September 8, 2025 • 16 mins
Find the full episode here >>> PaulaBehrens.com/blog
Ever glanced at your dusty Bible with a pang of guilt while racing through another hectic day? You're not alone. Drawing from my seminary years spent navigating dark country roads at 5 AM (dodging feral hogs, no less!), I share how God transformed my understanding of devotional time forever.
The perfect Bible study scenario—comfy chair, steaming tea, hour of solitude—remains an unattainable myth for most of us. But what if I told you that God's Word thrives in the messy, ordinary corners of your day? During my grueling twice-weekly commutes from Kosse to Dallas, Texas, I discovered sacred spaces in unexpected places: gas station parking lots where I'd read a Psalm while eating a breakfast biscuit, long stretches of highway where audio Scripture filled my car, and exhausted moments when a single memorized verse carried me through.
Your spiritual life doesn't require Pinterest-perfect settings to flourish. Remember the woman who touched Jesus' garment? She didn't schedule a lengthy appointment—she reached out in a moment and was transformed. God meets us in these brief, authentic encounters, turning ordinary moments into holy ground. Whether it's five minutes in the school drop-off line, a lunch break at your desk, or those quiet moments before the household wakes, He's there, ready to speak through His Word.
Ready to discover how God can meet you in your unique life circumstances? The Aroma of Christ Coaching Hour helps you create a devotional routine that works with your reality, not against it. Stop waiting for the perfect moment to connect with God—He's already waiting for you in the beautiful mess of your everyday life. Book your session today at PaulaBehrens.com/coaching and receive a bonus Aroma RESET to help you release what's been holding you back.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Paula Behrens (00:01):
Do you ever feel like your Bible is getting dusty
because your schedule isrunning your life?
What if I told you that God canmeet you powerfully in His Word
even when your only free timeis in the car, at a gas station
or in the middle of a crazycommute?
Back in my seminary days Ilived in Kosse, Texas, a little
town with quiet streets, rollingfarmland and plenty of country
roads.
(00:21):
Twice a week, on Tuesdays andThursdays, my alarm clock went
off at four in the morning.
By 5 am I was behind the wheel,diet Coke in hand, starting a
three-hour drive to Dallas.
Those weren't easy roads either.
They were two-lane highwayswith no streetlights, winding
curves and the occasional set ofglowing eyes from a deer or
worse, the threat of a feral hogdarting across my path.
(00:44):
My church members love toremind me, Pastor, if you hit
one of those hogs, your car isrolling for sure.
So every mile I kept my eyespeeled, praying as much for
safety as I did for strength.
But here's the thing.
In that rhythm of exhaustion,biscuits from the Exxon station
and the slow crawl into Dallastraffic, I discovered that Bible
(01:05):
study doesn't require perfectconditions.
God can meet you anywhere, evenat 5 am, on a hog-filled
country road, and if he can meetme there, he can meet you right
where you are.
So today I want to share sevenways God taught me to treasure
his word in the middle of thebusiest, craziest, messiest
(01:28):
season of my life.
But first let me ask.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?
I'm Paula and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
(01:50):
this podcast is for you.
Hey friend, I want to personallyinvite you to the Aroma of
Christ Coaching Hour.
This isn't just another Biblestudy or spiritual to-do list.
It's a deeply intentionalone-on-one session where you'll
create a devotional routine thatfits your life and reignites
your love for time with God, allwhile using your senses.
(02:11):
We'll partner together todesign a peaceful,
Christ-centered routine thathelps you breathe again,
spiritually and emotionally.
You'll walk away with clarity,focus and a renewed connection
to the Holy Spirit.
Go right now to paulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching, (no spaces) andbook your session.
(02:34):
It's time to stop trying tofigure it all out on your own
and start connecting with God ina way that finally feels like
rest.
All right, let's get started.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage, and let'sdive in.
Time.
It's the one thing we feel wedon't have enough of, right?
(02:55):
During my seminary days, Ilived in a constant tug-of-war
between demands, full-timeclasses in Dallas, full-time
pastoral ministry in Kosse and aneighboring church, funerals to
preach, weddings to officiate,sermons to prepare and members
to visit in the hospital, andtwice a week, that long pre-dawn
drive on winding, unlit roadswhere my headlights seemed like
(03:16):
the only lights for miles.
I often thought to myself therehas to be more time somewhere.
