Deepening Your Bible Relationship: The Next-Day Journaling Method

If you are a believer who wisely yearns for a richer, more intimate relationship with the Word of God, you may appreciate what I will teach you in this post. It is an experiment for you to try. It may need changes for it to work for you, so don't be afraid to fail and try again to find a way that works better for you.

If you do not already have a preferred Bible translation, you should experiment. I suggest sticking to a non-paraphrased and well-regarded version. I am not aware of all of them, but I have read from the NIV, CSB, NASB, ESV, NLT, NKJV, and the KJV. To find a translation, you can use Bible apps like YouVersion or Bible Gateway. These platforms allow you to compare verses across different versions, enabling you to find one that is most comfortable and comprehensible. I started and spent three decades in the King James Version and when I started looking for something more modern; I struggled. Everything seemed foreign and hit my ear wrong. I read somewhere online that the ESV format was translated similarly to the KJV and when I started reading it, things fell into place.

Just to be clear, I am not opposed to paraphrased Bibles like the Amplified or the Message, but they are study aids, not study material. Reading them is like reading a commentary and getting the thoughts of someone else on the Passage. I want you to be mature and able to know the Scripture with the help of the Holy Spirit.

For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:12-14

Before we get started, we need to deal with the common perspective that the Bible is a daunting mountain to climb written in a style that is challenging initially to the reader. View the Bible not as a challenge but a treasure hunt. Spending quality time with it will provide immeasurable rewards: new insights into our faith, a deeper understanding of God's heart, and a profound appreciation for the most amazing Book ever written. It's a miracle, a supernatural work of art, penned by men but inspired by God Himself. So, let's approach it with open hearts and a willingness to learn, and it will transform us. That simple change of perspective will make it what it should be and that is exciting!

In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. Psalm 119:14

Also, do not worry about people who know the Bible better than you or your ego will get in the way, and you will try to push faster than you should. What I want you to do is savor it.

Next Day Bible Journaling

Next day journaling is a gift given to me by the Holy Spirit and I have shared it with many people and now you. It profoundly blessed me, and blessings are meant to be shared. It is not unique to me, it is a variation of the Lectio Divina method.

The idea is simple: you journal your given insights, personal reflections, and additional questions about a verse or passage approximately 24 hours after reading it. Here are the four steps:

1. Pray Expectantly, Acknowledging the Holy Spirit as Our Teacher:

Before we begin, let's recognize that the Holy Spirit is our guide and teacher. It's helpful to affirm God's character by using the Bible itself, not to remind Him, but to remind ourselves, so that we are praying one of His promises expectantly. Praying expectantly expresses our faith.

Here are a few options to help guide your prayer:

John 16:13: "But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."2
Psalm 32:8: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you."
Psalm 119:105: "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."
Isaiah 30:21: "Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it.""

2. Read Slowly, Carefully, Humbly, and Contextually:

After prayer, read the chosen verse or passage slowly and deliberately. If it helps, write it out. Focus on understanding the meaning, rather than rushing through it. Ensure you read enough before and after to grasp the context. This is crucial for accurately understanding the message.

It is also important to clear your mind of biases. Do not allow things that you want to be true to interfere with God’s Truth (2 Timothy 4:3-4). Be humble like a child (Matthew 18:3), throw out things religious leaders have added to Scripture (Matthew 16:6), and remember there is freedom in Truth (John 8:31-32).

3. Spend some time meditating quietly:

Spend some quiet time reflecting on what you've read. Allow the words to sink into your heart and mind. Be still before God with it.

Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. Psalm 119:27

4. Carry the Scripture with You Throughout Your Day:

Go about your day, and in those "free moments"—while doing dishes, walking, driving, or waiting in line — prayerfully contemplate what you've read. Treat the Holy Spirit as your personal teacher. Ask Him questions. He will often answer through new insights that arise in your thoughts. When these insights come, acknowledge them and thank Him. These are casual prayers, more about listening and learning than speaking.

Let the fact that you will be journaling help you be accountable to this step. You may also want to leave yourself notes, or set reminders and alarms initially. For me, this step became second nature over time, but it did not start that way.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7

5. Journal the Next Day:

Before your next reading, take time to journal what you've learned and any questions that remain. If you are not ready to move on, then start over with step one again. This is not a race, it is a journey. Don't be surprised if you are left with questions. However, if you feel stuck after you have spent sufficient time with it, you may need additional Scripture that helps shed light on your Reading. This may come from near your passage or from some other part of the Bible. This is when you turn to Bible study aids or from people you trust to help you. The more you do it and the more you learn, the less help you will need and eventually be able to help other people.

The Ultimate Goal: Living Scripture

Remember, on your shelf, the Bible is ink and paper. When you read it and soon forget it, it's wasted effort. If you memorize it without taking in the meaning, it's just words you can spit back out like a recording. The goal is for the Bible to become alive in you, shaping your thoughts, actions, and character.

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

This practice of next-day journaling allows the Word of God to truly take root in your heart and shape your thinking to be more biblically minded. I encourage you to try it and experience the transformative power of God's love letter for yourself. If you modify it to work better for you, I would love for you to comment and share your variation. It might help someone else!

Scripture used or considered in the writing of : Deepening Your Bible Relationship: The Next-Day Journaling Method" By RD Montgomery. All Scripture quoted is in the ESV format unless otherwise specified.