You’ve probably heard from other Christians that it’s a good idea to read your Bible. Something like, “Reading God’s Word is one of the best ways to know God.” I always hear that phrase in a Southern-Billy-Graham-ish kind of accent for some reason. Regardless of the sort of accent you’ve heard, when someone says reading your Bible is a good thing, they’re right. It’s true too. God reveals Himself through His Word in almost matchless ways.
But you probably already know all of this. You know reading your Bible is a good thing. You know it’s a great way to get to know the LORD. What you want to know is “how.” How do I read God’s Word? And not the “left to right, top to bottom” kind of advice, but something practical, like a Bible study or something I can actually use.
1. Start with prayer.
Surprise, prayer is involved. Okay, okay, not a surprise. You already know this. But do you do it? Do you pause before you start reading and ask God to explain His Word to you?
Like most kids around the ages of 2 or 3, mine enjoyed coloring and drawing pictures with crayons. Also, like most kids that age, mine lacked the skill level of drawing distinguishable shapes. My daughter would hand me a page full of scribbles and say, “Look, Daddy.” Unless she only drew tornados or explosions (which would be a different kind of problem), I usually had no idea what I was looking at. So, I would use that sly parenting move, “Tell me about your picture.” After she explained her squiggly scratch, I could kind of see what she was talking about. Because she created it, only she had the authority to give me insights into understanding her work. This is how reading the Bible goes. The Bible is God’s Word. We need His help understanding it. Every time you open your Bible, ask God to open your eyes, ears, mind, and heart to what He wants to tell you through His words.
2. Pick a translation that fits you best.
Maybe you’re into Shakespearean dialogue and terms, you know what I mean, sentences are written in English but don’t read like English. Not me. I like easy words. When you start to read your Bible, choose a translation that makes sense to you. No reason for making things harder than they need to be.
3. Start with stories.
There is plenty of history, prophecies, revelations, and doctrines in the Bible. But stories are always easier to read. Start with the stories. Genesis, Exodus, and Judges are all books full of stories about God calling and establishing His nation of people. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all tell first-hand accounts of Jesus’ encounters with His disciples, adversaries, and other people. Acts tells the story of how the Christian church began to spread. Start with one of these books and learn the stories of God.
Don’t take on too much at one time. Scripture is dense. A whole chapter is often too much for me. I usually stick with studying the passages between subheadings (usually 10-15 verses) and try to absorb as much as I can. Sometimes I even read that same small passage all week because there’s so much to learn.
4. Use paper and pen.
When I say read the Bible, I mean study the Bible. The Bible is God’s Word, it’s a living, breathing book (Heb. 4:12). It is different from all other books, so you can’t just read it like all other books. Keeping notes will move you from “reading” the Bible to “studying” the Bible. It will help you focus and think more deeply about what you are reading instead of just skimming through chapters. Write down anything that stood out to you, any questions you may have, things you learned about God, things you learned from people who followed God. This is God using His Word to speak to you (specifically you), so write it down. It doesn’t have to be an essay or thesis, just jot down a sentence or two.
5. Create a habit.
Like anything else, the more you do it, the better you’ll get at it. The more you read your Bible, the more natural it will begin to feel, like sitting down with an old friend or recognizing a familiar voice. That level of comfort can only come from shared time together. So, share time with God in His Word. If possible, pick the same time, maybe even the same place every day, to become habitual.
Don’t worry about how much you should read or how long “it’s supposed to last.” You probably don’t measure conversations or time with other people by how long they’re “supposed to be.” Don’t do it with God either. It will last as long as it lasts.
Search for wisdom in those around you.
While all these above steps will help you learn to better read the Bible on your own, there is another step that worked wonders for me. I went to someone I looked up to and knew had a rock-solid understanding of God’s Word and asked, “Could you teach me to read the Bible like you?” This may require a little pride swallowing, but it may also change everything.
