“POMAP” – a simple but effective method for reading the Bible

 

Pray
Take a few seconds to ask God to Open your heart and mind before you open your Bible. Invite Him to talk to you through the Scripture that you’re about to read.

 

Observe
Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date. Take time reading and allowing God to speak to you through His Word. When you are done, look for verses that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

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Meditate
Take the observations you made (from the step above) and now take pause to meditate on them. Take time to really chew on that particular observation(s). “God what are you saying in this scripture?”; “Holy Spirit, reveal Jesus to me in this passage; guide my mind and reveal more of You in this passage”. Allow your mind to meditate on the words and phrases there. What are some implications of what is stated in that day’s Scripture? Think of the above step as taking the first bite of a steak, and the Meditating step as the slower chewing and tasting of various flavors and textures. As you meditate on the various portions of the selected passage, what insights do you gain? Write down in your own words what the Holy Spirit is helping you to see and learn in the passage.

 

Apply
After Observing and Meditating on the passage, how does the truth of the passage guide you or transform you? Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is a teaching, or an encouragement to do a good service in Jesus’ name, or shedding light on a promise, or correction for a particular area of your life. This all is in line with 2 Timothy 3:16-17. Write how God is leading you to apply this scripture.

 

Pray
This can be as simple as asking God to help you apply this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be saying to you, or both. It may be a question for the Lord from you, or perhaps a question from the Lord for you. Write out a prayer in response to what God is saying to you today. Remember, prayer is a two-way conversation, so be sure to take some time to also silently listen to what God has to say back to you based upon His Word.