The Bible is a book that reveals the mind of God. It is not just an ordinary book. It is a book that will work wonders in every life, if acted upon and obeyed in faith and sincerity. It is God’s inspired revelation and as such has to be read properly for better understanding. I have listed here some few procedures to help in reading your Bible. Before you dive into any verse, chapter, or character study you need to, first of all, pray. Ask the Holy Spirit for understanding. Mind you, the Bible is God’s word and you can not understand it by your carnal mind.
1. Frequently And Daily
The Bible has to be read daily, continuously and frequently. “Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.” (Joshua 1:8 NLT). Joshua is advised to diligently observe and constantly read the word of God and of course, so much blessing is pronounced on him. So is every man, christian or believer who takes Joshua’s place in regards to reading the word of God. Understanding God’s word comes as you continuously meditate on it – repeatedly, regularly, time and again, and upon all occasions.
2. With Consciousness Of Need.
“On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’” (When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)” (John 7:37-39 NLT). The hunger and crave for something is what makes you go an extra mile to have it. Christ has made an offer that if any man is in need of any spiritual gift, let him come to me. The more you desire and hunger for the word of God, the more you’ll be filled. 2 Peter 3:18 indicates “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” Growth in the knowledge of God comes by a passionate desire and longing for His word.
3. Meditatively
“But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.” (Psalm 1:2 NLT). Always meditate on His word and deeply think about it. Diligently read and ponder over His word.
4. In Faith
Reading God’s word is based on faith. You must believe that what you are reading is, of course, God’s word for humanity. “So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” (Romans 10:17 NLT). How do you get faith? – from the word of God. The more you hear the more you believe. Reading God’s word is based on faith. You must, first of all, believe that He is God. If you can’t believe that he is God then you can’t also believe His word because He is the Word. Hebrews 11:6 says for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
5. In love
“Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. Your commands are always with me and make me wiser than my enemies. I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your statutes. I have more understanding than the elders, for I obey your precepts. I have kept my feet from every evil path so that I might obey your word. I have not departed from your laws, for you yourself have taught me. How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! I gain understanding from your precepts; therefore I hate every wrong path.” (Psalm 119:97-104)
Isn’t it amazing the things we do for love? We think about the people and things we love all the time – Sweet words of loved ones, etc. As the Psalmist also put it “Oh, how I love your law! I meditate on it all day long”. The word of God is wisdom for mankind and the more we read it, the more we become wiser. When we love the Lord we’ll always want to hear him talk to us and one of the ways he does that is through his word. The more you know His word the better it is to handle temptations when they arise.
6. Searchings
“You search the Scriptures because you think they give you eternal life. But the Scriptures point to me! (John 5:39 NLT). It is possible to read and know the word of God without knowing the God of the word. We are therefore advised to search the scriptures – not only reading or hearing them but persevere in searching, examining and studying them. This gets us established deeply and firmly in the Lord.
7. Openness To All Of It
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).
The Bible is a guide for our lives and it is suitable for all human cases and profitable for all purposes of a Christian’s life.
8. By Comparing Scripture With Scripture
“When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.” (1 Corinthians 2:13 NLT). You cannot study the Word of God with your carnal mind. You need the help of the Holy Spirit and that’s why Apostle Paul indicates in the above scripture that what He speaks is not human wisdom but spiritual wisdom and it’s only a spiritual people who can understand his interpretation because spiritual things are for spiritual or mature people. Understanding the word of God is not based on a certain level of intelligence, education or training but as we constantly read, meditate and compare scripture with scripture we become more mature in understanding spiritual things. As we open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and compare spiritual things with spiritual, we get deeper understanding and revelation from His word.
9. In The Spirit
“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you. (John 14:16-17 NLT). Pray for the gift of the Holy Spirit. You cannot interpret the Bible by your own mind and that’s why you need the Holy Spirit – He is your helper, advocate, and comforter who teaches you all things and will abide with you now and forever.
10. In Obedience
“Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.” (Romans 1:5 NLT).
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The King's Daughters 