How to Study the Bible - Bible Study Made Simple

“Wisdom is good with an inheritance, an advantage to those who see the sun. For the protection of wisdom is like the protection of money, and the advantage of knowledge is that wisdom preserves the life of him who has it" (Ecclesiastes 7:11-12). The Hebrew word for wisdom is, “chokmah,” and is used 145 times in the Old Testament. It means skill in war, administration, shrewdness, prudence in religious affairs, wisdom both ethical and religious. It carries with it an implication that leads to action. Chokmah impacts our decisions and how we serve God. There is also a God-given natural flow of chokmah that brings with it profit, protection, and preservation. ~Stacey Thacker Tune in now to listen to today's entire devotion and start your day off praying God's Word for your family! LINKS: Get today's devotion and prayer in written form to keep for future use!  Support the ministry with your $5 monthly gift through Patreon. Visit Today's Show Notes Hey friends- As you know, I am taking a break for the summer to rest and recharge, calling it my monastic summer. And I hope that you're going to get some rest this summer too. It's something worth fighting for, for sure. But while I'm gone, the team at LifeAudio and I want to have something for you. So we've prepared a summer series for you that I think you're going to really enjoy. We're calling it our Summer Prayer Series, and it features prayers from another show on our network, which is called Everyday Prayers for Million Praying Moms. The host of Everyday Prayers is Brooke McGlothlin, and she is a best-selling author and speaker. Her passion is to help you discover the power of prayer to change your life. She'll be sharing prayers that anyone can pray to help give their summer a much-needed focus on God and His goodness toward all of us. So I know you're going to enjoy these episodes and take these prayers into your own quiet time so you can connect with God in a deeper way this summer. And I'll see you in the fall.  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey friends- As you know, I am taking a break for the summer to rest and recharge, calling it my monastic summer. And I hope that you're going to get some rest this summer too. It's something worth fighting for, for sure. But while I'm gone, the team at LifeAudio and I want to have something for you. So we've prepared a summer series for you that I think you're going to really enjoy. We're calling it our Summer Prayer Series, and it features prayers from another show on our network, which is called Everyday Prayers for Million Praying Moms. The host of Everyday Prayers is Brooke McGlothlin, and she is a best-selling author and speaker. Her passion is to help you discover the power of prayer to change your life. She'll be sharing prayers that anyone can pray to help give their summer a much-needed focus on God and His goodness toward all of us. So I know you're going to enjoy these episodes and take these prayers into your own quiet time so you can connect with God in a deeper way this summer. And I'll see you in the fall.  The enemy will always try to get us to believe things that aren’t true. He’s the father of lies. All he does is lie. And his mission is to destroy us. I’ve learned over the years to replace his whispers with shouts of truth, just as Jesus did when Satan tried to tempt him. Instead of being overcome with fear, we can remember that we don’t have to be strong because Christ is our strength. He can do all things so we can trust in him. ~Brooke McGlothlin Tune in now to listen to today’s entire devotion and start your day off praying God’s Word for your family! Visit Today's Show Notes  Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Hey friends, welcome to the final episode of our series on Joseph's story in the book of Genesis. Over the past few weeks, we've explored themes of growth, betrayal, victory, faithfulness, redemption, and God's sovereignty. If you haven't listened to the previous episodes, I encourage you to go back and catch up before diving into today's discussion on restoration and sovereignty. Before we get started, I want to thank you all for your reviews and for sharing this podcast with your friends and family. It's been a joy to be part of this growing community. I also want to let you know that I'll be taking the summer off for a restorative period and will be back in the fall, so be sure to bookmark this podcast for updates. In today's episode, we wrap up the story of Joseph. We discuss how Joseph reveals himself to his brothers, shows them grace, and makes a place for his family in Egypt during a time of famine. We delve into the emotional reunion between Joseph and his father, Jacob, and the subsequent blessings Jacob bestows upon his children before his death. A significant part of our discussion focuses on the brothers' fear of retribution from Joseph after Jacob's death. Despite Joseph's forgiveness, they still live under the guilt of their past actions. This mirrors our relationship with Christ, where we often struggle to live in the grace we've received. We explore the promises of redemption and restoration that God offers us, both in this life and in eternity. We reflect on the reality that while we may experience brokenness and suffering now, the fullness of redemption will be realized in heaven. THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we continue our journey through the story of Joseph from the book of Genesis, as outlined in Nicole's new book and study, Not What I Signed Up For. Today, we