If I could just get one freehour, I'd finally sit down with
my Bible and do this the rightway.
But the truth was no extra hourever showed up.
My schedule stayed jam-packedand guilt often whispered in my
(03:36):
ear.
You're not doing enough.
You should be better at this.
Maybe you've heard that samewhisper.
You go to bed thinking I'll getup early tomorrow and read
scripture.
But morning comes, the kidswake up sick, work calls early
or exhaustion hits harder thanyou planned, you tell yourself
next week will be different.
But next week never comes.
(03:57):
Here's what God gently taught meon those long, dark drives.
There is no perfect time.
Waiting for the perfect timeoften means never opening the
Bible at all.
But even a few minutes readinga psalm before leaving the
driveway, meditating on oneverse during the commute or
whispering a prayer betweenphone calls can anchor your day
(04:18):
in his presence.
Psalm chapter 90, verse 12,says: Teach us to number our
days that we may gain a heart ofwisdom.
That verse became real for me.
God wasn't asking me to stretch24 hours into 25.
He was asking me to invite himinto the time I already have.
Where in your schedule do youfeel most pressed for time?
(04:41):
Instead of waiting for moretime to appear, what would it
look like to invite God intojust five minutes of that space?
Somewhere around 6 am, afternearly an hour of driving, I'd
pull into a little Exxon station.
The glow of its fluorescentlights was a welcome sight after
miles of pitch black countryroad.
(05:01):
That station became my sacredlandmark, my place to stretch
and, most importantly, my chanceto refuel with one of their
homemade egg and sausagebiscuits.
Oh, those biscuits were good,greasy, hearty and exactly what
my tired body needed.
But you know what I learned?
Just as my body needed fuel tokeep going, my soul needed fuel
(05:24):
too.
More than once I grabbed mybiscuit, slid back behind the
wheel and opened my Bible to apsalm before pulling out of the
parking lot.
Some mornings it was only averse or two.
Other times I sat there longerthan I intended, letting the
words soak in before hitting theroad again.
I didn't always remember everydetail of what I read, but the
simple act of pausing to openGod's Word transformed that stop
(05:48):
into sacred space.
I came to realize that theholiness of Bible study isn't
about location, it isn't aboutatmosphere.
It's about God's presence inthe ordinary moments of life.
For you, it may not be an Exxonstation.
Maybe it's the school drop-offline, the lunch break at your
desk, or a quiet pause in thegrocery store parking lot.
(06:08):
Wherever it is, those littlemoments can be Exxon stops for
your soul, ordinary places whereGod does extraordinary work.
Jesus himself often met peoplein ordinary places, by a well,
on a road, at a dinner table,and he still does that today.
What is your Exxon stop, anordinary, everyday place where
(06:29):
you could slip in a few versesof scripture this week?
Once I left that Exxon stationwith my biscuit and Diet Coke
refill, I had about two hoursleft to go before hitting Dallas
.
That stretch of the drive oftenfelt endless, flat highways,
steady traffic and the weight ofexhaustion hanging heavy.
But my car became my classroom.
(06:49):
I had already studied Greek inmy undergrad years, so I wasn't
juggling vocabulary cardsanymore, but I still had
readings and assignmentspressing in.
Yet instead of filling thattime with stress, I began to use
it as a sanctuary.
I listened to scripture on tapeyes, cassette tape back then
and let God's word fill themiles.
Sometimes I'd even reciteverses out loud, letting my own
(07:13):
voice be the echo chamber oftruth.
I'll tell you this there'ssomething powerful about hearing
God's word while the world isstill dark outside your window.
The steady rhythm of the car,the glow of the headlights, the
hum of tires on the road, itbecame the background music for
truth to sink into my soul.
Many of you spend time in yourcar too, whether it's five
(07:35):
minutes to the office or 45minutes to the soccer field.
Those are precious pockets oftime you can redeem.
Turn down the noise, turn onscripture or worship and let
your car become your sanctuaryon wheels.
Romans, chapter 10, verse 17,reminds us, faith comes from
hearing, and hearing through theword of Christ.
Those commutes areopportunities to literally hear
(07:59):
the word and let it grow yourfaith.
If you have commute time, howcould you turn it into sanctuary
time this week, through audioscripture, prayer or maybe
reflection?
