After praying for the Holy Spirit's guidance, open your notebook and write the letter H. In the course of your reading, one or two verses will usually stand out and speak to you. Highlight those verses and then write out the following:
- The name of the book
- The passage of scripture
- The verses that speak to you
- A title to describe the passage

After you've completed the highlighted sections of the passage you just read, write the letter E. At this stage, you will explain what the text means. By asking some simple questions with the help of the Holy Spirit, you can understand the meaning of the passage or verse. Here are a few questions to get you started:
- Why was this written?
- To whom was it originally written?
- How does it fit with the verses before or after it?
- Why do you think this text is included in the Bible?
- What is God communicating through this text?

After writing a short summary of what you think the text means, write the letter A. This application is the heart of the process. Just like the previous step, answer a series of questions to uncover the significance of these verses to you personally. Ask questions like:
- How can this help me?
- What does this mean today?
- What would the application of the verses look like in my life?
- What does it mean to mean?
- What is God saying to me?

Here's where the rubber meets the road. The difference between a life of understanding God's will and actually following it rests in this final step. Write the letter R. Your response to the passage may take on many forms. You may write out a call to action. You may describe how you will be different because of what God has said to you through His Word. You may indicate what you're going to do in light of what you've learned. Maybe it's simply writing out a prayer to God.

Don't skip this step...it has the power to bring real growth into your spiritual life!