A GREAT WAY TO STUDY GOD’S WORD!
Before you begin reading your Bible during your quiet time, ask God to show you the verse or verses that He wants you to “go deeper” into the meaning. Then, break the verse(s) apart, word for word or phrase by phrase. (A dictionary helps in this - to better understand certain words.) Also, pay close attention to the verses before and after for better understanding of the overall context in which the verses fall. Use your own verses or the ones we suggest at the bottom of this page.   EXAMPLE:

VERSE “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways, acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust
I lean on, trust in, am confident

in the Lord
not the stock market, not material things, or even other people, but “in the Lord”

with all your heart
“with all my heart” – not some, but all… every fiber of my being – trust in the Lord

and do not lean on
don’t rely on

your [my] own understanding
my own insight (thinking / reasoning)

in all your [my] ways
in everything I do, think, or speak

acknowledge Him
know God, recognize God and His authority… acknowledge / affirm (confess Truth)

and He will make
God, not others, will make, will cause things to happen, He is the one that directs

your paths straight
my paths will not go crooked, but straight… clear the way, direct my steps, give wisdom for the journey.

BRING IT ALL TOGETHER:
Read the verse as it appears in the Bible and then, as you broke it down.

WHAT’S IT TO “YA”? (application – in your own words)
In everything I do, at all times, I will trust the Lord (even when I don’t understand why things happen). When I trust God, I know He will guide and direct my steps on this journey called life. His Word says so!

WRITE A PRAYER BASED ON THESE VERSES.
(Sample) “Lord, God, help me to begin living by faith. Help me to place my total trust in You, even when everything seems to go wrong, when everyone seems to be against me, when life is one disappointment after another. Even when I don’t understand Your ways. I will keep my eyes on You and trust You to make my paths straight and direct my steps. Thank you for giving me godly wisdom, knowledge of Your Word, and understanding, not my own, but Yours. In Jesus name, Amen”

SUGGESTED VERSES
Print out the “On Your Own” page each time you want to Break It Down with these NT verses or your own verses:
Matthew 6:33 / Matthew 11:28-30 / Matthew 12:36-37
Mark 12:29-31
Luke 2:52 / Luke 6:38
John 1:1-4 / John 6:35 / John 14:6 / John 15:5 / John 15:12-13 / John 17:3
Acts 4:12

Romans 6:23 / Romans 8:28-31 (break it up)
I Corinthians 6:12 / I Corinthians 10:31 / I Corinthians 13:13
II Corinthians 12:9
Galatians 5:22-23
Ephesians 2:8-9 / Ephesians 4:32
Philippians 4:6-7 / Philippians 4:8 / Philippians 4:13
Colossians 3:17

I Thessalonians 5:16-18
I Timothy 4:12
II Timothy 1:7 / II Timothy 3:16-17
Hebrews 11:6
I Peter 5:6-7
I John 1:9

Many other verses from Psalms and Proverbs and other books of the Bible.

NOTE FOR TEENS: The New American Standard Bible is often preferred over others because it comes closer to the original text. We encourage you to choose a Bible that you can understand. The NIV or Living Bibles are useful for this. Also, don’t hesitate to ask a parent or Sunday school teacher for help. (They just might learn something, too!!!)

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