I recently shared that I have been taking each day to participate in a Scripture writing plan.

It’s not the first time I have done so but this is the first time I have continued with such dedication and over the last few months I have seen some great benefits of writing out the Bible and because I think it could be a benefit to every believer to do so I wanted to take a few minutes to share some of the benefits of writing out the Scriptures.

 

TWO WAYS I WRITE OUT THE SCRIPTURES

But first I wanted to share two different ways I tend to write out the Scriptures:

 

 

#1 A SCRIPTURE WRITING PLAN

A Scripture writing plan is a simple way to get started as you can find tons of different options online, often with different topics, I’ve even started creating my own monthly Scripture writing challenges.

This usually involves writing just one verse or a passage each day and is a super simple way to make sure you are opening the Bible each day (especially if you thrive on the pressure of a “challenge”).

 

 

#2 STUDY A BOOK OF THE BIBLE

This year I have been slowly going through different books of the Bible and have found it very helpful to write the books out. Though, I’ve only been doing this for the New Testament, for some reason at this point, I feel like copying out an entire book of the Old Testament is a little beyond me (at least most of the books), but I may build up to that at one point.

I learned how to really study the Bible thanks to Jen Wilkin’s book Women of the Word and also the way my church studies through books of the Bible so I’ve combined what I learned from both of those and incorporated it into my daily Bible study. I start at the beginning of a book and write a few verses each day and then spend some time studying the verses and making notes about them (I may share this more in-depth at another time).

I like this way of writing out the Bible because it ensures you have the context instead of just writing out select passages here and there but I do think there are merits to a themed Scripture writing plan as well so I do both.

 

For the most part I just copy the verses out on a composition notebook and use a plain black pen but every now and then when I’m feeling particularly craft I will get more creative, but that’s usually above and beyond, I want most of my focus to be on just writing out the Word.

 

 

THE BENEFITS OF WRITING OUT THE BIBLE

Now that you have a little background how how I do my Scripture writing, here are some of the benefits I have come across in the last year:

 

IT SLOWS YOU DOWN

I’ve always been a big reader, it’s generally a good thing but it has made me a very good skimmer – not what I want when I’m reading the Bible, but I find it very easy to slip into the habit of skimming.

 

IT ENCOURAGES READING FOR DEEPER MEANING

Writing out verses, passages and books helps me to slow down and puts my skimming to an end.

As a result I have the ability to focus on each word and have been able to glean more from each passage. I pause and look up particular words and phrases that jump out at me or leave me a little confused.

 

 

IT ENCOURAGES REFLECTION

Because I have been able to better understand a passage I think about it more throughout the day that I would had I just skimmed it.

 

IT HELPS YOU MEMORIZE

Did you know that one of the best ways to memorize something is to write it out by hand?

If you are trying to memorize a particular verse or passage try writing it out every day for a week and see how much you have memorized by the end, you may just be surprised!

 

IT BRINGS US CLOSER TO GOD

And the most important benefit, writing out the Word, just like reading and studying it, brings us closer to God.

 

And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the Lord his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them, that his heart may not be lifted up above his brothers, and that he may not turn aside from the commandment, either to the right hand or to the left, so that he may continue long in his kingdom, he and his children, in Israel.

Deuteronomy 17:18-20

 

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

 

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 3:14-15

 

If you write out the Scriptures on a regular basis I would love to hear how you go about it and benefits you’ve seen in your own life!