Do you want to know how to study God’s Word in such a way that grows your faith? Many Believers want to study the Bible, but they come up against…
- Distractions
- Confusion
- Time restraints
- Wandering thoughts
- Feeling overwhelmed
How often do you sit down to study God’s Word, and you get a notification on your phone? Or maybe you read a passage and can’t remember what you read because your thoughts are on all the tasks you must accomplish today?
We know, without a doubt, the enemy hates it when we have a desire in our hearts to get to know God more. He hates it when we want to know how to study God’s Word.
Why?
Because he knows God’s Word unlocks the chains that bind you—it sets you free and equips you for more.
You Have to Understand There Is a War
In order to know how to study God’s Word, you have to first understand there is a war taking place on the battlefield of your mind.
Just as Satan got into the thought life of Adam and Eve in the Garden, he wants to get into your thought life too. Don’t underestimate his persistence, but at the same time, don’t overestimate his power in this world.
Jesus said He gave you authority. If you have given your life to Christ, He has given you His power and authority over the enemy. The enemy is predictable, and the Spirit of God will reveal his tactics to you.
- “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.”—Luke 10:19
Now, don’t confuse this with the idea that you won’t have to battle distractions as you study God’s Word. Instead, look at distractions as an opportunity to put on God’s armor and put His Word into action.
How to Study God’s Word | Start in Prayer
There are many ways to start studying the Bible, but the most important is to start in prayer.
- Get into a quiet place.
- Close your eyes.
- Invite His Spirit in.
This seems simple enough, right? The truth is, there isn’t a magic formula for how to start your time of study, it’s more about the heart. The point is to invite Jesus into your study. Ask Him to highlight the words you read. Ask Him to lay His desires on your heart, revealing Himself to you.
Use this prayer as a guide to help you get started.
“Lord Jesus, I humbly come to you today with a heart wide open to receive whatever it is you want to teach me today. Reveal to me areas that need more of you. Show me more of your character, love, mercy, grace, and direction as I sit down to study your Word. I surrender my burdens at the foot of the cross and invite you into this space. I give all the anxieties, thoughts about my day, insecurities, hurts, and pain to you. I invite you into this space. Fill my mind and let me see only you. Amen.”
5 Tips for Studying God’s Word
If you want to know how to study God’s Word, take a few minutes to review the tips below. If one of your struggles is feeling overwhelmed, don’t try to incorporate all of these tips at once. Instead, take one or two at a time and incorporate a new one each week, or how the Spirit leads you.
1.
Establish a routine. Getting into a routine with God’s Word helps you fight against the distractions the enemy throws at you. Establishing a routine could mean getting up ten to 15 minutes early to read a small devotional. Or listen to God’s Word being read as you commute to work. Try setting the alarm to establish a set time of studying the Word.
What if life happens and you don’t get a chance to get into the Word during your set time? Don’t stress. Ask God to open up a moment of opportunity at some other point during the day, and when He presents it, take it. He isn’t condemning you for not sticking to your routine. He is inviting you to join Him at any point during the day.
“A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.”
—Proverbs 19:9
2.
Keep a journal. Any notebook will do. As you come across a verse that God highlights during your reading, write it down. Ask the Lord what He wants to reveal to you through the verse. Any thoughts that come to mind, write those down too. You’ll be surprised at how these verses and passages start to be the solutions to some of the struggles you’re against in the future. Remember, His Word equips you for anything.
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
—2 Timothy 3:16-17
3.
Listen to worship music. Worship music takes passages and verses and puts them to a tune. Put on your headphones, pull up our worship playlist on spotify, and listen to the words. In your journal, you can write down the lyrics. Then search to find verses the lyrics are tied to. Worshipping touches God’s heart and draws you into His presence. If you know someone who would be encouraged by the song, share it with them.
“… be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”
—Ephesians 5:18-19
4.
Read God’s Word out loud. Reading the Word aloud engages various senses and can help you better retain what you read. Many find reading scripture aloud highlights words or areas that have been skipped over when previously read. Another option is to listen to an audio version of the Bible. You can do this and follow along in your own Bible. The Israelites used to gather as a group and a prophet or priest would read God’s Word out loud. It would turn their hearts, and they would have a greater understanding. This is still true for us today.
“Then he [Ezra] read from it [the Law] in the open square that was in front of the Water Gate from morning until midday, before the men and women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law.”
—Nehemiah 8:3
5.
Find a friend or join a group. We need accountability partners. When you know someone is reading and studying God’s Word with you, you don’t feel alone on the journey of faith. God desires us to live in a community where we have people around us to encourage us, and we can encourage, using His Word. We need people who will come alongside us and use God’s Word to correct and guide us in life. This is the beauty of studying the Bible with a friend.
“As iron sharpen iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”
—Proverbs 27:17
The Takeaway
When you want to know how to study God’s Word, it is because He has placed a desire in you to grow closer to Him. He is rejoicing in the fact that you desire to know Him more, and He can’t wait to reveal more of Himself to you.
Studying the Bible opens up your eyes to see your circumstances through a biblical worldview and see yourself and others the way God does.
He wants you to know His story because you are in it. There is a place for you in His Kingdom, and He starts to reveal it through His Word. Watch as your faith multiplies as you get into God’s Word.
