In every age and within every society God has specific goals which He wants to accomplish.  He looks for men and women through whom He can reach these objectives.

As we meditate on Scripture and compare the needs of our society with similar situations in Scripture, we will gain an understanding of some of the goals which God wants to accomplish.

1. Memorize God's thought structures.
-  Memorize whole thoughts and ideas from scripture.


2. Personalize the Scripture you have memorized.
-   God delights to hear His own Word, especially when we are using it to express our own desires and emotions.


3. Repeat the verse several times, emphasizing a different word each time.
-   Man shall not live by bread alone….
            -   Man shall not live by bread alone….
- Man shall not live by bread alone….


4. Visualize the significance of each word.
- Man…. Every man; all mankind; this includes everyone
- Man shall not…. A final decree.  No one will change  it.
- Man shall not live….  Living is more than just existing.  God made us to enjoy the pleasures of life in His presence.  God is life.


5. Repeat the verse, and ponder the full meaning of each word.


6. Rest - let the words grow in your mind, will and emotions.


7. Use the verse to talk with God, and ponder each word for personal application.
"Man shall not live…." O Lord, you want me to discover Your life.  It is far richer and fuller than I can comprehend.
You want to live your life through me!  My eyes, mouth, heart, and hands.

"….By bread alone…" If I want your kind of life, I must concentrate on more than physical food.

"…But by every word…" Lord every word?  Every word!  Every part of Scripture.  II Timothy 3:16.

8. Expect God to bring this verse to your mind and show you new insights from it.
- When you feel spiritually defeated:
"Man shall not live by bread alone…" When was the last time you had a good spiritual meal?

- When you have an important decision to make:
"Man shall not live by bread alone…" Why not set aside a day for fasting and the word?

- When you have experience a heartache:
"Man shall not live by bread alone…" There are rich insights in the Bible that you will now understand because of this experience.