Hey sis, ever just did not know where to start in studying your Bible? I know I have. I remember when I got really serious about studying the Word of God. The previous night I was bawling my eyes out about how I felt unloved. I was tired of putting others before God. So, I asked God, “Please just write my love story.” I completely surrendered everything all to God that night. Tears and all. Worry, confusion, low-self esteem, bitterness, my broken heart, resentment, and the list goes on. I could feel Holy Spirit leading me to pull out my Bible. So, I did. I flipped open my Bible not having a particular verse in mind just kind of opening my Bible and whatever verse I laid my eyes on that is the one I would read. You know my eyes immediately were drawn to Psalms 34:18.
“The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit.” –Psalms 34:18 (NKJV)
God made His Word alive and real to my heart that night. I knew that the Lord had heard my cry and He was near to me in such a loving way as never before. Personally, I knew the Lord speaks through His Word. I wanted to know everything that He said for myself. Not what the Pastor, my mom, or dad said but what God said. I was devoted to reading my Bible everyday for a year. I did not understand everything I read but the knowledge and truth that I did gain was priceless. I really had a desire to grow in the Word of God. I heard of God. Grew up in church all my life, but I had to seek after Him for myself. “God, what does your Word have to say to me personally? I want to know You.”Here are some tips to help you get started in your scripture study:
“Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee. Receive, I pray thee, the law from His mouth, and lay up His words in thine heart.” –Job 22:21-22 (KJV)
- Greet
Invite God and Holy Spirit into your quiet time by opening up in prayer. God loves when we invite Him into our studies of His precious Word. He has so much to tell us through His Word. He reveals so much when we take the time to acknowledge Him. Your prayer does not have to be long. Just straight to the point. He just wants us to receive His Word so that we can apply it to our every day lives. Imagine a Father being so excited to see his son after a long day of work. God is just as more excited to see His child spending time with Him in His Word.
- Read
Start with a topic God has been tugging on your heart to dig deeper in. Look up scriptures pertaining to that topic. One of my favorite ways in to Google search it. For example, if I wanted to look up scriptures on overcoming fear. I would type that in the search box. Write down those verses that speak to you the most and start there. Read the verse silently or out loud a couple of times. Some scriptures you will not understand the first time you read them so it is good to go back and read it again.
- Observe
What stood out to you as you read this verse? What is the deeper meaning? How can I apply this to my life? Look for keywords that make the section make sense. If a word or phrase is repeated, it is important. I love to have my Vine’s Expository Dictionary of the Old and New Testament Words handy to look up words that I may have circled that I want to look up in the original Hebrew & Greek language.
- Write
Write out the verse, your observations, and a prayer. It is good to have a highlighter handy or pen so you can circle or highlight words or phrases of the scripture that stick out to you that you will want to refer back to later. Do not be afraid to write in the margins of your bible. Personally, I love to circle, highlight, and underline words that I can go and look up. Sticky notes are good to insert in your Bible. Instead of a highlighter some use colored pencils to stop the bleeding onto the next page. If you are not one to write in your Bible you can write in your journal or a personalized notebook.
I pray that your desire for more of God’s Word grow more and more in such a way that only He can satisfy. He is the only One that can quench that longing and thirsting for more of Him in your soul.
What are some of your favorite bible studying tips?
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