a) Physically: Choose a time and place where you can concentrate, least chance of being distracted or interrupted.
b) Mentally: Learn to temporary leave your burdens aside. Lay it down before God in prayer. Focus back on Him.
c) Emotionally: Take some time to calm down. Prayer, singing praises, etc. are effective in emotional preparation.
d) Spiritual: Ask Holy Spirit to guide you in understanding God's message.

Basic tool you need is a suitable Bible. Study Bible, Life Application Bible, etc. are helpful in knowing more background and understanding the message. A spiritual journal will be useful for taking down your thoughts or questions, your prayers and His instructions. You may also consider having hymnals, songs book, etc.

a) Observation:
· What the passage says?
· To avoid taking the verses out of context, read the verses before and after.
· Do some research into the background, history, culture.
· Have a reading plan or follow a quiet time material. Avoid picking a verse randomly.
b) Interpretation:
· What does it means
· What does it say about God, myself or others
· What does it say about the relationships between the above?
c) Application:
· What should I do about what is revealed in the Bible?
· What does God want me to do?
· Is there a command to follow, a promise to claim, sins to confess, an attitude to change, an example to follow?

3. Closing

a) Pray: give thanks for what you have learnt; commit to His will; pray for others' needs.
b) Write it down in your spiritual journal
c) Action. Apply what you learn. Your faith is shown in your action.

a) Lack of Feeling or Motivation
· Don't be disappointed when there is no strong feeling from devotion. God often change us one step at a time. Even great spiritual leaders like Moses (40 years) and Paul (3 years) took time to mold.
· Counter negative feelings with positive actions: pray, make changes, have variations, seek advice, get a suitable QT material, etc.
b) Lack Concentration
· Refer 1. above
c) Lack Discipline
· If you never plan it in your routine, it will never find time to do it.
· Review your priority. Is QT at the bottom of your priority?
d) Lack Application
· Ask the right questions.
· Refer to 2. b) and c).
· Use Life Application Bible, QT material as guide.

Spiritual Journal

· Writing enhances learning
· Helps to organize your thoughts and make it easier to remember
· Enable evaluation on your spiritual growth
· Your personal resource for helping other people

An example of your spiritual journey can be in this format...

Date:
Passage Read Today:
Highlight (chapter & verse):
Insights:

Application:

Prayer:

* And when you are done, can hand up to Guo Wei. :)

Have fun!!

God bless.