Starting a daily Bible Study pt. 2

Yesterday, I started this series of posts to share some ideas on how to implement and use the GPS study guide that our church launched this past weekend. If you are not familiar with GPS, you can find more information here.

In that first post, I talked about the importance of establishing a set time each day to spend time in study and reflection. I truly believe having a specific time, regardless of when it falls during your day, will help keep you committed to this important practice.

Today, I want to write about establishing “sacred space,” where you might go during that time each day.

My wife is a third grade teacher, and one of the things she does prior to every school years is spending some time setting up her room for her kids. What I discovered that first year in helping her was that there is a certain science involved in how you “set up” an elementary age classroom. Everything was placed in the room in such a way that would create a great learning environment for the kids that would help them to focus on their work and limit any distractions from that key task.

In short, when setting up a classroom for 3rd graders, environment matters.

I think the same thing is true when we think about our daily devotion time.

For instance, I’m writing this post early Wednesday morning from my house where I usually have my daily devotion time. I’m sitting at a small bistro table we have set up in the corner of our living room. I have my headphones on with some soft music playing in the background. I have my morning coffee sitting beside me, the lights are dim, and it’s still dark outside. In short, there is nothing to distract me from my primary goal of focusing on God.

In talking with our Senior Pastor Mike on Monday, he shared with me that his “sacred space” is his front porch when the weather cooperates. Other times, it’s his chair in the living room. I remember several years ago hearing a pastor talk about the “prayer closet” he had constructed for himself in his garage. With five kids at home, the garage was the only place where he could find some quiet in order to focus, and so he had built himself a small room in the garage where he could go.

There are thousands of different ways in which to create sacred space. The key is to find one that fits you. With just a few small adjustments [it does not have to involve a construction project] I think you will find it easier for you to focus and listen to what God might be saying to your heart during your devotional time.

I want to encourage you to think about how you might create, “sacred space.”

Some of you may already be doing this, and I would love to hear about what you are doing. If you would like, please leave me a comment below. Your space may be a source of inspiration for someone else checking out this post. You may also email me if you would like.

Tomorrow, I’ll be talking about the importance of “reflection” in our daily time with God.

Categories: Bible Study, GPS