The Open Book Test
"But He knows the way I take; When He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold.” – Job 23:10
The same is true today. Until the day that either the Lord returns or we close our eyes for the final time, we are still in school. We will still be taught lessons and be given an opportunity to prove what we have learned through testing.
Well, boys and girls, I am going through a test of my own these days. Just this morning I was feeling tempted to bemoan my situation when, wouldn’t you just know it? One of my own devotions from a couple of months ago popped up on my screen and spoke to my situation. My own words, a paraphrase of scripture, reminded me of the truth. It rearranged my perspective and re-established the goodness and security found in God’s faithfulness. My notes taken during a season of learning, have become a reliable resource for truth and answers as I face my latest test.
That being said, I would like to share with you some practical techniques to make your spiritual test taking days a bit easier:
1. SHOW UP FOR CLASS - It is important that we make sure that we are plugged in at a solid Bible believing church. We need to be spiritually fed on a regular basis and have accountability with other safe people. Regularly feeding yourself the Word of God now will make you very glad for it later.
2. TAKE THOROUGH NOTES - There is a temptation to think that once we catch a powerful truth, we will remember it when the time comes. While that may be true, if a test is stressful or emotional, the tendency is to fall back on childish behaviors if we don’t have a way to remind ourself about what we learned during the lesson time (Rom 12:2). Take thorough notes as you are learning. You will want to refer to them later when pressure can make important details slip from our memory.
3. GET IN A STUDY GROUP - The best way to truly master material is to be in a serious study group (growth group, bible study). Helping one another learn will reinforce the concepts you have already learned. Helping one another work through problems will strengthen your own skills and foster healthy and biblically sound accountability and increase your growth. “Study to show thyself approved (2 Tim 2:15).” One of the best ways to learn is to teach. Get a solid understanding of the material, so your answers during the test will be wise and sure (Deut 13:4). Test one another to strengthen your understanding and pass the tests from the Lord (2 Cor 13:5).
4. FREQUENTLY REVIEW YOUR NOTES AND TEXTBOOK - Don’t wait until the night before a test to review your notes and the textbook. Make a regular habit of going over the material you are learning (Ps 119:11). Don’t be afraid to use a highlighter in your notes and in the Bible. Write important concepts in the margins. God will not be offended. I suspect He would be delighted that you are making a point to take a concept to heart. The Lord can bring things to our remembrance when we need them, but only if we have put them in our memory to begin with. The words of James 1:12 bring encouragement, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
5. GET ENOUGH REST - Constantly burning the candle at both ends without getting regular periods of purposeful rest will set you up to become more forgetful and make avoidable mistakes. Resting from our labor is not only advisable, but responsible and obedient. Resting in obedience is an act of worship, as our rest is a vote of confidence in the faithfulness of God to supply what we lack when we are obedient.
6. PRAY - Pray before, in the middle of and after a test (1 Thess 5:17). Submit to Him. Ask Him to help you to remember what you learned and to apply it in a meaningful way.
7. THE TEACHER ANSWERS VERY FEW QUESTIONS DURING THE TEST - In a classroom during a test, we can see the teacher at their desk or walking up and down the aisle. The teacher, other than to clarify the meaning of a question, will rarely hint at an answer. Even Jesus felt forsaken while suffering through His severe testing on the cross (Matt 26:46). Teachers are quiet so we can apply what we have learned to the problem at hand. They are not silent, because they dislike us, have abandoned us or want us to fail. They are silent, so we can become strong and use the tools we have been given in useful ways. Once we successfully pass a test, we feel empowered to tackle even more.
8. REMEMBER IT’S AN OPEN-BOOK TEST - Bring and refer to your textbook (your Bible). If you have familiarized yourself with the material, you should be able to relatively quickly locate your answer and benefit from the notes you have left for yourself in the margins. Every Word is there to help you, to prevent you from making mistakes (Ex 20:20).
Heavenly Father, I lift my dear friend reading this. You designed this life, complete with lessons and tests so we will learn, be challenged, grow and mature into healthy, reliable and trustworthy adults that can be entrusted with Your treasure. If they are not in a season of testing, they are in a season of learning. Help them to glean every truth tucked in the lessons. Bring others along side who will help them to grow and mature - accountability partners who will confront them when they are going the wrong way. When testing comes, help them to rely on Your Word and the notes they left for themselves in the margin. Remind them that You have not left them, You are merely quiet, so they can draw the truth out of their hearts and minds - to remember the lessons they have been taught.
