Hearing God Through the Bible: Placing Yourself in the Story

For this technique you need to access your creative side and use your imagination to picture the text in as much detail as possible.  This works best for stories but it can also be used for other texts that have strong visual elements.  The idea is to picture the event in detail and place yourself in the scene.  For purposes of this post we will use Luke 10:38-42.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”

• Read the passage
• Imagine.  Try to picture the environment.  What does it look like?  What does it smell like?  What do you physically feel?  What do you see?  Can you taste anything?
• Enter.  Now either choose to be an observer (in this case someone at the house) or select one of the characters (Mary or Martha) and try to become that person.  What are you feeling emotionally?  What are you thinking?  What would you like to say?
• Interact, if you wish, with one of the characters in the story.  Ask him or her questions.  What is the answer?
• Talk to God about your experience.

Placing Yourself in the Story will engage your mind in a totally different way then a typical Bible study.  It will interact more with your creative side than your logical side.  Maybe God, the Creator, wants to touch you in a more imaginative and creative way.  Give it a try this week and see what God has to say to you.