“Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts.” (Jeremiah 15:16)
- Establish a Time and a Place.
If you do not establish a specific time and place for your Bible reading, you will never have a consistent walk with God.
- Have Some Basic Study Tools.
A study Bible, a concordance, a Bible handbook, a Dictionary, a Bible encyclopedia.
- Have a Notebook and a Pen.
Having a pen and a notebook nearby gives us a spirit of expectancy. It helps our minds stay alert and allows us to capture on paper the things that God is teaching us.
- Have a Pencil for Marking in Your Bible.
I recommend a pencil because you can erase it if you make a mistake, and the pencil doesn’t bleed through to the other side of the page.
You can use the margins of your Bible to add cross-references, word definitions, outlines, and brief commentaries. By adding such things, you are making your own study Bible. This is why a wide-margin Bible is sometimes helpful.
Underline judiciously – important words, repeated themes, key verses. (Remember if everything is highlighted nothing is highlighted!)
- Have a Reading Plan.
We should have a systematic way that we are reading through the Bible. You can have a reading checklist, a certain number of pages or chapters to read, or even a certain amount of time to read.
- Start Your Reading with Prayer.
We should never assume that we are able to understand the Bible without God’s help. Ask God to open the eyes of your understanding. We must follow the example of the Psalmist who prayed, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law” (Psalms 119:18). Proverbs says that we will find wisdom only when we cry out for understanding (Proverbs 2:1-5).
- Keep Your Mind on Your Bible Reading.
Read in the morning when your mind is the freshest. Remove all distractions: computer screens, phones, and background noise. When your mind wanders, prayerfully bring it back. Don’t leave your chair! Instead, write down on your prayer list all of the “to do’s” that suddenly pop into your mind.
- Read the Bible for Its Practicality.
From my reading, what does God want me to put into practice today? From this passage, what does God want me to pray?
- Keep a Prayer Journal.
It is helpful to keep a prayer journal. We have a long list of spiritual and physical needs and a lengthy list of people as well: husbands, wives, children, mothers, fathers, pastors, missionaries, unsaved relatives and acquaintances, the sick, the persecuted believers, and the government. A list helps us obey God’s command to pray.
Awesome! Thanks