From Guzzling to Savoring

I had finished reading the entire Bible.
Cover to cover.

The only problem?
I couldn’t remember a single thing I read.
Not a memory verse. Not even the major takeaways.

It exposed something deeper:
I had been reading to say I read it, but not to know God.

So I started over. And this time, I found myself completely overwhelmed. As a mom of three, my time is limited. Bible study would stretch into hours I didn’t have, and I kept falling into rabbit holes that pulled me away from my goal: to meet with God, not just gather information.

I tried a color-coding system. It got confusing.
My notes became scattered one-liners.
They weren’t visually appealing, and they didn’t help me when I tried to look back.
I found myself rushing—guzzling down chapters like I was racing through a fast-food drive-thru instead of sitting at a 6-course meal prepared by the Lord Himself.

And yet... every word in Scripture is intentional.
Every name, every place, every phrase is there for a reason.

I knew I had to retrain my appetite.

What Is SEEP?

That’s when the Lord gave me a new approach—a simple system that helped me slow down, absorb what I was reading, and most importantly, make space for Him to speak.

It’s called the SEEP Method, and it stands for:

• Scripture

• Explain

• Expand

• Prayer

This method is built around one page per chapter. It's a cousin of popular methods like that of SOAP and the James Method. It’s structured, but Spirit-led. Visual, but personal. And it’s helped me turn Bible reading into a conversation worth remembering.

How the SEEP Method Works

📖 Center of the Page: Scripture
Write out the verse that stands out to you from the chapter. Place it in a large circle in the center of the page.
This is the anchor of your study.

From that anchor, create three surrounding sections:

1. EXPLAIN — Say it in your own words

Summarize the chapter as if you were telling it to a friend.
I like to call this Nureya-ease—putting it in my own language.

This helps me retain what I’ve read and gets me comfortable talking about the Bible.
It’s evangelism training without the pressure. If you can explain it, you’re preparing to share it.

2. EXPAND — Go deeper into one verse

The Bible is overflowing with wisdom. And I don’t need to eat it all in one sitting.
So I ask the Holy Spirit:
“What do You want to say to me in this chapter today?”

Then I dive in:

• Did a word stand out? I’ll look it up in the Hebrew or Greek.

• Does this connect with another verse I’ve read? I’ll jot that down.

• Did BibleHub commentary say something that spoke to me? I’ll include it.

This is the part where understanding stacks—because every time we return to the Word, God has something new to show us.

3. PRAYER — Talk back to God

Every line of Scripture is an invitation to pray:

• A praise point.

• A place of conviction.

• A question I’ll wait on God to answer.

This final section turns reading into relationship.
The SEEP method is about making space for God to respond.

Why It Works

The SEEP method isn’t about perfection—it’s about posture.

It’s an approach that reminds me:

• The Bible is not a task list. It’s a love letter.

• Understanding is not optional. It’s promised.

• I’m not reading to finish—I’m reading to fellowship.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, inconsistent, or uninspired in your Bible study, maybe it’s time to let the Word SEEP into your spirit slowly and deeply.

Try the Method for Yourself

📔 The Olive Journal was designed with SEEP in mind—one chapter, one page, one powerful encounter at a time.

Whether you’re just beginning your Bible journey or restarting it like I did, the SEEP method will help you:

• Study with focus, not frenzy

• Hear God clearly

• Retain what you learn

• Turn Scripture into real conversation

🫒 Explore the Olive Journal → (link to product or download)

Come hungry.
Come curious.
And let the Word seep into every part of your life.