Learn to meditate in Scripture ALONE with no devotionals, study notes/guides, etc. Such supplementary aides may well prove helpful, but best after pure meditation. Read tbis verse which underscores the enlightening power of the Holy Spirit in any believer's life: "As for you, the anointing which you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him" (1 John 2:27). In the Bible God has meaning for you alone at any given moment. Don't miss it.
The “anointing” every Christian has is the Holy Spirit. He indwells each believer and shines light on the pages of the Bible. St. Augustine said that before his conversion to Christ, he read the Bible but couldn’t understand it. When he was born from on high, he read and it was like light shining over his shoulder.
We need to spend time (there’s ‘the catch’ in busy times) to prayerfully read the Bible ALONE, ponder it and experience the tutelage of the Spirit. He will reveal rich meaning for you today from the depth of any given passage.
The purest form of a group Bible study is to ponder, as described above, and allow any who wish to briefly share what is revealed to him/her in a given verse. Then, move on to another verse. Again, no foot notes are permitted, no previous study and lists of questions are allowed. Just God’s people, the Bible and a belief that the Holy Spirit indwells and will make the meaning known. Of course, there is a time for study, the usage of guides and books, and even devotional guides, but these are not substitutes for PURE MEDIATATION.
St. Augustine remarked, “The hearer of God’s Word ought to be like those animals that chew the cud; he ought not only to feed upon it, but to ruminate.”
Meditation has a digesting power and turns special truth into nourishment.
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