5 Tips for Bible Reading
I’ll be honest, for a long time, reading the Bible was HARD for me. Every January 1st, I’d start reading Genesis and say to myself, ¨This is the year that I will read the whole Bible!¨… I didn’t make it through Numbers, ha! Of course, that was followed by discouragement and guilt, until I mustered up the motivation to start again.
Prayer and worship have always come quite naturally to me, but reading was a challenge. As the years have gone by, I’ve come to truly love and treasure the Word of God. I am emotionally invested. I think this shift of deeply desiring the Word began when I walked through depression and loneliness. During that season, I depended on His words to get me by day after day. I don’t think I had ever needed to hear His voice as much as I did then. That was the beginning of my love story with the Bible.
I grew up in a home with LOTS of Bibles! We had them in many different colors, versions, and languages. They were stored on shelves, stacked on tables, and sitting on the armrest of our couch. I knew the stories, memorized verses, read it, studied it, and taught it. I think that was okay, but I am so grateful God called me to more. He wanted more than just a completed Bible plan, He wanted my inner-world. The words written in the Bible have a unique transformative power, that when we zoom by them, we often miss. But He is always there and always willing.
If I’m honest, I think one of the biggest hindrances when it comes to Bible reading is actually its accessibility. If we’re not careful, accessibility can rob us of our wonder. When I paused to consider how valuable the Bible is, things began to change. I began to think about the messengers who risked their lives delivering the letters from one city to another; the authors who were surely unpopular at their time and still chose to follow God; the people who centuries later paid for its translation and distribution. The Bibles we have in our homes are the result of the sacrifice of many generations. But you see, I’ve never had to risk my life to buy a Bible; I’ve never had to sneak one into my house afraid my parents would catch me. So, I have to remind myself how valuable the Bible truly is. I must constantly remind myself that these are God-breathed words about His Son, His heart, and His dream.
The more I value the Word, the more I’ll be able to truly treasure it in my heart. When I love it, I am excited to read it, I persevere, and I fully commit, questions and all. I want to make that a little easier with these tips. I hope they’re helpful and transform the way you view and relate to Scripture.
1. Browse
A few things you can do to set yourself up for success are find a version you like and understand, choose a Bible plan that speaks to the season you’re in, and join a group of friends to read with. Remember that reading the Bible is NOT about ¨brownie points¨, it’s about getting connected to the source, and sometimes that’s by studying a certain character or topic or reading through a book several times. There’s freedom to connect. Plus, there are SO many resources out there, I’ll leave the links to just a few below:
2. Intention
Oftentimes, we jump into a portion of Scripture without taking into account the narrating voice, the previous events, or the audience. When reading, ask yourself:
Who’s talking? (God the Father, a prophet, a king, Jesus, an apostle)
Who’s listening? (Was the intended audience Jewish? Gentile? Both? Disciples? Churchfolk? A family?)
Is there a repetitive theme? (Pay attention to the verbs, the sequence of the story, and if there’s something that is being emphasized time and time again).
This is helpful when it comes to understanding what we’re reading. Reading OUT LOUD is a huge thing for me because it requires me to slow down and focus. The Bible was actually written to be read out loud and when I do, I am able to put myself in the shoes of the ones who first heard the words. This is good for understanding and applying.
3. Become
From start to finish, the Bible is about Jesus, therefore reading it is also about Jesus. Learning about the heart, character, and purpose of God transforms how we think, live, and see the world. I’ve challenged myself to approach the Bible, not for what I can get from it, but for what I can learn about Him. Of course, without forsaking the fact that it holds promises, guidance, stories to build my faith, encouragement, and exhortation, and that we are to turn to the Word for all of those things! I read my Bible because I want to know what He has to say, but also because I simply delight in hearing His voice. I like to ask myself:
What does the text tell me about the heart of God?
Where can I see Jesus in this story?
How does this portion fit into the big picture?
What can I learn from this to draw closer to God?
In books like Numbers, for example, I pause after reading a chapter to consider how it is pointing to Jesus or a story I am familiar with. I put myself in the shoes of the audience, in this case, the people of Israel listening to Moses, and consider if there’s a place in my life where I could apply the principles I am reading about.
4. Lean in
The Bible is powerful because it is the Word of God. However, I do believe that my heart posture plays a role in its effect in me. No matter what’s going on, I can take a moment to breathe and reset my heart. When I open up my Bible, I position my heart to discover, explore, listen, meditate, and honestly, enjoy it. And even when I don’t feel anything, I press in. I push past the resistance in my heart or distractions in my mind until I find Jesus. I might have to re-read a chapter several times before I can truly connect, but that’s okay. Bible reading should not feel like a chore, it’s a discovery of His heart.
5. Extend
I’ve noticed that the more I speak about the Bible, the more I remember it. I’ve also realized that I gain deeper insight as I share it with others. There’s just something about discussing what you read about with a friend. Sharing a verse of encouragement multiplies its effect in you. The best way to learn the Word is to share it among friends.
I once heard someone say, ¨The more you do it, the more you do it¨. ¨It¨ can stand for anything, both healthy and unhealthy; working out, eating junk food, negative self-talk, or… in today’s case, reading the Bible! The more you read it, the more you’ll read it! :) I hope you feel understood, encouraged, and inspired to pick up your Bible and try it again. GOD, the Creator of heaven and earth, the purest, truest, kindest Friend, wants to speak to you and me through the Bible.
