Doula Faith

May 2021

Testimony of Dianne Trinder on “His Abide Bible Study
                         

“His Abide”
How to Abide in His Word

The word communion generally brings to mind the sacrament of the Eucharist.  However, communion also has the more general meaning of “intimate fellowship or rapport.”  At no other time in recent history have we had more time to reflect, and spent more time alone.  For many, this time of isolation has been catastrophic.  However, for others this has been a time of refreshment, recommitment to the Lord our God, and truly a deepening of our faith.

The internet became a blessing and a curse throughout the pandemic.  It allowed us to remain connected to family and friends while we were physically distant from each other.  We were even able to attend church services online.  But social media  can eat up a lot of our time if we are not careful.  And though Google may seem to have all the answers, the sources of that information are not always reliable.

The Holy Spirit has increased my desire to get to know Him better, and He also put me in touch with a woman named Mary who has developed this communion with God through studying the scriptures, reflecting on them, and applying them to her life.

Today everything is made easy, and so I don’t need to wait on the Lord for His insight for me.  I can go to the internet and it’s immediate.  I don’t go to the source for milk — God’s Word — I go to preachers and teachers online, because they feed me and make it so easy for me.  But when we choose convenience, we risk losing out on the richness available at the true source:

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (John 14:26).

So I don’t hear from God directly.  Well, Holy Spirit, I get it now!  I want to hear from YOU.

I have journaled throughout my life, and filled many books.  But I have often used my quiet time – and many pages – to rant and complain to God about everything I was going through.  My journal was about me, and not about Jesus.  Mary helped me start a Biblical Meditation Journal.  She advocates a Bible study method that Incorporates a written  Summary, Reflection and Prayer.

First, I summarize the scripture(s) I have read, and note when a scripture jumps out at me.  I believe when that happens He wants me to look deeper into that particular scripture.  Hosea 4:6 reminds us of the danger of biblical illiteracy:

                              “My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.” 

Summarizing helps me to remember these scriptures, so I can grow in the knowledge of Him.

Reflecting on scripture(s) is important because it provides time and space for the Holy Spirit to speak and direct my understanding.  During reflection, I can receive His interpretation of the passage.

“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”  2 Timothy 2:15

I must reflect with the right motive so I can understand and hear what God is saying to me, believing I will hear from Him with a hunger and thirst for more of Jesus.

. When I rely on the Holy Spirit’s discernment and understanding of God’s Word, I can pray into the scripture(s) with right motives (James 4:3).  If I am praying in agreement with God’s Word with Spiritual understanding, I believe I am praying according to God’s will.   Affirming the Word of God in my prayers is speaking God’s language.  His promise is to answer my prayer:

“And this is the confidence that we have before Him:  If we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.  And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we already possess what we have asked of Him” 1 John 5:14-15

Mary encouraged me to study the whole chapter of Luke 24 over the course of a week.
One day, Luke 24:52-53 lit up for me.  I felt like the Lord was speaking these words directly into my heart.

In my summary I wrote, “all they could do was worship Jesus, and every day they went to the Temple to do the same thing.”  During my reflection, I was convicted.  All the distractions of this world keep me from a mindset of worship and praise to You, Jesus.
And so my prayer was this:

“I pray for Your help to make better choices of those things that I read and listen to.  Help me, Holy Spirit, to focus on You, Jesus.  Amen.”

As you can no doubt guess, I was not instantly made perfect.  However, the Holy Spirit has empowered me to make some changes, and I continue to grow and learn.  I have developed a habit of doing my Bible study early in the morning, before the distractions of the day have a chance to claim my attention.  I am also learning not to spend so much time on social media.  That is a major distraction for me!

Since I started using Mary’s recommended method of studying the Bible, the Holy Spirit has faithfully shown up to give me His insights.  This experience has given even deeper meaning to the word communion:  true fellowship with God.  He has so much He wants to share with me, if I only give Him that opportunity.

Go to the “His Abide” Study Page to view how you can do this to. 

Doula Faith