Bible study

How to Apply What You Study (So It Actually Changes You)

How to Apply What You Study (So It Actually Changes You)
We've been talking all month about different Bible study tools, how to study, how to make it less overwhelming and more "do-able". 

But simply studying isn't enough. If we want to be transformed by Scripture, we need to apply what we learn. 

That being said, let’s end this month by talking about the “so what” of Bible study—application.

You can read Scripture all day long, use every method under the sun, and fill notebooks with notes—but if you don’t apply what you study, it’s like looking in a mirror and forgetting what you saw (James 1:22-25).

As wives and moms, this matters so much. God didn’t give us His Word just for head knowledge—He gave it to us so we could live it out in our marriage, in how we talk to our kids, in how we serve and speak and forgive.

Here are three simple ways to apply Scripture every week:

Pick One Small Step:

After studying, ask: “Based on this passage, what one thing can I change today?” 

Whether it’s holding your tongue in an argument or getting up five minutes earlier to pray, small obedience matters.

Write it in your notes, and think about what exactly you need to hold yourself accountable to the Lord for obeying. That was a tip I was given by one of my BibleArc coaches, and I thought it was super helpful.

Speak it Out Loud:

Tell your husband or a friend what you learned. Sharing helps you remember, and it invites accountability.

This also works when you post about it on social media. Tell the world what you've learned, and maybe you'll teach someone else, too!

Write a Sticky Note Reminder:

Seriously. I’ve had verses stuck to my bathroom mirror, laundry room wall, and even the dash of my car. 

You could also use Canva to make a new phone wallpaper or lock screen with your verse!

The goal is to keep the truth in front of your face so it sinks into your heart.

Remember, if you need a little help, check out the FREE Bible Study Toolkit I created to help guide you.


Don’t just study to say you did—study to become more like Christ. 

Study to be the wife your husband needs, the mom your kids admire and called blessed, and the woman God created you to be.

You’ve got this, friend. And I’m right here with you.

Bible Study Before and After: What Happened When I Tried SOAP

Bible Study Before and After: What Happened When I Tried SOAP
I remember the first time I used the SOAP method. 

I signed up to lead an online Bible study for a group of women through Good Morning Girls. I didn't even know what a Bible study "method" was, I wasn't familiar with Good Morning Girls, I just knew I needed...something.

And what better way to stay accountable than to lead it, right?

It felt awkward at first—I wasn’t used to writing things out, making my own observations, figuring out for myself how to apply the passage, or praying the Scripture back to God. 

But let me tell you: the fruit of that one tiny shift? Incredible.

Before SOAP, I was a check-the-box girl - if even that. I’d read a devotional, briefly skim the one verse included, take in what the author had to say, and then check off the box, satisfied that I'd done my duty. 

My heart wasn’t changing, my responses weren’t growing in wisdom, and my marriage wasn’t being shaped by the Word I claimed to believe (but honestly - I didn't really even know it).

After SOAP, everything slowed down. I was no longer just reading—I was studying. Observing. Listening. Applying. 

I started seeing where I needed to be more discerning with my husband (how to respect, but also how not enable or submit to abuse - this was all during my second marriage, so this is no reflection on my sweet husband that I'm married to now). I saw where I needed to speak more gently to my kids. Where my trust in the Lord was shaky and needed to grow.

SOAP helped me to see more of God in the Bible.

Here’s how it looks:
  • S - Scripture: Write out the verse or passage, or summarize it.
  • O - Observation: What stands out? Who is this about? What is the tone, the promise, the command? What sins should I avoid, what instructions should I obey? What truth is this revealing about man, Christ, God, or something else?
  • A - Application: How can I apply this to my life as a wife, mom, or daughter of God?
  • P - Prayer: Talk to God about what you’ve learned and ask Him to help you live it out.
SOAP was just the beginning; I've since discovered so many other study methods like Verse Mapping, the Bible Digest method, the 7 Lenses, SPECK, and more. 

Currently I'm taking a course in Phrasing: breaking down a passage into each individual phrase, labeling the types of phrases and seeing how they all work together to relay the main message the author intended to convey. It's fascinating and helps me see how much more I will always have to learn about God's Word! 

This week, try SOAP with a passage like Titus 2:3-5 or Ephesians 1 Peter 3:1-7.

And I do mean take a WEEK. Don't try to do it all in one sitting. Remember, the goal isn't to just check the box and be done for the day. The goal is to learn more about God and be transformed by His Word. 

Take 10 minutes a day, or longer if you have it, and just see what happens as you intentionally focus on studying Scripture daily. 

I promise—it’s a game-changer.

And when you find that you love it and you're ready to dig into another method, I'll be here for you! 

3 Tools To Make Bible Study Less Overwhelming

3 Tools To Make Bible Study Less Overwhelming
Does any of this sound familiar?

"I want to study the Bible, but I don't even know where to start."

"I read it, but none of it makes sense to me. I get frustrated and just don't have the energy to try and understand."

"I barely have five minutes to myself; it would take me that long just to get settled down to study."