That egg and sausage biscuit mayhave filled my stomach, but it
didn't keep me full for long.
By the time my first classended in Dallas, I was already
looking forward to a 20-minutewalk to Schlotzsky's carrying a
(08:21):
50-pound backpack full of books.
But scripture, even a singleverse, had a way of staying with
me all day.
I began to see Bible study lesslike a formal banquet and more
like steady snacks.
Yes, there are seasons for bigfeasts in God's word, those
quiet retreats where you can sitfor hours in prayer and study,
but there are also seasons whereyou survive on bites.
(08:43):
One verse here, a psalm there,and those snacks of scripture
can be just as life-giving.
Jesus himself gave us the modelwhen he said in Matthew,
chapter 4, verse 4, man shallnot live on bread alone, but on
every word that comes from themouth of God.
Every word, not every chapter,not every commentary, just one
(09:05):
word from God can feed your soulin ways that nothing else can.
On the busiest days, I'd oftenfind myself replaying a single
verse from my morning Exxon stopwhile driving back to Kosse
late at night.
That one verse became my fuel,keeping me steady, reminding me
of God's presence and anchoringme when fatigue threatened to
(09:26):
overwhelm.
Think about your day.
Instead of waiting for theperfect moment to sit down with
your Bible, how can you snack onscripture, taking in small,
steady bites of God's word tocarry you through?
I used to have a picture in myhead of what Bible study was
supposed to look like, asteaming cup of hot tea, a cozy
chair by the window, my journalopen, an hour of silence,
(09:48):
reflection and prayer.
But my reality was far fromthat.
My quiet time was usuallycrammed into the corners of long
days and it looked likebleary-eyed reading before
collapsing into bed.
At first I felt guilty.
Was I doing it wrong?
Was God disappointed in me?
But slowly he began to teach me.
Bible study isn't about settingor perfection.
(10:10):
It's about presence.
Think about Jesus' encounterwith the woman in Mark, chapter
5.
She didn't have a longstructured meeting with him.
She reached out in a moment,touched the hem of his garment
and was changed forever.
Sometimes all it takes is amoment, five minutes, one verse,
a whispered prayer, and God cando incredible work in that
(10:31):
small space.
I had to let go of the myth thatmy Bible study had to fit a
Pinterest perfect picture.
When I released that guilt, Idiscovered freedom.
My car became a sanctuary, agas station became a sacred
space.
A single verse became enough.
Where have you believed themyth that Bible study has to
look a certain way?
How could you release thatguilt today and embrace God's
(10:54):
presence in your life?
Sometimes, especially on thoselate night drives back to Kosse,
I was too tired to stop andread anything new.
My eyes burned from fatigue.
But I had something better Ihad scripture hidden in my heart
.
Verses I had memorized yearsearlier became my companions.
Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 31was one I repeated often, But
(11:17):
those who hope in the Lord willrenew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
They will run and not growweary.
They will walk and not be faint.
Mile after mile that verse keptme company, reminding me that
even in my weakness, God wasrenewing me.
That's the hidden gift ofmemorizing scripture.
(11:37):
You can carry it with you.
You don't need a Bible in yourhands, because the word is
already in your heart.
It becomes a well that you candraw from when you're weary,
anxious or overwhelmed.
And here's the good news, youdon't have to memorize a whole
book.
Start with one verse, write iton a card, tape it to your
mirror, whisper it as you drive.
Before long it'll be yours tocarry, fuel for the long, dark
(12:01):
roads of life.
What one verse could youmemorize this week and carry
with you into your busiest,hardest places?
Looking back on those seminaryyears, I realized something
important, God wasn't waitingfor me to graduate before he
spoke.
He wasn't waiting for myschedule to lighten or my life
to calm down.
He met me in the middle at 5 am, on dark, hog-filled country
(12:25):
roads, at Exxon stations withbiscuits, in the quiet hum of a
long commute and in exhaustedmoments at the end of the day.
And he will meet you in themiddle of your life too.
You don't need to wait forthings to settle down.
You don't need to apologize fornot having the perfect setup.
God is waiting right where youare.
Your Bible study doesn't haveto be perfect, it doesn't have
(12:48):
to be long, it just has to bereal.
God's Word is alive and it ismore than enough for you today.
Where is one messy, ordinaryplace in your week where you
will commit to meeting God inHis Word?
