Whether we realize it or not, we are all hungry for God. The problem is that most of us don’t know how to satisfy that need. We tend to spend our lives searching for something to satiate our inner hunger.

One way of satisfying our need for God is by studying the Bible. It has been referred to as “meat in due season.” However, surprisingly few people actually feast on this banquet of God.

In Yellowstone National Park you will see this sign: "Do Not Feed the Bears." Most tourists probably assume it's there to protect humans, thinking, "If you're close enough to feed a bear you could be in a position of real danger." Not true! The sign is posted to protect the bears.

Each fall, when the feeding tourists have long since departed, the park service must carry off the remains of dead bears who became so dependent on tourists that they were no longer able to gather food for themselves.

We can become like the Yellowstone bears if we depend on others to spiritually feed us. Each day we must take the initiative to gather spiritual nutrients for ourselves from God and his Word.

Yellowstone bears who become dependent on tourists have either forgotten or never actually learned how to find their own food. If you find yourself with little to no knowledge of how to feed yourself, let me offer a simple method for devotional Bible study. This simple procedure can be a starting place for eventually developing more advanced methods of study.

An easy place to start is with one of the Gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are primarily collections of stories and teachings from the life of Christ. Choose one story from your favorite Gospel as the place to study.

First, pray that the Holy Spirit will guide your study and then read the story through a couple of times, once out loud if possible. As you read, jot down words, phrases or ideas that stand out to you as significant, or write down questions the story brings up. If time permits, look up the words you wrote down with a bible dictionary, or even a good English dictionary. You may consult a commentary if you have one and if you have the time.

Next ask: What did this story meant to the people who were there? What was it like to be a character in that story? What understandings might they have taken away from the story?

Then ask: What lessons can I take from the story?

Finally ask: What does God want me to do today in response to this passage or story? Jot down your observations and conclusions.

You may want to choose a particular word, phrase, or entire verse that meant something to you and memorize it. Then repeat it often throughout your day.

This simple method will help provide spiritual nourishment for you each day. You will no longer be a dependent, starving Yellowstone bear, but instead will be a bear who, guided by the Holy Spirit, knows how to forage for the nourishment you need to sustain your spiritual life.

With Love,
Mike