How to RAMP

This simple-in-theory process for studying God's Word allows you to make the most of your time studying scripture. Over time, it will actually transform the way you read and interpret scripture — always seeking and finding new truths from God Himself.

Below is a guide to the RAMP method and how to use it for consistently effective study of God’s word.

RAMP: READ / ANALYZE / MEDITATE / PRAY

READ

Read the passage fully from start to finish. Don’t take notes, just read.

Read it again. Now that you know the gist of the text, read it again. Always read the same passage at least twice, if not more. Never allow yourself to just read it once.

ANALYZE

After you have a clear understanding of the passage, meaning, you know the characters and what it's generally saying, go back through the passage and journal your answers to these questions:

1. What does this say about God and/or Jesus Christ?

Are there characteristics of Him listed? Look for adjectives used about Him. Does He describe Himself? Does the writer describe Him in any way?

2. What does this say about you?

Are you in this passage? How does this passage talk about mankind? How does the writer describe himself? Look for adjectives or statements regarding followers of Jesus.

3. Is there a command to follow?

Maybe or maybe not, but look closely. Do you see anything that indicates how God intends for you to live? Ways He expects believers to interact with others? Sometimes this is very clear, and other times it may be implied. Look closely — there's almost always an expectation of God for how we can live, love or serve.

4. Is there a sin to repent of?

Pay attention here — because sometimes scripture makes this easy and tells us "do not murder." However, many times, this is where the Holy Spirit begins to convict YOU personally as you are reading Scripture. Once you have made it this far in each study, you have likely read this passage several times and the Holy Spirit has begun working in your heart. Have you ever wondered how you are supposed to hear from God through His word? Well, here it is. Even if the passage does not clearly state a sin to avoid, what is the Spirit convicting you of at this moment?

5. Is there a promise to claim?

I love this one! All throughout scripture, God gives us promises — promises of Himself, His perfect plans for us, His love for us, His eternal grip on us and so much more. Like the conviction, this is not always black-and-white. On the heels of any conviction, is there a promise? 

Finding promises in Scripture is something your mind will grow more familiar with the longer you use this method for reading/studying. Think back to elementary school reading comprehension lessons and look deep into the text to identify what God wants you to hear — a promise He will always secure for you.

Here's an added bonus — highlight or keep a separate list of all the promises you find in Scripture. Our best weapon for fighting the lies of the culture and enemy is the promises of God. Keep them close!

MEDITATE

This is where you can just sit back and think. Wow, what all did God say to you? Is your mind going in a million different directions, connecting dots and seeing how big and good God is? Great! That's the goal. Sit here for a second, journal about where your mind is going. And be thankful you just had an encounter with a holy God through His holy word.

PRAY

Take the notes you've made and pray them. Yep, pray your notes directly back to God!

Start with what you saw about Him — tell Him who He revealed Himself to be in that passage. Ask Him to forgive you of any sin revealed through conviction. Thank Him for the promises you found.

As you can see, RAMP is an easy-to-follow and consistent method for studying scripture. If you have 10 minutes or an hour, if you follow this method, you are guaranteed to receive truth and allow your heart to be transformed through His word.

Here are a couple of ways you can utilize RAMP depending on how much time you have each day/week:

• Do it all at once — I would recommend this at least once in your week. Take an honest look at your schedule and don’t put the pressure on yourself for it to be perfect, or even to be the same every single day or week. God delights in meeting with you, so ask Him to help your heart delight in it too. There’s a certain value in the sheer discipline of studying God’s word, but without the delight, it’s not going to change your heart for the better. If you have a chunk of time (about an hour) one morning or even Saturday or Sunday, walk through RAMP in its entirety and don’t rush it. This will plant the passage deep in your heart and allow you to see ALL the dots connect — from promises to commands, and then allow you to really spend time praying with everything in mind. If you can do it all at once at least once per week, then you can supplement with smaller chunks throughout the week.

• Do the full RAMP method but with only one ANALYZE question each day. For example: Read through the entire passage, answer one Analyze question, meditate on it and pray. If you do this one question at a time, you will ultimately read the passage 5 times looking for 5 different sets of treasures, finding something new and amazing each day.

Below is an example of how you can maximize this study each week. It is an ideal example for one of those perfect weeks where everything falls into place perfectly. Obviously, that will maybe happen once! So use it as a guide, not just a goal!

Begin by simply reading on Monday! If you have a chunk of time, walk completely through RAMP digging and searching, spending lots of time thinking and praying. But if Monday mornings are a rush for you, consider reading the passage twice with your morning coffee. Remember -- no notes when you read initially, just read it! Ask God to open your mind to see/hear from Him.

• Tuesday — Read the passage, answer Analyze #1, meditate on it and pray

• Wednesday — Read the passage, answer Analyze #2, meditate on it and pray

• Thursday — Read the passage, answer Analyze #3, meditate on it and pray

• Friday — Read the passage, answer Analyze #4, meditate on it and pray

• Saturday — Read the passage, answer Analyze #5. Meditate back on your notes and spend concentrated time with your Father in prayer.

• Sunday — Worship! Reflect on your time the day before, maybe read the passage just to keep it fresh on your mind.

Depending on your week, this rhythm could totally start on Friday, Saturday or whatever day you have the most free time. Perhaps on Sundays, look ahead to the coming week and determine which day will be your best day to devote an hour. Call that Day #1 and go from there.

Don’t box yourself in and don’t set yourself up for feeling defeated. Rest in the fact that God delights in you. And also be realistic about the fact that each week will be different. Give yourself grace and space.

If you can begin protecting this time in your week with no phone and no friends/conversation, just you alone with God and His word, you will develop an intimacy with God that you never knew was possible. Your mind and soul will begin craving this rhythm and this holiness.

If you only have one hour one day each week, then surrender that hour to God and make the most of it. God’s only expectations are for you to find JOY in His word and for Him to show up. He can’t let Himself down, so the pressure is off of you. There are no gold stars for over achievers, and there is no punishment for those of us who struggle. Only grace. And joy to be found in spending time with our Father.