How to Read Your Bible
- Have a Bible that you can understand, but is a reliable & trustworthy translation (CSB, ESV, NLT)
- Electronic bible is great and even useful, but have a physical copy
- Pick a book & read through it
- Don’t have to start at beginning of the bible
- Use a reading plan
- Devotions are helpful but are not sufficient
- Verse of the day is great and better than nothing.
- Lacks context, could potentially rob you of a greater profit, but God’s word never returns void
- Read every day – PRIORITIZE!
- Make it a priority daily, and sooner than later it becomes a habit.
- Jeremiah 29:13 – “You will seek me and find Me, if you seek Me with all your heart.”
- God loves to reveal himself to those who seek Him.
- Pray
- Pause before you open your Bible and ask God to speak to you.
- Remember, the Bible is God’s Word; it is God’s love letter written to His people, which includes you.
- Ask God to help you understand His Word.
- Ask God to use His Word to teach you, to direct you, and even to re-direct you, when necessary.
- Ask Him to use His Word to help you know Him and love Him.
- Journal/HEAR Method (not a necessity, but edifying and helpful)
- H – Highlight a verse
- E – Explain what the verse means, what the author is trying to convey in its context
- A – Apply the meaning of this text to your life and walk with Christ
- R – Respond in prayer by writing out a prayer to God to work on your heart and in your life in regards to this text