66 | How to Turn Your Bible Study into a Conversation with God

Now, Bible studies, they help us to understand Scripture and they teach us the truth and they guide us. But there's a difference between knowing about God and actually being with Him.

What if that Bible study that's sitting right in front of you became more than just something to complete? What if it became one of the ways that God speaks directly to you?

If you ever found yourself, you're rushing through the Bible study, you're answering the questions, you're your check in the box, but still craving something deeper in your time with God, this episode is for you.

Today we're going to be talking about how to turn your Bible study into a conversation with God so that you not only grow in faith, but begin hearing it more clearly right where you are. Grab your Bible, reheat that hot beverage and let's do this.

If you're tired of feeling unsure about your purpose because you don't know how to hear God clearly and you want simple faith rooted steps to discern his will and move forward with confidence, you are in the right place. I'm Michelle Cradle, Catholic mom of three and a discernment coach for Catholic women.

I learned how to move from confusion and overthinking to hearing God's voice clearly and moving forward with confidence in his will. If you're ready to grow closer to God, begin discovering how God uniquely made you and experience mindset transformation.

Grab that laundry, pop in those earbuds and let's do this. I want to invite you to take the next step and book a discernment coaching session.

If you're ready to stop overthinking and begin moving forward with clarity, I will guide you through a simple faith rooted process to help you discern God's will. Take your next step and gain clarity on your unique God given purpose. Go to michellebrannam.com/coaching to get started.

I remember when I was trying to figure out my purpose, I came across a Bible study that I really was excited about. I actually thought this is it, this is going to lay it out for me.

I even looked through the table of contents thinking okay, somewhere in here they're going to walk me through discovering my purpose. I had high hopes that it would, especially because it was a Catholic Bible study. And it just felt like this has to be it.

But that's not what happened. But what did happen is I learned something way more powerful. I learned how to turn my Bible study into a conversation with God.

And lately I've been hearing a lot from Catholic women who want to better understand the Bible and they're Desiring something more in their time with God. So one of the most powerful ways to hear God is right there in the middle of your Bible study.

But it doesn't come just for moving through that material. It actually happens when. When we slow down enough to actually be with him in it.

All right, so you sit down, you finally have that quiet moment, You've got your Bible study open, your pen ready, and what do we do? We read that passage quickly, we answer the questions, and we try to get through that lesson before something or someone interrupts us.

And I've been there. You know, we want to grow in our faith, but we're still treat it like something to check off on our list of our list to do.

But Scripture isn't just something to read. It's where God speaks. The first shift that we need to make is to slow down and create space for God.

Now, Bible studies, they help us to understand Scripture and they teach us the truth and they guide us. But there's a difference between knowing about God and actually being with him.

You can go through an entire Bible study, you can learn new things, you can answer every question in there, and you can still miss him. And it's in the pause where it can change. It deepens, where you stop and say, okay, Lord, what are you saying to me here?

That's when your Bible study becomes personal and where God can speak to you because it's a living word. That's where it becomes a conversation. That. That is where you begin. Not to just know of him, but you truly know Him.

So to make this simple, because this doesn't need to be complicated, we always like to complicate things, but this can be simple. So as you're going through your Bible study, start by inviting him in. Jesus, show me what you want me to see. Holy Spirit, guide me.

And then next, you're just going to read the passage slowly. Then you're going to pause for a moment. Then you're going to read it again slowly.

You're going to sit with it for a moment, and you're going to ask yourself, what stood out to me? Did anything stir in my heart? Then just talk to him. Tell him what you think he's showing you. Ask questions, be honest, be real.

And then be still, even. It's just for a minute or two. Just give him that space to speak.

You can do this in the middle of your study, where you're pausing before you go to the next question, or you can go back and then sit with the passage more deeply after you complete your Bible study. But this is how your Bible study becomes a conversation with God. Now here's something that's really important to remember as you do this though.

Sometimes we think God isn't speaking, but the truth is we just haven't slowed down enough to hear Him. God, he's always near. He's not distant. He's not waiting for you to figure everything out first. He's a gentleman. He waits for you to invite him in.

And your Bible study? That's already the perfect place to meet Him. So the next time you sit down with it, don't just study.

You enter into a conversation and you might be surprised what he's actually been just waiting to say to you all along.

So if you're ready to stop overthinking and begin moving forward with clarity, I will guide you through a simple faith rooted process to help you discern God's will, hear his voice, take your next step and gain clarity on your unique purpose. You can go to michellebrannam.com/coaching to get started. As you step into your next Bible study, I just want you to remember this. Slow down.

Your Bible study is a place to meet God. As you're going through a Bible study, don't just learn about God, but pause and talk to Him. Create space for him to speak.

He's already waiting to be invited into your day. Let's take this to prayer. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

As I feel the nudge from the Holy Spirit to learn more about you, God help me not to only know more about you and our faith, but to spend time with you. Help me to slow down, to quiet my heart and to truly listen. Thank you for the desire you speak to me and to be in a relationship with you.

Jesus, teach me how to be with you and not just to learn about you. Holy Spirit, please help me to know you and remind me to pause so that I can hear what my Father is saying to me. In Jesus name, Amen.

In the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen. Now let's take this from head to heart. Knowledge is powerful, but that real change happens when you take action, even one small step.

So the next time you're going through your Bible study, invite Jesus in. Then after that, read it again. Ask yourself what stood out to me? Did anything stir in my heart?

Talk to him and then just be still and come share Inside our Facebook Community Finding youg Purpose and Discernment and Strategy for Catholic Moms did you find this helpful? I'd love to know and I'll meet you over there. Remember my beautiful sister in Christ that God uniquely created you for a unique purpose.

You were made to do great things. God is within you and you will not fail. I look forward to continuing this journey with you. I'll meet you next Tuesday for another conversation at.

Until then, may God bless you and bring you peace. I hope you enjoyed today's episode.

If so, take 30 seconds to share it with a friend who's feeling unsure about her purpose and wants simple faith filled steps to discern God's will. And if you learned something today, please leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts. It lights me up to know that this show is helping you.

Okay, time to tackle that laundry and unload that dishwasher. Gotta go. I'll see you next Tuesday for another conversation. Sam.