The first step to understanding what is in the Bible is to study it by ourselves, covering to cover. This is the first step in learning to understand the basic elements of Scripture that form the foundation to our understanding of God’s Word. How do we begin? What could we do to begin to establish this necessary and healthy habit of reading regularly the Bible?
In this article we’ll look at seven useful tips to assist you in creating the habit of studying the Bible.
- Ask God to give you a thirst for the Word of God
Within Psalm 119 we are able to see the psalmist’s desire and love for the Word of God. In verse 103, he says:
“How sweet are Your words to my palate! Sweeter than honey in the taste of my lips!”
It is also possible to feel this happiness when we read the Bible. It is all we have to do is make a request to God to fill us with an appetite to read His word. It is an opportunity to pray that God would be happy to hear.
- Set a definite time
It is helpful to plan an hour to read the Bible. A good time to do this would be to read the Bible early in the day prior to the hustle of the day gets underway. Other times to consider are at lunchtime or before getting ready for sleep. Setting a specific time to study the Word and integrates them into the daily schedule.
- Read the passages consecutively
Maybe we’ve been a bit erratic during our Bible studying before doing this, reading an article here and a section there. However, a great way to read regularly and consistently in the Word is to read it sequentially, chapter-by-chapter or book after book. In this way, we won’t need to pick what we want to read every time we go to the Bible. If we read the Bible from cover-to-cover and begin to realize how unified it is that the Bible is.
- Give your heart toward the Lord
Each time we read the Word is a good idea to first give our hearts toward Jesus Christ Jesus. Before we begin reading our Bible studying, we could say a simple prayer, such as this:
“Lord Jesus, I turn my heart towards You today. I’m open my heart to You. Talk to me and wash me with Your Word this morning. Dear Lord, there’s plenty more to discover in Your Word. Help me to understand more while I read your Word today.”
The simple act of praying like this can help us to be open to whatever the Lord wants to communicate in His word to us.
- Make sure you review what you have read
Sometimes, while reading the Bible there’s a specific verse that is a standout for us. It might comfort us or convict us, or be applicable to our circumstances. Sometimes, a passage might be puzzling. No matter what our reaction in the event that we are affected by a specific passage it is important to be able to stop and meditate on the verse. We could be thankful to God for the Lord or thank His promises that found within His word. We could request Him to show us the significance of the passage, or simply discuss the chapter.
This way the Bible could be a source of prayer for us, enabling us to be present with our beloved Lord Jesus and build a relationship with Him.
- Make a note of all your Bible reading
It’s important to keep track of the books you’ve read. There are numerous ways to do this. You can note the date that you’ve completed the chapter or book within your printed Bible. You can also mark off each book’s table of contents as you go through it. It is also possible to count the amount the times that you’ve read through the whole Old as well as the New Testament.
Tracking our progress helps us to continue building a Bible habit of reading. For instance, you might feel that you’re doing too slow reading a chapter a day. You’ll complete the New Testament in less than one year by only reading one chapter per day. In five years, you may look over your log and discover that you’ve read all of the New Testament seven times! This kind of progression inspires us to keep going.
- Guard against distractions
Because studying the Bible every day is essential to us as Christians, we must take advantage of the time that we have scheduled to spend with the Word of God. There are many things that could be distracting or interrupting us, and we must to be aware of how to protect the time we have set aside for reading the Bible.
For instance, you might decide to shut off your mobile during this time to ensure that texts, calls, and other notifications do not interrupt your focus. Deciding not to respond to these alerts can help to keep your attention only on reading the Word. Some people have found that studying the Bible using an electronic device isn’t optimal due to the numerous distractions available. If this appears is the situation, consider printing a printed Bible. Bible to help you keep your focus to the Word of God (you can find bible verse of the day from us here).
A regular Bible reading routine will build the foundation that will guide the Christian life, helping to strengthen the faith of believers and helping them understand Jesus Christ Jesus in a more profound way. Let God bless us with all His grace to read daily His Word in order we can increase our understanding of the truth.