Emphasize Different Words in the Text
Rewrite the Text in Your Own Words
Formulate a Principle from the Text— What Does It Teach?
Think of an Illustration of the Text— What Picture Explains It?
Look for Applications of the Text - “How am I to respond to this text?
Ask How the Text Points to the Law or the Gospel
Ask How the Text Points to Something About Jesus (WWJD)
Ask What Question Is Answered or What Problem Is Solved by the Text
Pray Through the Text
Memorize the Text
Create an Artistic Expression of the Text
Ask the Philippians 4: 8 Questions of the Text What is true about this, or what truth does it exemplify? What is honorable about this? What is just or right about this? What is pure about this, or how does it exemplify purity? What is lovely about this? What is commendable about this? What is excellent about this (that is, excels others of this kind)? What is praiseworthy about this?
Set and Discover a Minimum Number of Insights from the Text
Find a Link or Common Thread Between All the Paragraphs or Chapters You Read
Ask How the Text Speaks to Your Current Issue or Question
Here are some examples of application-oriented questions that can help you become a doer of God’s Word:
Does this text reveal something I should believe about God?
Does this text reveal something I should praise or thank or trust God for?
Does this text reveal something I should pray about for myself or others?
Does this text reveal something I should have a new attitude about?
Does this text reveal something I should make a decision about?
Does this text reveal something I should do for the sake of Christ, others, or myself?
These suggestions were taken from Donald Whitney's excellent book, Spiritual Disciplines for the Christian Life, pages 91-103.
