A Simple Way to Study the Word of God- A Simple Practical Example from Joshua 6
- Enid OA
- 6 hours ago
- 8 min read
Listen to the Audio Version here 👉🏽: A Simple Way to Study the Word of God- A Simple Practical Example from Joshua 6
Many believers desire to hear from God more clearly. We pray, we wait, and sometimes we wonder if God is speaking at all. Yet one of the most reliable ways God speaks to us is through His Word.
One powerful way to engage with scripture is through personal Bible study during quiet time. This does not have to be complicated or academic. It can be as simple as reading a passage slowly, reflecting on the truth in the text, asking what God may be teaching you, and turning that into prayer.
Sometimes you may read a full chapter. Other times you may focus on just a few verses. As you sit with the Word, the Holy Spirit begins to illuminate truths that speak directly into your life.
How I First Learned to Study the Word
Many years ago in my former church, we had a Bible course called Bee Korea. One of the key disciplines in that course was maintaining a consistent quiet time.
At the beginning, if I am being honest, it felt like we were almost being forced to do our quiet time. Every week we had to submit our quiet time reflections to our teachers. Naturally, that made it feel more like a chore than a spiritual practice.
Some weeks, I would pile up the whole week’s quiet time and do everything the night before church. Looking back now, I laugh and ask myself — who exactly was I fooling? 😂
We were given specific scriptures to read each day and were asked to reflect on them using a simple structure:
Scripture → Truth → Application → Prayer
Over time, something began to change. Instead of rushing through everything the night before, I slowly started doing them one day at a time according to the plan.
At the time, I didn’t realise how impactful that discipline would become in my life. It shaped my ability to sit with God’s Word, to hear Him speak through scripture, and to reflect on what He was teaching me in different seasons.
Looking back now, that simple practice helped shape many things in my spiritual journey — including the ability to start The Gospel Citizen and share reflections from God’s Word. Thank you to my Bee Korea Teachers and Reverend Doctor for this sound discipline and constant encouragement.
If you are just starting out, let this encourage you: the beginning may feel difficult. Some days you may miss. Some days it may feel dry. But do not give up.
The benefits of consistently engaging with God’s Word far outweigh the effort it takes to begin.
A Simple Method for Studying Scripture
One simple way to study the Word during quiet time is to reflect on four things:
Scripture – What does the passage say?
Begin by reading the passage slowly and carefully. Try to notice the key ideas, repeated words, or important statements in the text. Reading the passage more than once or comparing another Bible translation can sometimes help you see the meaning more clearly.
Reflection & Lesson – What truth stands out from the passage?
Take a moment to reflect on what the scripture is teaching. Ask yourself what this passage reveals about God, about faith, or about how we should live. Write down the lesson that stands out most to you, remembering that the Holy Spirit may highlight different truths to different readers.
Action – What should I do in response?
God’s Word is meant to shape how we live. Ask yourself how the truth you have read can be applied to your life today. Is there something you should start doing, stop doing, change, or trust God for? Make the action practical and personal.
Prayer – How can I speak to God about this?
Finally, turn what you have learned into prayer. Thank God for the truth revealed in His Word, ask Him for help to apply it in your life, and invite Him to guide you as you continue to grow in your relationship with Him.
Helpful tools such as concordances, Bible dictionaries, or commentaries can provide background and context. Today, even comparing different translations is easier through features like the compare function in the YouVersion Bible app.
However, you do not need many resources to begin. Sometimes all you need is your Bible, a notebook, and a willing heart.
Below is a simple example of studying scripture using Joshua 6.
These reflections are lessons that stood out to me while studying this chapter. The Holy Spirit may highlight something completely different to you when you read the same passage — and that is part of the beauty of God’s Word.
Studying Joshua 6
1. When Situations Appear Completely Closed
Joshua 6:1
“Now Jericho was securely shut up because of the children of Israel; none went out, and none came in.”
Reflection & Lesson
Before the story even unfolds, we are told that Jericho was completely shut. The city was fortified, protected by massive walls, and inaccessible to the Israelites.
In many ways, this reflects situations we face in life. Sometimes we encounter obstacles that feel immovable — doors that seem closed, barriers that stand between us and the promises we believe God has given us.
But the walls of Jericho remind us that what appears impossible to us is not impossible for God.
Action
When you encounter obstacles, remind yourself that God is not limited by what appears immovable.
Prayer
Lord, help me trust that no obstacle in my life is greater than Your power.
2. Seeing What God Says Instead of What We See
Joshua 6:2
“And the Lord said to Joshua: ‘See! I have given Jericho into your hand…’”
Reflection & Lesson
The walls of Jericho were still standing when God spoke these words. Yet God spoke as though the victory had already happened.
This teaches us something about faith. God often speaks from the perspective of the finished outcome while we are still standing in the middle of the problem.
The Israelites could see a wall. God could see the victory.
