READY: “Show me Your ways, O Lord, teach me Your paths; guide
me in Your truth and teach me, for You are God my Savior, and my
hope is in You all day long” –Psalm 25:4-5
SET: Before basketball chapel, I was watching the River
Valley HS basketball team work out. Coach Mark Bollinger kept
calling out to the defense to “play big” meaning “Guys get your
arms up – PLAY BIG!” Since that day of practice, I’ve been
chewing on that phrase “Play Big” and what that means to you and
I as believers . . . one thing is for certain, if you’re going
to “play big” as a Christian . . . you gotta know the Playbook.
Knowing God’s Word is what gives you the basic fundamentals
of living life in His fullness – “Show me Your ways, O Lord,
teach me Your paths; guide me in Your truth and teach me, for
You are God my Savior, and my hope is in You all day long”
–Psalm 25:4-5
Here are 7 guidelines, I’ve found, to help you make the most
of your study of the Bible. 1. Set aside a regular time. Unless
you schedule it, you’ll neglect it. 2. Before you start reading,
ask the Lord for help and understanding. 3. Carefully think
about what you are reading. Not all the Bible’s treasures are on
the surface – you have to dig for them. 4. Seek to understand
what you’ve read before you decide to apply it. 5. Write down at
least one truth you can put into practice. 6. Try different
translations of the Bible – if you are skimming over familiar
words, a new translation can make you focus on the passage in a
new way. 7. Don’t get discouraged and give up – a Study Bible
like the Life Application Bible is really good or the FCA Camp
Bible is GREAT, these can help you through the tough chapters
and even through those boring ones so you can find the nuggets
of truth you can apply.
The bottom line is “PLAY BIG!” – begin to apply these
guidelines and get into God’s Word so you can live your life in
His fullness. Upward bound, Coach Street
GO: 1. What’s keeping you from a regular Bible study? 2. Do
you understand what it means to “Play Big” as Christian? 3. How
does knowing the Bible help you “play big”?
WORKOUT: Romans 1:16; Revelation 1:3 Hebrews 4:12; Psalm
119:130
OVERTIME: Lord, open Your Word to me so that I might be
pleasing to You and empower me to play big. Amen.
