I want to begin this blog by saying, God wants to spend time with you (period). Bible reading and Bible study along with prayer are the best ways to spend time and draw closer to God. Don't put any unnecessary pressure on yourself to adapt all of these keys into your Bible Study time. Just spend time with Jesus daily.
I'm writing this message because I get a lot of questions regarding Bible Study methods, material, etc. Not only that, but my most popular YouTube videos are about Bible Study. So I thought this would be a great way to direct any future questions I get here to the blog and answer additional questions if needed.
Again, let me stress the importance of spending time with God daily. This is where you will get your life! Seriously! Spending time with God draws you closer to Him, feeds your spirit, gives you wisdom, knowledge, understanding, divine revelation, prophetic insight, correction, direction, encouragement, inspiration, motivation and anything else you will need to live a victorious life. So whether you use these keys or not, spend time with the LORD everyday.
I guess what I'm trying to say is... don't get caught up in all the rules, rituals or routines. Although some are necessary to begin the practice, God only wants relationship with you. That's the most important thing above all else.
I also want to say these keys have helped me personally over the years. They have been what I've used to help me better understand and live out the Word of God in my own life. No one taught these to me, they only came by experience. They are in no particular order. I just wrote them in my notes as led. So if you're going to apply any of these keys, just pick one. You don't have to begin at number one and go down the list. I always say, when we work on one "task" towards a goal, all others will inadvertently fall in place.
So here they are, 10 Keys to Effective Bible Study...
- Have an objective. What is your objective for studying your Bible? Draw close to God, get understanding, gain knowledge and wisdom in a certain area, guidance, teaching others... what is your objective? --- Example: I recently started studying on parenting because I want to be the parent God desires me to be.
- Find a translation you're comfortable with understanding. This is very important because you want to be able to understand what you're reading. My best advice to you in choosing a translation is to pray first and be led of Holy Spirit. Ask questions about the translation and do your research first too. This will help you in deciding.
- Pray and be led by Holy Spirit on what you should study. There have been times in my life where Holy Spirit would lead me to study something which at the time I didn't think I needed, only a couple of weeks later finding myself in a situation where I needed exactly what I studied. Remember, God is all-seeing and all-knowing. Being led my Holy Spirit will prepare you for what lies ahead whether it's for you or for someone else.
- Use Bible Study tools. Bible, notebook, pens, highlighters, dictionary, concordance, books... whatever you need that will help you better understand what you read, and also helps it to stick out in your Bible and mind for future references.
- Don't rush. Sometimes it takes me a few weeks to study a few scriptures. Don't rush the process. There is something Holy Spirit is embedding in your spirit and soul that you need, or it may be something He is purging out of you through your studies. Just allow the process to happen while you take your time and study out the scriptures.
- Join group Bible Studies or fellowships. Whether it's with your friends, a small group or weekly Bible Study at your church, it always helps to have someone to discuss scripture with and bounce ideas and understanding off one another.
- Listen to sermons or teachings based on the Word of God. This will help you to better understand the scriptures. Just make sure you read the scriptures along with the teacher, take notes and then study what you learn for yourself.
- Read scripture based books on the subject you are studying. If you are studying about prayer, read books on prayer. This goes for whatever you are studying. This also helps you understand what you're studying from different perspectives.
- Set aside time for studying. You can't effectively study while multi-tasking. So set aside designated time for both Bible reading and studying.
- Create an atmosphere conducive for studying. Have a quiet corner or space both mentally and physically to go to while you're studying. A place free from distractions. This will help you focus better. Make sure the place is comfortable (but not too comfortable that you fall asleep). --- Note: If you're unable to do this, that's okay. Again, it's all about you spending time with God.
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