If you’re new to following Jesus, or even if you’ve been following Him for a while, the Bible can seem overwhelming. There are 66 books with different authors, topics, and writing styles. It can be hard to know where to start. However, when we take the time to read and understand, the Bible speaks truth to our hearts and guides us in following Jesus.
Here are 6 tips to help you in your Bible reading:
1. Start and end with prayer.
Take a couple minutes to pray before you read. Be intentional and ask God to guide you. We often rush our Bible reading like we’re completing something on our to-do list. But we have the opportunity to spend time with God and learn from Him as we read His Word. Slowing down and praying reminds us to be open to what God may want to speak to our hearts.
When you read, there may be something that stands out to you. Hold on to that, write it down, and at the end of your time reading ask God to continue to teach you.
2. Remember it all points to Jesus.
Though there are many books of the Bible with different authors, all of it points to Jesus. Some may read the Old Testament and have a hard time connecting it to the New Testament, but it all tells us one cohesive story of God’s faithfulness. The Bible often references God’s use of imperfect people to fulfill His perfect plan.
Galatians 3:19 tells us that the law was given to “show people their sins” (NLT). The law and the prophets in the Old Testament point us toward our inability to be good and righteous on our own. We are reminded in both the Old Testament and the New Testament of our need for a Savior, our need for Jesus.
3. Let the Bible speak for itself.
Whether we intend to or not, when we read the Bible, we bring with us all our opinions, experiences, and biases. Keep in mind, the Bible was written over a period of about 1,600 years to specific groups of people throughout history. Though the Bible has application for every generation, it was first written to others in a specific cultural context. It helps us to remember the perspective of those who first heard it and the way they understood it. That influences how we understand and apply God’s Word today.
There may be some things we believe that are not what God teaches. We must allow God’s truth to speak for itself instead of trying to prove our opinions. All of us come with our own experiences and biases, and that is why we need the Lord to teach us and transform us.
God uses the Bible to do this in our lives. As 2 Timothy 3:16 says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.”
4. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.
There may be some things that we don’t understand when we read. We may not know what a particular verse means, why it’s written, or what it means for us. It’s okay to have questions.
Ephesians tells us that Jesus has given us people whose “responsibility [it] is to equip God’s people to do His work and build up the church, the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12 NLT). The church is there to help us grow in our faith and understanding of God’s Word. Don’t be afraid to ask a pastor or teacher for help. They may not have all the answers, but they are there to walk with you as you continue to seek God through His Word.
5. Apply what you’ve learned.
When we read, there may be things we realize we need to do or change. James 1:22a challenges us, “…don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says” (NLT).
All of us have made mistakes and all of us are being challenged to become more like Jesus, from the newest Christian to the oldest one. Thank God for His grace and forgiveness!
Take the time to write down what you’ve learned and ask God to help you put His Word into practice. Reach out to someone to talk about what you’ve learned and to help keep you accountable to the changes you’ve made.
6. Keep reading.
There may be days when you don’t feel like reading, when you don’t understand what you read, or when you feel like you didn’t learn anything.
Keep reading. There may be something that you may not understand today that God uses later. John 16:33 tells us that the Spirit will “guide you into all truth” (NLT). Trust that God is faithful and will guide you.
A Prayer for Reading the Bible
God, thank You for the opportunity to read Your Word. Help me to understand and obey what you are teaching me. I want to know You more. Help me to lay down my own ideas and learn from You as I read. Help me to not just learn information about You, but to get to know You and put the Bible into practice in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
