand firm on God's irrevocable blessing every single time he heard h

The centurion and Jabez both heard about God which caused them to believe. They put their faith into action by communicating their need to God in the confident expectation that God had the answer and would give it to them. Jabez's faith response to the problems of his name was to come to God via communication: "And Jabez called on the God of Israel saying..." 1 Chronicles 4:10 NKJV Similarly, the centurion sent Jewish elders to Jesus with a message: So when he heard about Je

And Jesus answered them, "Have faith in God" Mark 11:22 Prayer, in its simplest form, is talking to God. Hebrews 11:6 tells us that "without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him" This means that the first and fundamental part of prayer is faith - talking to God and believing that He exists while knowing He is listening, willing and able to respond in our favour. We kn

In 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, we find the account of the Prayer of Jabez. I find these two verses incredibly fascinating and packed full of revelation and insight. Jabez's name means sorrow or pain. He was so named because his mother said she brought him forth in pain. This might mean her labour was incredibly painful, or perhaps it indicates that she was going through such grief, pain or sorrow in life at the time of her pregnancy and delivery, that what should have been a cause

In many of my posts, I end with ways to put what is covered into action. You will find these under the "Blessing in Action" heading. Here's why: James 1:22-25 tells us to go beyond hearing the word to becoming doers. "But the one who looks into the perfect law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing"—James 1:25 ESV Do not 'read and run' It is good to hear God's Word, but there are blessings that can only be