Okay, let's do a quickreflection on seven ways to fit
God into the busiest of days.
One (13:09):
God can meet you even in the pockets of moments you
already have.
Two (13:14):
holiness isn't about the setting, but about his presence
with you.
Three (13:19):
your car, your commute or any small stretch of time can
become a moving sanctuary whereGod's word speaks into the
ordinary rhythm of your day.
Four (13:29):
just like breakfast fuels your body, scripture fuels your
soul and even the smallestverses can carry you through the
long, exhausting hours of life.
Five (13:39):
Bible study doesn't require a flawless setting or
uninterrupted hours.
God meets us in the messy, realmoments when we invite him in.
Six (13:49):
when you memorize or reflect on scripture, you carry
God's word with you, givingstrength and guidance wherever
life takes you.
And seven (13:57):
God isn't waiting for your life to be perfect.
He meets you right where youare, in the middle of your chaos
, and invites you into hispresence.
And friend, t hat's the beautyof it.
Bible study isn't about fittingyour life into some rigid mold.
It's about inviting God intothe life you're already living.
Whether you're on a darkcountry road at 5 am watching
(14:19):
for feral hogs or sneaking fiveminutes of quiet in the middle
of household chaos, God's wordhas a way of breaking through.
He meets you right where youare, and maybe that's where
you're feeling stuck right now.
You love God, you want to spendtime in his word, but the
reality of your schedule makesit feel almost impossible.
What if you could build adevotional routine that actually
(14:40):
worked in those small timeslots, in those Exxon-stop
moments of your day?
That's exactly why I offer theAroma of Christ Coaching Hour.
In these one-on-one sessions,we'll work together to create a
devotional routine that fitsyour real life, one that doesn't
add guilt or overwhelm, butinstead leaves you feeling
(15:00):
refreshed and connected to God.
And for a limited time, I'mincluding a Bonus Aroma RESET
with each coaching hour.
This gentle, spirit-led processhelps you identify past
memories with emotional charges,the kind that silently hold you
back from even trying to setnew goals with God.
Through this RESET, you'll beable to release what's been
weighing you down and step intoa lighter, freer space where
(15:22):
meeting God feels natural again.
So if your heart has beennudging you while listening
today, this may be your nextstep.
You can book your Aroma ofChrist Coaching Hour and an
Aroma RESET at paulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
(15:44):
Book your session now, whilethe Peace RESET is still on the
table.
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember, just like setting
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say no to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
(16:07):
women like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.
Join us next time as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intohim and walking in his wisdom.
See you next time.
Do you ever feel like your Bible is getting dusty
because your schedule isrunning your life?
What if I told you that God canmeet you powerfully in His Word
even when your only free timeis in the car, at a gas station
or in the middle of a crazycommute?
Back in my seminary days Ilived in Kosse, Texas, a little
town with quiet streets, rollingfarmland and plenty of country
roads.
(00:21):
Twice a week, on Tuesdays andThursdays, my alarm clock went
off at four in the morning.
By 5 am I was behind the wheel,diet Coke in hand, starting a
three-hour drive to Dallas.
Those weren't easy roads either.
They were two-lane highwayswith no streetlights, winding
curves and the occasional set ofglowing eyes from a deer or
worse, the threat of a feral hogdarting across my path.
(00:44):
My church members love toremind me, Pastor, if you hit
one of those hogs, your car isrolling for sure.
So every mile I kept my eyespeeled, praying as much for
safety as I did for strength.
But here's the thing.
In that rhythm of exhaustion,biscuits from the Exxon station
and the slow crawl into Dallastraffic, I discovered that Bible
(01:05):
study doesn't require perfectconditions.
God can meet you anywhere, evenat 5 am, on a hog-filled
country road, and if he can meetme there, he can meet you right
where you are.
So today I want to share sevenways God taught me to treasure
his word in the middle of thebusiest, craziest, messiest
(01:28):
season of my life.
But first let me ask.
Are you finding it challengingto maintain your spiritual
practices or yearning for a morepeaceful, God-aligned day?
I'm Paula and I've been theretoo.
Balancing spiritual habits witha busy life can be difficult.
I longed for a deeperconnection with God but
struggled with consistency.
Then I found the perfectapproach.
If you seek simple ways todeepen your connection with God,
(01:50):
this podcast is for you.
