How do we apply what we read in the Bible to our lives?

For me it starts with prayer by asking God to show me how the scriptures I am reading apply to my life. It also helps to ask myself (as I am reading) how does this fit into my life, what does it mean for me specifically. I also approach it the same way I would reading anything I am wanting to learn from. For example, if I am learning about how to have better communication skills I would read the material, take notes, make note of the areas I am strong in, make note of the areas I am weak in, and then make a specific plan on how to address the weak areas. That plan would include the material I read. Applying that to the Bible let’s look at a story about two sisters. Mary and Martha.

Martha and Mary 10:38-42

38 Now as they were traveling along, He entered a village; and a woman named Martha welcomed Him into her home. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who was also seated at the Lord’s feet, and was listening to His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with [a]all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do the serving [b]by myself? Then tell her to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; 42 but only one thing is necessary; for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Steps to Applying this Story to My Life

I would read this story about these two sisters. I would ask myself how I am like either of them, and which I am more like. For me I tend to be more like Martha—working, working, working.

Once I recognize that I am more like Martha I would look at Mary and see what the Lord said about her. He said she was doing the better thing by just sitting at His feet and He said that Martha was distracted by many things. That tells me that if I am more like Martha and that I am allowing distractions to get in the way of just being with the Lord. (I do not think there is anything wrong with doing a lot for the Lord. I think the issue is when we let distractions, even those that include doing for Him, take all our time to the point that we neglect our personal deep prayer time.)

That means something in me needs to change. I then start looking at the distractions I am allowing to keep me from just being with the Lord. I pray and ask Him to help me recognize them and change them. I then create a concrete plan to make changes. For example, setting aside specific days for deep prayer, fasting, and disciplining myself to read the Bible every day and pray daily. By doing that I am allowing His Word to change me, and I am applying it to my life.

We can use this same outline for most of the scriptures we read in the Bible.

With the scriptures that include the promises of God we just need to work on accepting them as ours. Once we choose to believe them for ourselves it moves from our head to our heart.

Link to Video: https://youtu.be/TqgrdagADdg?si=OOPBmB3GFTy_JvYM

Blessings,

Nichole Henson

Fullness of Joy Ministry

Fullnessofjoyministry@gmail.com