• How do we receive God’s spirit when we read the Bible?
• How can we allow ourselves to be led by the Spirit as we read the Word?

1. Get comfortable, quiet your thoughts, steady your breathing—let your reading be restful and unhurried. SLOW DOWN. God’s Word is His gift to you. It’s a blessing, so let it bless you. Experience it, don’t intellectualize it. Let the experience of reading God’s Word be just that—an experience! 
2. Read a selection from the Bible or from a favorite devotional. Read (pray) through a passage as many times as seems right to you. Focus only on words, phrases and sentences. 
3. Chew on it! Think it Through. Listen to God for direction and answers to your prayer. God loves to hear your prayers...hang around and listen for the answers! As you continue pondering, chances are a specific word or phrase will stand out to you.
4. Talk it through with God in Prayer. After reading the selected passage and meditating to the point of awareness of some emotion or feeling tied to the words/phrases you’ve picked up, its time to work out with God exactly what it means… You may struggle with feelings of guilt or embarrassment about a certain sin going on in your life… that’s ok, use this time to move through the experience towards some kind of resolution.
5. The ultimate question here is, “Lord, what do you want me to do with what you’ve given me today?’ Listen for God’s response, be attuned to what He has to say. Then try to work with Him on how you can live it. Try it using one of the verses listed below... (or get out a Bible, and pick one)

Try it out on one of these passages...

Psalm 23:1-3 (The Message) God is my shepherd, I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction…

Matthew 5:5 (The Message)You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are – no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

Luke 1:46-50 (The Message)I’m bursting with God-news; I’m dancing the song of my Savior God. God took one good look at me, and look what happened-I’m the most fortunate woman on earth! What God has done for me will never be forgotten, the God whose name is holy, set apart from all others. His mercy flows in wave after wave on those who are in awe before him.

Romans 15:13 (The Message)Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope!