Is There a Right or Wrong Way to Study the Bible?

As a Christian it is always our goal to continue to grow in our relationship with the Lord. This is accomplished by attending church, surrounding your self with like-minded people and studying your Bible. When you start studying the Bible you may wonder if there is a right or a wrong way to study the Bible. There really are no rules to studying the Bible, but these are a few suggestions to help you grow in your walk with the Lord through the words written in your Bible.

• Start the journey slowly. Studying the Bible can be a bit overwhelming at first glance. Start out slowly. Attempt a passage each day in your Bible. Pray to the Lord to take you in the direction that He wishes and read the part of the Bible that you are drawn to. Pray about what you have just read and ask God to lead you to its interpretation. It is not recommended to read the Bible for hours on end. There is a lot of information to absorb and understand. Open your heart and take it slowly, at least at the beginning.

• Always incorporate prayer when studying your Bible. It is extremely commendable that you want to grow closer to the Lord by reading his words. Remember though this is not a summer novel by any means. Always pray before, during and after studying the Bible. Begin by thanking the Lord for His words and allowing you the opportunity to read them. While reading and attempting to interpret God’s word, pray that He will make the message and the words become clearer so you can learn from them. Lastly, when you are through, thank Him for this time that the two of you had together and all that you have learned. Without prayer you will become frustrated in attempting to interpret what you are reading.

• Stay committed. Though our lives can be extremely hectic and overwhelming, stay committed to spending time with God’s word preferably on a daily basis. Those of us who read the Bible haphazardly or when we get a free moment do not get as much from the words than those who make reading a priority. God should always be first in our lives, over everything and everyone. If we can heed this rule everyone in our lives will benefit, as the Lord will bless us for being His faithful and loving servant.

• Understand that you are always learning. No one “masters” the Bible. We are always learning and growing in God’s word. To the point that we may interpret a passage one way and then read it shortly thereafter and interpret it an entirely different way. Whether we have been committed to reading the Bible for years or have just begun our journey, we must always keep our hearts open to the different teachings the Lord is attempting to convey to us at any given moment.

There is no right or wrong way to read the Bible. The important thing is that we do take time to read it! Just always remember to keep your heart open, remain in prayer and thank the Lord for all that He has given you.

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