I talk to so many wives who want to study the Bible more, but they’re frozen before they even start. 

Why? Because it feels like too much. Too hard. Too confusing. 

And with toddlers tugging at your leg or teenagers needing rides every ten minutes, it’s easy to say, “I'll do it later.”

Let me give you three tools (plus a couple bonus ones!) that can completely change your Bible study rhythm—and make it doable even in the middle of real life.

A Bible Study Template:

Whether it’s SOAP or a printable worksheet with prompts, having something that guides your study step by step saves you from staring at the page wondering where to start. 

I used to keep my template printed and tucked into the front pocket of my Bible study notebook. That eventually became paper overflow, and my sweet husband bought me an iPad so that I can keep everything digital. 

Now I have digital templates that I duplicate and reuse. It’s like having a Bible study buddy right there with you!

If you haven't seen it yet, I've created a free Bible Study Toolkit for you, with several templates from which you can choose. 

If you need help deciding which of those templates to try first, this blog post can help.

A Dedicated Spot:

I used to drag my Bible from the dining room to the couch to the bed—and honestly, I’d end up doing more moving and organizing than studying. 

Then I was gifted a Bible Study Bag where I keep my Bible, journal(s), and a box of highlighters and colored pens, which stays next to the couch. That tiny space feels sacred. When my Bible has a home, it reminds me that study has a place in my life.

It's also an easy way to keep everything together when you want to grab it for church, or a group Bible study.

As I mentioned earlier, now I have my iPad so that all of my studying is digital, which helps me even more to keep all that I need in one spot. 

A Go-To Translation:

Don’t underestimate how much your Bible translation affects your understanding. 

If you’re constantly confused, it might be time to try something different. My recommendation is the ESV, because I have found it to be the most accurate AND the most understandable.

Find a translation that speaks clearly to you so you can focus on studying—not decoding.

BUT - you want to make sure the translation you're reading is one that is true to the original language. I strongly discourage you from making your go-to translation one that is a thought-for-thought version rather than an actual translation from the original language (e.g. The Message). With those, you are getting someone else's idea of what the text means, rather than reading what was actually written.

Those can be helpful when comparing translations, but it's imperative that the translation you primarily study is one that is true to what the authors actually wrote.

Bonus Tools: 

Because we're in the digital era, there are many digital tools available that I would highly recommend you check into. The two that I use most often are:


Bible Hub is the first online tool I was taught to use with the original languages. Here's are a few things I love that you can do:

  • compare multiple translations at a time
  • look up words or phrases in their original language
  • research where else the word was used in Scripture
  • gain an understanding of the context in which the word was used in a particular passage
  • listen to or read sermons from highly distinguished pastors and Bible teachers
  • read book summaries, and chapter summaries
  • research topical themes and see how they're connected throughout Scripture
  • get a bird's eye view of the timeline of the events in the Bible
  • look up difficult questions and answers related to a theme or passage
  • get a list of Bible study questions for each chapter to help you think critically

BibleArc is a study Bible that I found recently with a lot of different features. It's free for the study Bible portion, but I do have a subscription for the courses. Here are a few of the features I use most:

  • look up multiple translations
  • access study notes from the different translations
  • use tools to create markups, diagrams, notes, phrasing, and arcing
  • receive daily insights that give deeper meaning to various passages or answer important questions
  • take courses that teach multiple skills necessary to study the Bible deeply
  • access a coach with courses that gives feedback on your assignments and helps ensure you grasp the material
While BibleHub is free and BibleArc does have a subscription to access certain features, I would highly encourage both of them. 

Bible study doesn’t have to be complicated. It just has to be consistent. 

These tools can help you go from overwhelmed and inconsistent, to intentional and transformed.

I'd love to hear which one you're going to start with! 

Which Bible Study Method Is Right For YOU? A Simple Breakdown.

Which Bible Study Method Is Right For YOU? A Simple Breakdown.
I used to feel so overwhelmed by all the Bible study methods out there. 

SOAP, inductive, verse mapping, color-coding, commentary deep-dives… whew

As a busy wife and mom, I just needed something that worked and made sense.

The truth is—there’s no “one size fits all” method. But there is a best method for you, in this season.

Let’s break down a few simple ones:

SOAP (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer):
This one’s my favorite for busy mornings. You write the verse out or simply summarize it, observe what it’s saying, journal out applications you feel called to make personally, and respond in prayer. It’s simple but deep.

SPECK (Sin to avoid, Promise to claim, Example to follow, Command to obey, Knowledge about God):
This one is more of an overall observation method to help you pull out wisdom you could potentially miss. This is great when you need a little guidance finding application straight from the text—especially if you struggle to see how the Bible connects to your daily life.

Verse Mapping:
If you like digging into the original language and comparing translations, this one’s for you. There is so much more depth when you realize why an author was using a specific word, or learn what other meaning is behind the word they used. It’s a little more detailed, but super rich if you want to grow in understanding.

