Head - Heart - Hand - - An Amazing Way God Can Speak to You Through His Word

Many times we read a passage of scripture and wonder what it has to do with us.   With the Bible being God’s primary way of speaking to our lives, it behooves (great King James Bible Word) to have an understanding of what we are reading.   Now there are places in the Bible where it may be more difficult than others (hello Leviticus) to sort this out, but you would be amazed at how much can be learned by asking three simple questions.

This method was taught to me by a Austrian Missionary in Ethiopia. He found it to be most effective in communicating truths from God's Word to those he was helping grow in their journey with Jesus. Simple - Effective - Powerful and you will never forget it!  Not only is it effective for us adults - it is a great way for us to teach children how to understand God's Word much more effectively.

Three Simple Questions after reading a passage of Scripture:

QUESTION ONE:   What is this verse/passage saying to my brain?  Is this passage/verse trying to tell me something?  Warn me to do or not to do something?  What is it saying to my brain!     KNOWLEDGE

QUESTION TWO:  How does this make me feel?  Once that I know what the scripture/passage says, what is my emotional response?   Gratefulness?  Loved?  Repulsed?  Fearful?  Worshipful?  Secure?   How does this make my heart feel?  EMOTIONS

QUESTION THREE:   What does this verse/passage tell me to do?   Now that I know what it says, what am I to do?   How am I to respond?   What purpose did God put that scripture/passage in the Bible?  What was He trying to motivate/convince me to do?   WILL - ACTION

Now - Let's take a couple of passages of Scripture and work through them asking these questions:

Strength! Courage! You are going to lead this people to inherit the land that I promised to give their ancestors.  Give it everything you have, heart and soul. Make sure you carry out The Revelation that Moses commanded you, every bit of it. Don't get off track, either left or right, so as to make sure you get to where you're going.  And don't for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. Then you'll get where you're going; then you'll succeed.Joshua 1:6-8 (MSG)  

Question One:  What is this passage telling me?    (Knowledge)

These verses are preparing Joshua to lead the people after Moses is gone.   He will need strength and courage for the task ahead is great.    However, if he carries out what God revealed to Moses about how the people should worship and obey (Deuteronomy and Leviticus) then he will successful in God’s Eyes.

Question Two:  How does this make me feel?   (Emotions)

This should encourage us in that what God has called us to do is possible when we trust in Him.   If we look to Him for how to live/worship we will be successful.  This does not mean that it will be easy.   If it was easy, God wouldn’t tell us not to be discouraged – to be strong and courageous. 

Question Three:  What does this passage tell me to do?  (Will/Actions)

We need to find out what God’s individual path for us is – focus/meditate/discipline ourselves in our walk.   Look to God for direction/strength/courage because it will be difficult – but you will be successful in what God has called you to do when you do this.

Okay - Let's try a second passage of Scripture:

That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.  God knew what he was doing from the very beginning. He decided from the outset to shape the lives of those who love him along the same lines as the life of his Son. The Son stands first in the line of humanity he restored. We see the original and intended shape of our lives there in him.  After God made that decision of what his children should be like, he followed it up by calling people by name. After he called them by name, he set them on a solid basis with himself. And then, after getting them established, he stayed with them to the end, gloriously completing what he had begun.  So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose?  If God didn't hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn't gladly and freely do for us?  And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God's chosen?  Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us.  Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture:  They kill us in cold blood because they hate you. We're sitting ducks; they pick us off one by one.  None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us.  I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow,  high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:28-39 (MSG)  

Question One:  What is this passage telling me?    (Knowledge)

God is always at work in our lives – always has been to make us like Jesus.  Jesus is our example of how to live here on earth, how to treat people, what to love and how to respond to God.  God is at work to make this happen – we are secure in Him.  Nothing will be able to separate us from God – NOTHING.  Nothing I, you or anyone else could do to make God give up on you.

Question Two:  How does this make me feel?   (Emotions)

This is humbling.  When we realize how much God loves us, we should feel secure in the fact that whatever we face, whatever comes our way He is working through them to make us like Jesus.   Additionally, no matter how great the screw up we are or we make, He will never give up on us.   We are secure.  We are loved.

Question Three:  What does this passage tell me to do?  (Will/Actions)

When we realize these things, it should effect the way we see ourselves.  When we worry – we are doubting these principles.  When we self-condemn and feel worthless – we in essence are calling these verses – and God – a liar.  This doesn’t give us a license to live like we want to – but gives us an understanding of how great God’s Love and Grace is in our lives.

Try it on a passage of Scripture!  See what you learn!   Teach this method to your children, to others.   It is simple and effective!