delve into the themes of restoration and redemption in Joseph's story and how they apply to our own lives. We start by recapping Joseph's tumultuous journey, from being sold into slavery by his brothers at age 17, to rising to power as the second in command in Egypt. Despite the hardships, Joseph remained faithful to God, which eventually led to his elevation by Pharaoh after interpreting his dreams. As the famine predicted in Pharaoh's dream unfolds, Joseph's brothers come to Egypt seeking food, unaware that the powerful man they bow before is their long-lost brother. Joseph recognizes them but chooses to conceal his identity, putting them through a series of tests. This process reveals their guilt and remorse over their past actions, particularly their betrayal of Joseph. Repentance and redemption are inextricably linked. Repentance means to turn away from sin and towards a new path. Joseph's tests are not acts of revenge but a means to gauge his brothers' character and repentance. Over time, the brothers demonstrate significant personal growth and a willingness to make sacrifices for their family, contrasting sharply with their earlier selfishness and jealousy. The climax of the story occurs when Judah offers himself as a sacrifice to protect his family, prompting Joseph to reveal his identity. This revelation leads to a heartfelt reunion and the beginning of the family's redemption. Joseph's faithfulness and sacrifice not only redeem his own life, but also bring healing and restoration to his entire family. In this episode, we reflect on how God's process of redemption often involves repentance and a transformation of our beliefs, behaviors, and feelings. By trusting in God's goodness and submitting to His process, we allow Him to align our lives with His truth and love. THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we continue our journey through the life of Joseph, focusing on the  importance of lament as a way to engage with God about pain, disappointment, and confusion. Lament is a significant concept in scripture that is not only accepted but also invited by God as a means to process the inevitable pain and loss that humans experience in a broken world. Nicole highlights that lament is a way to bring specific pain, complaints, and petitions to God, ultimately leading to a place of trust and communion with Him. 4 Steps to Lament Throughout the episode, Nicole discusses the four key steps of lament as seen in scripture: turning towards God, complaining, asking for His mercy and deliverance, and ultimately trusting in Him. She encourages listeners to be transparent with God, inviting Jesus into their sorrow and discomfort. By engaging in lament, individuals can confront their complicated emotions, such as anger, despair, and disappointment, and bring them before God for healing and comfort. Turning Towards God: The first step in the process of lament is to turn towards God. This involves actively seeking God's presence, acknowledging His sovereignty, and approaching Him with confidence. By coming before God's throne of grace, individuals can open themselves up to a conversation with the Creator of the universe, recognizing that God welcomes them into His presence. Complaining: The next step in lament is to express complaints and grievances to God. This involves naming and articulating the specific pain, confusion, and disappointment that one is experiencing. By voicing these concerns to God, individuals can release their emotions and be honest about their struggles. Asking for Help: After expressing complaints, individuals are encouraged to ask God for His mercy, deliverance, and assistance. This step involves seeking God's intervention in the situation, requesting the support and guidance needed to navigate through challenging circumstances. By asking for help, individuals demonstrate their reliance on God's strength and provision. Trusting in God: The final step in the process of lament is to trust in God. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties faced, individuals are called to rest their case with God, affirm their confidence in His unfailing love, and rejoice in His salvation. By choosing to trust in God's goodness and faithfulness, individuals can find peace and comfort in the midst of their struggles. A Psalm of Lament: Psalm 22 Nicole draws attention to Psalm 22 as an example of lament in the Bible. In it, the psalmist expresses feelings of abandonment and despair but ultimately acknowledges God's faithfulness and trustworthiness. She also highlights how Jesus himself experienced separation from God on the cross, demonstrating an understanding of human suffering and the importance of lament in connecting with God during times of distress. By practicing lament, individuals can come before God with honesty and vulnerability, seeking His presence and comfort in the midst of pain and confusion. Through lament, believers can deepen their relationship with God, finding solace and strength in His unfailing love and goodness. Ultimately, lament serves as a powerful tool for processing emotions, seeking God's intervention, and reaffirming trust in His faithfulness. Overall, the process of lament serves as a powerful tool for engaging with God during times of hardship and seeking solace, guidance, and reassurance in His presence. Through turning towards God, complaining, asking for help, and ultimately trusting in Him, individuals can experience a deeper connection with God and find strength to endure challenging circumstances. THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