Bible Digest Method (a.k.a. Homiletics):
This one’s amazing for bigger passages or teaching others. For clarification, let me state that I believe Scripture prohibits women from preaching to men or having authority over them, so this method is not for the purpose of preparing a typical sermon. However, Titus 2 does command older women to teach the younger and this method could be used to help you better understand what you are going to teach younger women (or children). You summarize the main idea, find key points, and think about how to apply and share it.

I always tell women this: the best Bible study method is the one that helps you actually understand and apply what you read. 

It’s not about doing what’s trending—it’s about doing what helps you connect with the Word.

This week, try a new method! I created a little freebie Bible Study Tool Kit (with SOAP and SPECK templates) to help you experiment and find your favorite.




The Difference Between Reading and Studying the Bible

The Difference Between Reading and Studying the Bible
Please tell me you've done this too and I'm not the only one:

Have you ever sat down to “read your Bible” while mentally planning dinner, folding laundry one-handed, or hollering at a toddler to stop climbing the furniture?

We love Jesus. We want to be in the Word. But in the busyness of being a wife, a mom, and a keeper of the home, it’s easy to slip into “check the box” Bible time.

☑️ Read a Psalm? Check.
☑️ Prayed a quick prayer? Check.
☑️ Had quiet...ish time? Check.

But what was that Psalm about? Umm… no clue. Something about praising? Or maybe it was enemies falling into a pit?

Yeah. I’ve been there too.

Here’s the thing—I’ve learned the hard way that reading and studying are not the same thing.

Reading is good. Absolutely. Reading gets the Word in front of us. It introduces us to truth. It reminds us of who God is and what He’s done.

Reading whole chapters or books in one sitting gives us a bird’s-eye view of what the author is saying and how it all fits together. We should read the Bible!

But studying?

Studying is where transformation begins.

Studying is what takes God’s Word off the page and plants it deep in our hearts. It’s where truth starts to shape our thoughts… and that changes everything: our words, our tone, our parenting, our priorities, our marriages.

📝 Reading gives you information.

❤️ Studying leads to understanding.

🔥 And understanding? That’s what leads to transformation.

If you’ve been faithfully reading your Bible and still feel like you’re stuck, unsure, or not really being changed, let me just say—you are not alone. I was there for years.

But when I slowed down…

When I stopped trying to speed through a chapter just to feel accomplished…

When I started asking real questions of the text—that’s when things began to shift.

Here are some simple, powerful questions you can begin asking as you study:

📖 Hermeneutical Questions for Deeper Bible Study

OBSERVATION (What does the text say?):

  • What words or phrases are repeated?
  • Who is speaking? Who is the audience?
  • What commands are given (and to whom, specifically - and what reasons are given for obeying the command)?
  • What contrasts or comparisons are made?
  • Are there any cause-and-effect relationships?
  • What seems important, emphasized, or central to the passage?
INTERPRETATION (What does it mean?):

  • What did this mean to the original audience?
  • What is the main idea or message of this chapter?
  • Are there cultural or historical details I should understand better?
  • How does this passage fit into the surrounding context (the chapters before and after)?
  • What does this passage reveal about God’s character?
APPLICATION (How should it change me?):

  • What truth do I need to believe or remember today?
  • Is there a command to obey, a sin to confess, or a promise to trust?
  • How does this apply to my role as a wife? As a mom?
  • How does this passage challenge my thinking or behavior?
  • What will I do differently today because of what I’ve studied?

Sweet friend, you don’t need hours of uninterrupted quiet to be transformed. You just need a heart that’s hungry to hear from God.

You do not...let me repeat: you DO NOT need to do all of this in one day! 

Sometimes it takes me an entire week to deeply study one single chapter of Scripture. 

So here’s one simple step to take this week:

📖 Pick a short, powerful chapter like Titus 2.

It’s only 15 verses—but it’s full of wisdom for how to live as a godly woman in today’s world. Read it slowly. Read it more than once. Ask questions. Write notes. Pray over it.

You don’t need fancy tools or a theology degree. You just need a teachable spirit and a willingness to slow down and study.

The Word is living and active. It will equip us to do the work. We don't need to approach the Bible feeling like we can instantly obey perfectly.

And if today, all you can do is read one verse out loud while folding a towel or stirring a pot of spaghetti sauce (or gravy, if you're Italian), know this: God sees you. He honors your hunger. And He will meet you right in the middle of your motherhood mess.

One verse at a time. One quiet moment at a time. One transformed heart at a time.

 
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This is my story!

 
As a Christian, it can be embarrassing to admit I've been married three times. 

As a woman who feels called to teach about marriage and submission, it can be almost unthinkable that God would put this on my heart after two failed marriages.

But God often uses the broken to accomplish His purposes - and He does not clothe us in shame, but in righteousness.

I have lived the life of the controlling wife. I have lived the life of the controlled wife

Neither brings the blessings God has for marriage.

Through my mistakes and failures, I've learned what submission is, and what it is not.

I am learning and growing every day in my role as a biblically submissive wife, a bonus mom, and a homemaker who cares for her home and family in joyful wellness!

Join me on my journey as I share some of my lessons, tips, and ideas to equip you to live in joyful submission and wellness!

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