Hey friend, I want to personallyinvite you to the Aroma of
Christ Coaching Hour.
This isn't just another Biblestudy or spiritual to-do list.
It's a deeply intentionalone-on-one session where you'll
create a devotional routine thatfits your life and reignites
your love for time with God, allwhile using your senses.
(02:11):
We'll partner together todesign a peaceful,
Christ-centered routine thathelps you breathe again,
spiritually and emotionally.
You'll walk away with clarity,focus and a renewed connection
to the Holy Spirit.
Go right now to paulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching, (no spaces) andbook your session.
(02:34):
It's time to stop trying tofigure it all out on your own
and start connecting with God ina way that finally feels like
rest.
All right, let's get started.
Grab your Bible, dust off yourjournal and cozy up to your
favorite beverage, and let'sdive in.
Time.
It's the one thing we feel wedon't have enough of, right?
(02:55):
During my seminary days, Ilived in a constant tug-of-war
between demands, full-timeclasses in Dallas, full-time
pastoral ministry in Kosse and aneighboring church, funerals to
preach, weddings to officiate,sermons to prepare and members
to visit in the hospital, andtwice a week, that long pre-dawn
drive on winding, unlit roadswhere my headlights seemed like
(03:16):
the only lights for miles.
I often thought to myself therehas to be more time somewhere.
If I could just get one freehour, I'd finally sit down with
my Bible and do this the rightway.
But the truth was no extra hourever showed up.
My schedule stayed jam-packedand guilt often whispered in my
(03:36):
ear.
You're not doing enough.
You should be better at this.
Maybe you've heard that samewhisper.
You go to bed thinking I'll getup early tomorrow and read
scripture.
But morning comes, the kidswake up sick, work calls early
or exhaustion hits harder thanyou planned, you tell yourself
next week will be different.
But next week never comes.
(03:57):
Here's what God gently taught meon those long, dark drives.
There is no perfect time.
Waiting for the perfect timeoften means never opening the
Bible at all.
But even a few minutes readinga psalm before leaving the
driveway, meditating on oneverse during the commute or
whispering a prayer betweenphone calls can anchor your day
(04:18):
in his presence.
Psalm chapter 90, verse 12,says: Teach us to number our
days that we may gain a heart ofwisdom.
That verse became real for me.
God wasn't asking me to stretch24 hours into 25.
He was asking me to invite himinto the time I already have.
Where in your schedule do youfeel most pressed for time?
(04:41):
Instead of waiting for moretime to appear, what would it
look like to invite God intojust five minutes of that space?
Somewhere around 6 am, afternearly an hour of driving, I'd
pull into a little Exxon station.
The glow of its fluorescentlights was a welcome sight after
miles of pitch black countryroad.
(05:01):
That station became my sacredlandmark, my place to stretch
and, most importantly, my chanceto refuel with one of their
homemade egg and sausagebiscuits.
Oh, those biscuits were good,greasy, hearty and exactly what
my tired body needed.
But you know what I learned?
Just as my body needed fuel tokeep going, my soul needed fuel
(05:24):
too.
More than once I grabbed mybiscuit, slid back behind the
wheel and opened my Bible to apsalm before pulling out of the
parking lot.
Some mornings it was only averse or two.
Other times I sat there longerthan I intended, letting the
words soak in before hitting theroad again.
I didn't always remember everydetail of what I read, but the
simple act of pausing to openGod's Word transformed that stop
(05:48):
into sacred space.
I came to realize that theholiness of Bible study isn't
about location, it isn't aboutatmosphere.
It's about God's presence inthe ordinary moments of life.
For you, it may not be an Exxonstation.
Maybe it's the school drop-offline, the lunch break at your
desk, or a quiet pause in thegrocery store parking lot.
(06:08):
Wherever it is, those littlemoments can be Exxon stops for
your soul, ordinary places whereGod does extraordinary work.
Jesus himself often met peoplein ordinary places, by a well,
on a road, at a dinner table,and he still does that today.
What is your Exxon stop, anordinary, everyday place where
(06:29):
you could slip in a few versesof scripture this week?
Once I left that Exxon stationwith my biscuit and Diet Coke
refill, I had about two hoursleft to go before hitting Dallas
.
That stretch of the drive oftenfelt endless, flat highways,
steady traffic and the weight ofexhaustion hanging heavy.
