To be completely transparent, I have found myself in a state of stagnation regarding bible study more times than I’d like. Honestly, it can be hard to find the time, slow down our brains enough to sit, and genuinely wrestle with the Word as we ought. Add being a parent, wife, and many other hats worn around here, and it’s almost as if time disappears instantly.
Naturally, we all have things that could be used as an excuse to keep us from what’s important. Remember, different seasons of life call for various measures. The tips that I am sharing are not the end all be all because I frankly do not know it all. At all! I’m trying to figure this thing out just like you, so let’s have grace for one another and ourselves as we navigate this journey. Explore different methods. I pray that this post will encourage you to know that you aren’t alone, help you kickstart your journey with Jesus by sharing tips and resources that I’ve found helpful that you can adopt to enhance personal and spiritual growth as your heart desires.
Before I began implementing the seven tips that I am about to share with you, my time in the Word was far and few between. It lacked priority in my day and, was reflected more importantly, in my life. This leads me to the first tip:
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you.
Set a time.
“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.”
Mark 1:35
There’s a saying that you may be familiar with that says, “if you fail to plan, then you plan to fail,” or however it goes. Lol, But I think you get what I’m trying to say. I remember “saying” I wanted a deeper relationship with Christ or honestly envying the relationship others seemed to have with Him, but I had no clue where to begin. I realized that I need to prioritize, set a time and stick to it.
The scripture above, along with many others, clearly shows, Jesus himself set aside time to go before the Lord and commune with Him. Sometimes in the morning, others in the afternoon or night. The point is, there is time to be set aside for the Lord. To my surprise, when I started to rise early in the morning before my family, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew I was desperate for the Lord and His Word. I encourage you to do the same. Let your time with the Lord be what leads your day and starts it off right. Set the alarm. Add it to your calendar with a reminder and commit to showing up just like any other event or meeting.
Location Matters.
Establish a space that is dedicated to this time. Be mindful that it is, without any distractions, calm, inviting, and comfortable. Jesus modeled and made it clear that we must be intentional about not only communing with the Lord but the location in which we do so. It proves beneficial for this space to be set apart for such a time as this.
This doesn’t mean that you need a bigger home or all of these separate rooms. It can be a chair in a specific corner or an actual closet space. All that matters is that you can intentionally retreat, turn all of your attention to the Lord, with the sole purpose of building intimacy with him.
Eliminate distractions.
“But the news about him spread even more, and large crowds would come together to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. Yet he often withdrew to deserted places and prayed.”
Luke 5:15-16
Another way that I have found is helpful to maximize our ability to focus and retain information is to remove all distractions during Bible study. Removing distractions is one of the best ways to sharpen our spiritual senses. The world is full of them. Some that catch us off guard, and others we willingly allow to steal our gaze like our phones. If feasible, put your phone on do not disturb, turn it off, or leave it in an entirely different location.
Gather tools & resources.
First things first, get a bible that you understand. I’m sure you have discovered several Bible translations, and they each serve a different purpose. I highly recommend The English Standard Version of the Bible not only for accurate word-for-word translation but simplicity and understanding. I use this ESV study bible, and cross-reference with the She Reads Truth Bible (CSB), and Life Application Study Bible (NLT) which are also shared below. Having a variety of translations and tools such as a bible dictionary or commentary help enhance comprehension.
A few tools that I have found incredibly helpful are:
- Bible Dictionary
- Concordance
- Journal/Notebook
- Pens
- Highlighters
- Study Bible
- Commentary
- Blue Letter Bible App or Web Page
- ESV Bible App or Web Page
- Sticky Notes
You may also want to incorporate a devotional or Bible study plan if you choose to study via that route. Whatever best suits your learning or study style and keeps you engaged is what you want to be sure to have. Again, while some things listed are must-haves for me, it is essential to identify and utilize the tools that best suit you.
Keeping these things in a particular place, like a go-to caddy has been a game-changer for me. I highly recommend storing your tools in something like this to make them easily accessible and organized when the time comes.
Be Patient.
Be patient with yourself and the process. It is important that we remember why we are even entering this space to engage in this act of dedication. It’s important that we have grace for ourselves throughout the process, and allow space for the Holy Spirit to transform us from the inside out. Your bible study or quiet time doesn’t have to be “perfect” and we must release the idea that perfection in this area even exists.
Also, slow down. Take your time when reading the Bible. People often set goals to read the Bible in a year or read things within a certain time frame and while, those things aren’t terrible, our goal isn’t to just read the words on the pages. Our aim is to enhance biblical literacy, grow in intimacy, and establish a deeply rooted relationship with God and that, my love, requires time, strategy, intentionality, and full comprehension. It’s not a rush or competition.
Use a strategy to journey through.
There have been many times that I have attempted to read my bible and honestly just didn’t get it. I just didn’t understand. I know some of you may be able to relate. Did you know that there are actual strategies that you can use to help you grow in biblical literacy? YES! In the same way that we are or were (cough cough) taught strategies in school in English classes to better help us comprehend the varieties of genres and texts, there are also strategies to do the same with the Bible. The Bible itself is filled with different genres, so having a solid system will surely help you journey through the text more efficiently.
I highly recommend and use a strategy called The Inductive Study Method. It focuses on three principles of approach when studying the Word: Observation or Comprehension, Interpretation, and Application. You see, just like having a set time and location establishes a habit, so does strategy. If you’re interested in learning more about it, I recommend that you watch this video or even this playlist to learn more about how to apply it to your bible study.
Pray.
“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings to search things out.”
Proverbs 25:2
Prayer at the most basic level is defined as “talking with God”. When we talk with Him, not only do we get to share things with Him, but we welcome Him to share things with us. Fostering an environment of intimacy with the Lord through prayer and meditation is of utmost importance. Prayer helps us to turn our focus toward The One we trust and are chasing after. It sets our posture and prepares us to hear from the Lord.
As we study, we need the Holy Spirit to illuminate the scriptures for us as we seek all there is to be revealed. He helps us to rightly interpret, understand and grow in wisdom beyond the knowledge we have just obtained. God also enables us to not only gain head knowledge but correctly apply what is necessary.
Conclusion
Bible study or quiet time, whichever you decide to call it, is the place we truly get to know God. It is where we learn His Word and voice so that we may be able to cipher through the many voices we come in contact with more times than we’d probably like. It’s a vital part of a believer’s walk and I pray that this is a little to help you along your journey of cultivating your personal, meaningful time in the Word and enhanced intimacy with the Lord.
Do you have any tips you would add? Was this helpful for you you? I’d love to hear our feedback in the comments below!
