There are many ways of studying the Bible. One is to read it through
slowly, verse by verse, meditating on what is being said. This tends to
miss the overall message of the book as a whole. The opposite is the
marathon Bible reader who gallops through all 66 books at least once a
year. Sadly, there is little spiritual food gained.
Another obstacle that often dead-ends people in their desire to absorb
Scripture is their use of some archaic translation of the Bible. Our
mind cannot flow easily with the words and thought forms. When I want to
just sit and read Scripture, I recommend with God’s Word Version or The
New King James Version, both excellent up-to-date and highly readable
translations. When I want to seriously study, I use the New American
Standard Version.
We do not meet with God for ten minutes or even an hour a day. He lives
in us, and we live in Him! He is our life. We do not cross the road or
enter a building to meet with Him, for we are never separated one from
another. The time set aside to read His Word and meditate is quality
time with the God we live, move, and even sleep in. It is time when
every demanding thought is set aside to see life through His eyes in His
written Word.
One of the first and continuing steps in meditative reading is the use
of our imagination. Our imagination is not only God-given, but an
activity only enjoyed by the one creature made in the image of God. With
this faculty, we can project ourselves anywhere in time or geography.
The following is a brief outline to help you as you come to examine and
experience the Scripture:
- Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what He wishes to speak to you in
- Remind yourself that you are dedicated to hear exactly what God is
- Become thoroughly acquainted with the Scripture, reading it over in
- As you read and re-read, write down any questions that arise from
- Turn to your reference books. If you plan to share God’s Word with
- Apply what you discover. Ask yourself how you can live out this new