But my car became my classroom.
(06:49):
I had already studied Greek inmy undergrad years, so I wasn't
juggling vocabulary cardsanymore, but I still had
readings and assignmentspressing in.
Yet instead of filling thattime with stress, I began to use
it as a sanctuary.
I listened to scripture on tapeyes, cassette tape back then
and let God's word fill themiles.
Sometimes I'd even reciteverses out loud, letting my own
(07:13):
voice be the echo chamber oftruth.
I'll tell you this there'ssomething powerful about hearing
God's word while the world isstill dark outside your window.
The steady rhythm of the car,the glow of the headlights, the
hum of tires on the road, itbecame the background music for
truth to sink into my soul.
Many of you spend time in yourcar too, whether it's five
(07:35):
minutes to the office or 45minutes to the soccer field.
Those are precious pockets oftime you can redeem.
Turn down the noise, turn onscripture or worship and let
your car become your sanctuaryon wheels.
Romans, chapter 10, verse 17,reminds us, faith comes from
hearing, and hearing through theword of Christ.
Those commutes areopportunities to literally hear
(07:59):
the word and let it grow yourfaith.
If you have commute time, howcould you turn it into sanctuary
time this week, through audioscripture, prayer or maybe
reflection?
That egg and sausage biscuit mayhave filled my stomach, but it
didn't keep me full for long.
By the time my first classended in Dallas, I was already
looking forward to a 20-minutewalk to Schlotzsky's carrying a
(08:21):
50-pound backpack full of books.
But scripture, even a singleverse, had a way of staying with
me all day.
I began to see Bible study lesslike a formal banquet and more
like steady snacks.
Yes, there are seasons for bigfeasts in God's word, those
quiet retreats where you can sitfor hours in prayer and study,
but there are also seasons whereyou survive on bites.
(08:43):
One verse here, a psalm there,and those snacks of scripture
can be just as life-giving.
Jesus himself gave us the modelwhen he said in Matthew,
chapter 4, verse 4, man shallnot live on bread alone, but on
every word that comes from themouth of God.
Every word, not every chapter,not every commentary, just one
(09:05):
word from God can feed your soulin ways that nothing else can.
On the busiest days, I'd oftenfind myself replaying a single
verse from my morning Exxon stopwhile driving back to Kosse
late at night.
That one verse became my fuel,keeping me steady, reminding me
of God's presence and anchoringme when fatigue threatened to
(09:26):
overwhelm.
Think about your day.
Instead of waiting for theperfect moment to sit down with
your Bible, how can you snack onscripture, taking in small,
steady bites of God's word tocarry you through?
I used to have a picture in myhead of what Bible study was
supposed to look like, asteaming cup of hot tea, a cozy
chair by the window, my journalopen, an hour of silence,
(09:48):
reflection and prayer.
But my reality was far fromthat.
My quiet time was usuallycrammed into the corners of long
days and it looked likebleary-eyed reading before
collapsing into bed.
At first I felt guilty.
Was I doing it wrong?
Was God disappointed in me?
But slowly he began to teach me.
Bible study isn't about settingor perfection.
(10:10):
It's about presence.
Think about Jesus' encounterwith the woman in Mark, chapter
5.
She didn't have a longstructured meeting with him.
She reached out in a moment,touched the hem of his garment
and was changed forever.
Sometimes all it takes is amoment, five minutes, one verse,
a whispered prayer, and God cando incredible work in that
(10:31):
small space.
I had to let go of the myth thatmy Bible study had to fit a
Pinterest perfect picture.
When I released that guilt, Idiscovered freedom.
My car became a sanctuary, agas station became a sacred
space.
A single verse became enough.
Where have you believed themyth that Bible study has to
look a certain way?
How could you release thatguilt today and embrace God's
(10:54):
presence in your life?
Sometimes, especially on thoselate night drives back to Kosse,
I was too tired to stop andread anything new.
My eyes burned from fatigue.
But I had something better Ihad scripture hidden in my heart
.
Verses I had memorized yearsearlier became my companions.
Isaiah, chapter 40, verse 31was one I repeated often, But
(11:17):
those who hope in the Lord willrenew their strength.
They will soar on wings likeeagles.
They will run and not growweary.
They will walk and not be faint.
Mile after mile that verse keptme company, reminding me that
even in my weakness, God wasrenewing me.