Father, encourage them if they are discouraged. Bring truths to their remembrance. Bring Your peace that passes understanding so they can tackle the problems they face with wisdom and discernment. Remind them to breathe, send up a prayer for help. Help them to beautifully lay out the truths they have learned. May the testing strengthen them to continue to move forward with courage and confidence to tackle more. Draw them to the answers found in Your Word. And when the clock ticks twelve and they hand in their test, may the hard work of the days leading up to this day prove to be a valuable asset as they tackle and pass the test at hand. May they be tested and come forth as gold! In Jesus Name ❤️
I graduated high school more than 40 years ago. I will admit that I was a good student. I worked hard, studied hard and was always eager to earn my parent’s approval. I was and am a nerd. In my younger years, I took tests in stride, looking at them as more of an opportunity to show off my stuff rather what it later became — a strenuous challenge to see how well I had truly mastered what I had been taught.
That being said, I would like to share with you some practical techniques to make your spiritual test taking days a bit easier:
1. SHOW UP FOR CLASS - It is important that we make sure that we are plugged in at a solid Bible believing church. We need to be spiritually fed on a regular basis and have accountability with other safe people. Regularly feeding yourself the Word of God now will make you very glad for it later.
2. TAKE THOROUGH NOTES - There is a temptation to think that once we catch a powerful truth, we will remember it when the time comes. While that may be true, if a test is stressful or emotional, the tendency is to fall back on childish behaviors if we don’t have a way to remind ourself about what we learned during the lesson time (Rom 12:2). Take thorough notes as you are learning. You will want to refer to them later when pressure can make important details slip from our memory.
3. GET IN A STUDY GROUP - The best way to truly master material is to be in a serious study group (growth group, bible study). Helping one another learn will reinforce the concepts you have already learned. Helping one another work through problems will strengthen your own skills and foster healthy and biblically sound accountability and increase your growth. “Study to show thyself approved (2 Tim 2:15).” One of the best ways to learn is to teach. Get a solid understanding of the material, so your answers during the test will be wise and sure (Deut 13:4). Test one another to strengthen your understanding and pass the tests from the Lord (2 Cor 13:5).
4. FREQUENTLY REVIEW YOUR NOTES AND TEXTBOOK - Don’t wait until the night before a test to review your notes and the textbook. Make a regular habit of going over the material you are learning (Ps 119:11). Don’t be afraid to use a highlighter in your notes and in the Bible. Write important concepts in the margins. God will not be offended. I suspect He would be delighted that you are making a point to take a concept to heart. The Lord can bring things to our remembrance when we need them, but only if we have put them in our memory to begin with. The words of James 1:12 bring encouragement, “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”
5. GET ENOUGH REST - Constantly burning the candle at both ends without getting regular periods of purposeful rest will set you up to become more forgetful and make avoidable mistakes. Resting from our labor is not only advisable, but responsible and obedient. Resting in obedience is an act of worship, as our rest is a vote of confidence in the faithfulness of God to supply what we lack when we are obedient.
6. PRAY - Pray before, in the middle of and after a test (1 Thess 5:17). Submit to Him. Ask Him to help you to remember what you learned and to apply it in a meaningful way.
7. THE TEACHER ANSWERS VERY FEW QUESTIONS DURING THE TEST - In a classroom during a test, we can see the teacher at their desk or walking up and down the aisle. The teacher, other than to clarify the meaning of a question, will rarely hint at an answer. Even Jesus felt forsaken while suffering through His severe testing on the cross (Matt 26:46). Teachers are quiet so we can apply what we have learned to the problem at hand. They are not silent, because they dislike us, have abandoned us or want us to fail. They are silent, so we can become strong and use the tools we have been given in useful ways. Once we successfully pass a test, we feel empowered to tackle even more.
8. REMEMBER IT’S AN OPEN-BOOK TEST - Bring and refer to your textbook (your Bible). If you have familiarized yourself with the material, you should be able to relatively quickly locate your answer and benefit from the notes you have left for yourself in the margins. Every Word is there to help you, to prevent you from making mistakes (Ex 20:20).
Heavenly Father, I lift my dear friend reading this. You designed this life, complete with lessons and tests so we will learn, be challenged, grow and mature into healthy, reliable and trustworthy adults that can be entrusted with Your treasure. If they are not in a season of testing, they are in a season of learning. Help them to glean every truth tucked in the lessons. Bring others along side who will help them to grow and mature - accountability partners who will confront them when they are going the wrong way. When testing comes, help them to rely on Your Word and the notes they left for themselves in the margin. Remind them that You have not left them, You are merely quiet, so they can draw the truth out of their hearts and minds - to remember the lessons they have been taught.
Father, encourage them if they are discouraged. Bring truths to their remembrance. Bring Your peace that passes understanding so they can tackle the problems they face with wisdom and discernment. Remind them to breathe, send up a prayer for help. Help them to beautifully lay out the truths they have learned. May the testing strengthen them to continue to move forward with courage and confidence to tackle more. Draw them to the answers found in Your Word. And when the clock ticks twelve and they hand in their test, may the hard work of the days leading up to this day prove to be a valuable asset as they tackle and pass the test at hand. May they be tested and come forth as gold! In Jesus Name ❤️
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