This week, we're continuing our series on the life of Joseph by exploring the theme of integrity. Joseph consistently makes the right choices, even when faced with difficulties. Standing firm in doing what is right, even when it may not lead to immediate blessings, is the life of integrity we should strive for. Listen in to hear what it looks like to make tough choices and stand firm in difficult situations. Joseph is our model for seasons in our own life that feel confining. He perseveres in doing the next right thing, even when he finds himself in a place that feels not like what he signed up for. Anybody relate to that? When you're in a season that isn't what you wanted, what does it look like to do the next right thing? Here's the secret. The secret is not trying harder. It's not gripping more tightly to what you wish was true. It's not shaming yourself into being better. True love and true righteousness do not materialize by gripping for it. This kind of love and righteousness comes from fixing our eyes on Jesus. That's what gives us the ability to stand up against the forces of the world that often come against us.  Our faith is grown in difficult seasons. And in those difficult seasons, we get a very narrow focus and we focus on one day at a time. We ask God to give us the strength to show up with humility and love for the day that he has for us. Bible Verses to Meditate on the Promises of God:Romans 12 1 Chronicles 16:34Isaiah 40:29Matthew 28:20John 15:5Philippians 4:6-7 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

we continued our series on navigating unexpected seasons in life, focusing on the biblical story of Joseph and how his experiences can inspire our faith today. We delved into Joseph's long journey of unexpected challenges, from being sold into slavery to eventually rising to a position of power in Egypt. Despite the silence he might have felt from God during his trials, Joseph's story is a powerful testament to maintaining faith in times of uncertainty. We also explored the concept of faith through the story of a woman in the New Testament who, despite suffering for 12 years, believed that touching Jesus' cloak would heal her. This story contrasts with the lack of faith seen in Jesus' own hometown, where familiarity bred contempt and limited the miracles He could perform. This episode aims to encourage you to reflect on your own faith during difficult times. Are you moving toward God or away from Him? It's normal for faith to fluctuate, but the goal is to emerge with a stronger, more resilient faith. We wrapped up by reminding everyone that God's presence is a constant, even when answers are not clear. The challenge is to seek daily sustenance from God, allowing our faith to grow step by step. THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What do we do when we find ourselves in seasons that are unexpected or uncertain? Or when we find ourselves anxious about the future or regretful about the past? How do we handle a season when we feel uncertain about where it's going and we don't know how long it's going to last? If that sounds familiar to you, my dear friend, then you are going to find comfort and encouragement and direction through the story of Joseph. Here is a truth: when we get into a place where our faith is being tested, and we feel under pressure because of some circumstance or pain in our life, we often will feel bad about ourselves. But we need to remember that the reality is, we're just learning who we really are, and God loves us in this journey. God desires to transform us in the deepest places of our hearts, our minds, and our souls so that our emotions and our thought patterns will actually be transformed by being renewed. It's a time to get honest with ourselves because when we're honest with ourselves, there is room now for growth. So today, we come to the story of Joseph, who faced incredible circumstances that he did not sign up for. We’ll see what we can learn from Joseph's faith in times when he did not know how things were going to turn out. We’ll talk about what it looks like to really give our lives over to God, even the hard circumstances or the ones that you thought were about to change, and then they didn't change. THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

What does it mean to have faith? And what does faithfulness look like over a lifetime? And, is it okay to ask or desire to see signs or proofs of God? We’ll cover all of that in today’s episode, the second part of our two part bible study on Gideon, found in Judges 6-8. Is it okay to ask God for signs, as Gideon did? God knows we long for signs, and has answered that in the person of Jesus. It says in Scripture: You will be given a sign. This will be a sign among you. The virgin will give birth to a baby, and we will call him Jesus. The sign that we have that God can overcome and that God is the one who orders our steps, orders our days, and controls life and death is in Jesus.  Gideon's story is a powerful reminder of the human nature of faith, which can falter and require reassurance. God's responses to Gideon's requests for signs teach us about His patience and willingness to strengthen our faith, even when we doubt. When we remember what God has done for us in the past, it can strengthen our faith in him in the present and for the future. THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

Today, we're delving into the Old Testament, specifically Judges 6 through 8, to discuss the story of Gideon. This narrative is deeply personal to me, as it reflects my own experiences and the lessons I've learned about faith. What do we do when our faith falters, when we have questions? This story has so much to teach us. The context of Judges reveals a cycle of rebellion among the Israelites, who have turned away from God and are suffering the consequences. Despite their struggles, God sends messengers and judges to guide them back, but they often ignore these figures. This backdrop sets the stage for Gideon's story, which unfolds during a particularly challenging time for Israel. Gideon, the least in his family and from the weakest clan, is found by an angel of the Lord while secretly threshing wheat to avoid it being stolen by the Midianites. The angel greets him as a "mighty warrior," which is ironic given Gideon's humble circumstances. Gideon questions why they have been abandoned by God if He is truly with them. The angel responds by encouraging Gideon to go in the strength he has, assuring him that God will be with him to defeat the Midianites. Gideon's faith is hesitant, but he engages with the angel, asking for a sign to confirm the message. After receiving a miraculous sign, Gideon is convinced and embarks on a mission to tear down an altar to a foreign god and build one for the Lord instead. Despite his fear, he follows through, and his father defends his actions when others question them. As we conclude this episode, we see Gideon's faith beginning to grow, even from a place of doubt and weakness. Next week, we'll continue with Gideon's story, discussing the significance of asking for signs and what it means for our faith. I invite you to read Judges 6, 7, and 8 to prepare for our next discussion about Gideon and the concept of laying out a fleece before God. Three questions we can always ask the Bible as we study: What is this story teaching me about people? What is this story teaching me about God? What is this story teaching me about God's interactions with people? THIS WEEK'S RESOURCES: Nicole’s Newest Book: Not What I Signed Up For  When you go to NicoleUnice.com/notwhatisignedupfor you'll get the intro, first chapter and a free prayer guide!  Find all of Nicole's books and resources on Amazon or Barnes & Noble Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.