That's the hidden gift ofmemorizing scripture.
(11:37):
You can carry it with you.
You don't need a Bible in yourhands, because the word is
already in your heart.
It becomes a well that you candraw from when you're weary,
anxious or overwhelmed.
And here's the good news, youdon't have to memorize a whole
book.
Start with one verse, write iton a card, tape it to your
mirror, whisper it as you drive.
Before long it'll be yours tocarry, fuel for the long, dark
(12:01):
roads of life.
What one verse could youmemorize this week and carry
with you into your busiest,hardest places?
Looking back on those seminaryyears, I realized something
important, God wasn't waitingfor me to graduate before he
spoke.
He wasn't waiting for myschedule to lighten or my life
to calm down.
He met me in the middle at 5 am, on dark, hog-filled country
(12:25):
roads, at Exxon stations withbiscuits, in the quiet hum of a
long commute and in exhaustedmoments at the end of the day.
And he will meet you in themiddle of your life too.
You don't need to wait forthings to settle down.
You don't need to apologize fornot having the perfect setup.
God is waiting right where youare.
Your Bible study doesn't haveto be perfect, it doesn't have
(12:48):
to be long, it just has to bereal.
God's Word is alive and it ismore than enough for you today.
Where is one messy, ordinaryplace in your week where you
will commit to meeting God inHis Word?
Okay, let's do a quickreflection on seven ways to fit
God into the busiest of days.
One (13:09):
God can meet you even in the pockets of moments you
already have.
Two (13:14):
holiness isn't about the setting, but about his presence
with you.
Three (13:19):
your car, your commute or any small stretch of time can
become a moving sanctuary whereGod's word speaks into the
ordinary rhythm of your day.
Four (13:29):
just like breakfast fuels your body, scripture fuels your
soul and even the smallestverses can carry you through the
long, exhausting hours of life.
Five (13:39):
Bible study doesn't require a flawless setting or
uninterrupted hours.
God meets us in the messy, realmoments when we invite him in.
Six (13:49):
when you memorize or reflect on scripture, you carry
God's word with you, givingstrength and guidance wherever
life takes you.
And seven (13:57):
God isn't waiting for your life to be perfect.
He meets you right where youare, in the middle of your chaos
, and invites you into hispresence.
And friend, t hat's the beautyof it.
Bible study isn't about fittingyour life into some rigid mold.
It's about inviting God intothe life you're already living.
Whether you're on a darkcountry road at 5 am watching
(14:19):
for feral hogs or sneaking fiveminutes of quiet in the middle
of household chaos, God's wordhas a way of breaking through.
He meets you right where youare, and maybe that's where
you're feeling stuck right now.
You love God, you want to spendtime in his word, but the
reality of your schedule makesit feel almost impossible.
What if you could build adevotional routine that actually
(14:40):
worked in those small timeslots, in those Exxon-stop
moments of your day?
That's exactly why I offer theAroma of Christ Coaching Hour.
In these one-on-one sessions,we'll work together to create a
devotional routine that fitsyour real life, one that doesn't
add guilt or overwhelm, butinstead leaves you feeling
(15:00):
refreshed and connected to God.
And for a limited time, I'mincluding a Bonus Aroma RESET
with each coaching hour.
This gentle, spirit-led processhelps you identify past
memories with emotional charges,the kind that silently hold you
back from even trying to setnew goals with God.
Through this RESET, you'll beable to release what's been
weighing you down and step intoa lighter, freer space where
(15:22):
meeting God feels natural again.
So if your heart has beennudging you while listening
today, this may be your nextstep.
You can book your Aroma ofChrist Coaching Hour and an
Aroma RESET at paulabehrens.
com/ coaching.
That's Paula BehrensB-E-H-R-E-N-S .
com/ coaching (no spaces).
(15:44):
Book your session now, whilethe Peace RESET is still on the
table.
Thank you for tuning in todayand remember, just like setting
biblical boundaries, it's okayto say no to things that don't
serve you well, like that thirdpiece of cake at the church
potluck.
If you were blessed by thisepisode, be sure to share it
with a friend and leave a reviewso that we can reach even more
(16:07):
women like you.
Check the show notes for allthe links.
Join us next time as wecontinue to discover how to live
on purpose in Christ.
Until then, keep leaning intohim and walking in his wisdom.
See you next time.
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