Do you know how to prepare yourself for your daily Bible reading? – Quiet Time Tips #3

(see #1 and #2 in this series of posts)

In days ahead, I want to give you some practical, workable, effective tools for your daily Bible reading and time with the Lord.

I’m going to walk through a number of practices that you might find helpful, none of which are original with me, I’m sure. As you read through them, pick out a couple that seem like they fit you, and begin utilizing them in your time with the Lord.

But before we get there…

…let’s consider some basic facts about good Bible study. In order for the scriptures to be beneficial to us, they must be:

read
understood
and applied.

This requires more than simply reading a passage for 5 minutes each day.

The kind of benefit we need to derive from the scriptures, and that God intends, can only come as we invest the time to truly study the Bible.

Slow down in your daily Bible reading…

When you study the Bible you are taking time to understand the intricacies of the situations, the logic in the arguments, and the application scripture makes of the truths it is revealing.

It may take you a few days to digest one passage or story.

It may require that you write the key verses on a card and read and ponder them throughout the day (highly recommended!).

All of that is perfectly O.K. Really.

You need to get out of the “get er done” mindset.

It’s not important how fast you finish your scriptural meal, it’s important how much nourishment you get from it!

Start with prayer

To get started, I’d suggest that you always, always, ALWAYS begin your study time with prayer.

I don’t mean that you need to take out your prayer list and pray for everyone from your spouse to your co-worker’s Aunt Ethel.

I’m talking about an introductory prayer, to set the stage and attitude for your spirit and mind.

Ask the Lord to help you to understand what He is wanting to say to you through the time you are about to spend in your daily Bible reading. Ask Him to give you an undivided mind, an open heart, and spiritual sensitivity to understand His truth.

The Bible is unlike any other book.

You can’t simply read it and “get it” immediately.

You need the Lord to reveal His will and ways to you as you consider the scriptures.His thoughts are much higher than yours, as are His ways (Isaiah 55:8). There’s no hope of grasping the eternal and unfathomable riches that are recorded in scriptures unless you lean on Him in childlike dependence.

Begin with a prayer of dependence.

The next few posts are going to cover some specific methods you can use in your daily Bible reading… stay tuned.