Remember the scripture journal I started recently (see this post for pictures)? I have struggled for a few weeks trying to study by topic. I nearly lost the joy of scripture study because flipping around studying by topic is so unpleasant to me. I dread it. Many days I finish and feel no closer to the spirit than before I began. I’ve finally accepted the fact that right now I need the joy in scripture study more than I need to try a new way of studying. I am going back to reading by chapters.
I will still use my scripture journal. If something stands out to me on a topic I’ll flip to the appropriate page to record it. Other times I will flip to one of the blank pages and outline my thoughts on a chapter verse by verse. I imagine there will be times when I get so caught up in the story that I will not even open my scripture journal. I need that too.
How has your scripture study gone lately? Do you have plans to change up what you’re doing in the new year? I’m working on our family scripture study plans – we will finish our Christmas ABCs Sunday. I’ll share more about what’s next for our family study soon!
7 People Had Something to Say:
The joy is the important thing and feeling the spirit! I have been reading a few chapters a day and then in my journal writing the date,the chapters I read and then anything that stood out to me while I read. :0)
Christina
I've been where you are. I tried the by topic and it just so thoroughly did not gel with my personality. My husband is a by topic person and when he tries by chapter it does work for him.
With feeling first trimester pregnant and still having signs of a miscarriage, my personal scripture study is not where it was.
I can't do regular topic study either. My hubby likes to do it. What is important is that you are studying them daily. We are all different so we get to find the best way for ourself.
I haven't ever tried studying by topic. I have done a scripture journal in the past and started one this year. I love to journal; but even that hasn't been working for me. However, I do read in the scriptures every night; so perhaps one of my new goals will be to go back to journaling.
I have found that the only way i can do a study by topic is when i have a question i am trying to answer. Then i dont mind flipping around in the scriptures because it feels like a treasure hunt. Usually i read by chapter, not always sequentally though, until i have a question that needs answering and sends me off on a new treasure hunt! Dont worry about using your journal a special way, just use it how it helps you the most... That is what is most important.
We were trying a topic study this year with the homeschool - and it isn't working for us, so we are also changing what we are doing.
I love studying by topic when I get a chance to really dig into it. But the kind of time that it takes for me to really dig in and read then analyze mentally with prayer and an open heart just doesn't happen much with life, maybe on weekends but I like consistent DAILY study when I do it. So I typically stick with just reading straight through instead and take notes and cross-check things that intrigue me (researcher at heart).
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