How do we keep growing deeper with God? One theme in my life this year has been growing deeper.
A Bible verse calling to me recently is:
“Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him Your root will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong.
Ephesians, 3: 17
I have been trying to live this call in 2013 in two ways and just discovered last week another way I can’t wait to try.
Three Books about Growing Deeper with God
I prayerfully asked God to lead me to three books to reread in 2013. I chose – hopefully with his blessing -:
What I am doing is rereading these texts slowly and savoring their lessons. I highlight, rewrite passages in my own words and journal my thoughts. Too often I skim books and quickly forget their words of wisdom.
Lectio Divina – Growing Deeper with God
Lectio Divina means divine reading and is an ancient Christian practice. I read verses from the Bible in a slow, contemplative prayerful manner. This cultivates the ability to listen deeply, to hear “with the ear of our hearts” as St. Benedict encourages us.
Actually I read the verses four times. The first time read slowly, attentively, gently listening to hear a word or phrase that is God’s word or gift for me that day. Often a certain word jumps off the pages into my heart like a dart.
I read it a second time and once I have found a word or a passage in the Scriptures that speaks to me in a personal way, I ponder it for a while, aware of what stirs within my heart.
The third time I talk with God about this word/phrase.
The fourth time I simply rest with God, listening, loving, leaning on him.
Verse mapping – Growing Deeper with God
I just discovered this method last week on this blog. This way helps you memorize Bible verses and plant them deep in your heart.
You personalize the words, highlight words, study it in depth, and circle words study. This of course would take time but imagine taking a key verse each month and exploring all of its nuances.
Three tips to growing deeper. My challenge to you is to try something yet this year to extend your roots into God’s immense love.
How are you growing deeper with God this year?
God’s desire for us is to grow deeper with him. God wants a passionate relationship with us. In growing deeper with God, he will provide us with the breath and stamina to make the climb, walk the path, and experience growth.
Lama Surya Das
You are so right! I love how you use the word “passionate” to describe God’s desire to have a relationship with us. Thanks for commenting!
Thanks Colleen
Great article. God bless!
Hi Dolly, Teresa has a special place in my heart ever since my retreat a year ago and I really wanted to revisit her. So far I have spent most of my deep reading in The Cloud, but Teresa is next. Blessing dear friend
Hi Nancy. I have company here this week so barely have gotten to emails or blog replies. I loved that verse mapping idea and can’t wait to try it. Memorizing Roman 8 – that is quite a challenge good for you.
David, I too am a skimming and find myself reading fascinating thoughts that never sink in. That is why I felt challenged to do the deep reading this year. The Cloud of the Unknowing is as far as I have gotten though but this is helping. I like your phrase – deliberate pacing. good words.
Thanks, Kim. I think we all learn by teaching and sounds like you do that with the youth group. I am so grateful for people who lead the youth when my kids were teens. HUGE influences even to today. You are planting seeds you never realize with them. Blessings on your work.
Hi Jean,
Thanks for the tips…I have been wanting to read Teresa of Avila…I practice a very casual lectio divina…maybe I need to be more structured…hugs to you 🙂
Thank you, Jean, for sharing your helpful ideas to plant God;s Word deeply into our spirits. ‘Just commented on Heather’s blog, too, about her creative verse-mapping idea. As I told her, I’m memorizing Romans 8 this year, and her strategies will make the exercise all the more meaningful.
The idea of slow reading is really helpful to me. I’m all about information — gathering, sorting, gaining, analyzing. And this deliberate pacing has been most beneficial to listening to God
Great ideas, Jean! This year I grew in part by my husband and I being co-leaders of our church teen youth group. The other leaders are an amazing couple, and I think we learned as much if not more than the kids.
I am also learning a lot more about patience and trusting as we continue in our final preparations for our move to TN next week. We have had many obstacles and have had to remember to trust that God would smooth the way.
Love these suggestions, Jean. Now I’m hopping over to check out this verse mapping thing. 🙂 Thank you!