Action
Learn to anchor your faith in what God has said rather than what your circumstances suggest.
Prayer
Lord, help me trust Your promises even before I see the outcome.
3. Obedience Even When God’s Instructions Seem Unusual
Joshua 6:3–5
God instructed the Israelites to march around the city once each day for six days while the priests blew trumpets made from rams’ horns.
Reflection & Lesson
From a human perspective, this strategy seems unusual. If the goal is to bring down a fortified wall, marching around the city with trumpets would not be the expected approach.
This is where Joshua’s faith becomes truly impressive. Many of us are able to say we trust God. But the deeper question is whether we are willing to obey Him fully, even when His instructions seem unusual. Joshua obeyed exactly as God commanded.
In today’s age of constant commentary and social media opinions, it is easy to imagine how people might have mocked this strategy. That itself teaches another lesson: not every instruction from God needs to be shared with everyone.
Sometimes wisdom requires quiet obedience rather than public explanation.
Action
Choose obedience to God even when His instructions do not immediately make sense.
Prayer
Lord, give me the courage to obey You even when I do not fully understand Your plan.
4. The Power of Silence
Joshua 6:10
“You shall not shout or make any noise with your voice…”
Reflection & Lesson
For several days the Israelites walked around the city in silence. This teaches us an important spiritual discipline: there is a time to speak and a time to remain silent. Sometimes the best strategy is quiet trust while God works behind the scenes.
Action
Ask God for wisdom to know when silence is the right response.
Prayer
Lord, help me trust You enough to remain silent when that is what You require.
5. Faithfulness Before Visible Results
Joshua 6:12–15
The Israelites woke up early and followed God’s instructions day after day.
Reflection & Lesson
For six days they walked around the wall and nothing appeared to change. Yet they continued. Faith often looks like consistent obedience even when nothing seems to be happening.
Action
Remain faithful in the small steps of obedience.
Prayer
Lord, strengthen my patience while waiting for Your timing.
6. Praise Before the Breakthrough
Joshua 6:16
“Shout, for the Lord has given you the city!”
Reflection & Lesson
Joshua declared victory before the walls fell. The people shouted and the trumpets sounded before the miracle was visible.
Praise in this moment was an act of faith.
Sometimes praise is not just a response to victory — sometimes it is the pathway to it.
Action
Choose to praise God even while waiting for the breakthrough.
Prayer
Lord, teach me to worship You in every season.
7. When God Brings the Walls Down
Joshua 6:20
“So the people shouted… and the wall fell down flat.”
Reflection & Lesson
The wall that once looked impossible collapsed completely. The Israelites did not win this victory through military strength. Their victory came through obedience, patience, trust, and faith in God’s strategy. Sometimes the obstacles in our lives are not meant to be climbed over slowly. Sometimes God removes them entirely by His power.
Action
Seek God’s direction and trust Him to bring down every wall standing before you.
Prayer
Lord, help me trust Your power to remove every obstacle in Your timing.
A Simple Bible Study Challenge
If you would like to begin studying the Word more intentionally, here is a simple one-week Bible study challenge. Each day, read the verses and reflect using the simple structure:
Scripture → Reflection & Lesson → Action → Prayer
Day 1- Joshua 6:1–2/ Psalm 23:1
Day 2- Joshua 6:3–5/ Psalm 23:2
Day 3- Joshua 6:6–10/ Psalm 23:3
Day 4- Joshua 6:11–14/ Psalm 23:4
Day 5- Joshua 6:15–16/ Psalm 24:5
Day 6- Joshua 6:17–19/ Psalm 24:6a
Day 7- Joshua 6:20–21/ Psalm 23:6b
Take your time with the verses. Write down what stands out to you and what God may be teaching you through the passage.
Helpful Resources for Your Quiet Time
To further help you begin your quiet time journey, I’ve created two simple resources you can use as you spend time in God’s Word.
You can download them below and use them alongside the Bible study method shared in this post.
30 Day Bible Study Plan
A simple and structured reading plan designed to help you grow in your quiet time and reflect on God’s Word each day.
Download the 30 Day Bible Study Plan
Quiet Time Journal Template
A printable journal page you can use to reflect on scripture using the simple structure: Scripture, Reflection & Lesson, Action, and Prayer.
Download the Quiet Time Journal Template
You can print these resources or use them digitally as you spend time studying God’s Word.
Final Encouragement
Studying the Word of God does not have to be complicated. It begins simply by opening the Bible, slowing down, reflecting on the truth of scripture, and allowing the Holy Spirit to you. It may not always feel like it. Some days you may miss. But do not give up.
Over time, those quiet moments with God’s Word become some of the most meaningful and transformative moments in our spiritual lives.
And just like the walls of Jericho, the barriers in our understanding — and sometimes even the barriers in our lives — begin to fall as we grow deeper in God’s truth.
Comments