5 Powerful Bible Reading Tips To Deepen Your Faith

In this article, we will hear from guest author Amy Senter. She will share her 5 powerful Bible reading tips and how they can help you dig deeper into God’s Word.

We are all guilty of taking one verse and applying it to our situation—without context, without consideration that maybe the verse before or after could change its entire meaning. We want what can help us NOW, at this moment, in our despair. 

While I admit I’ve done this a few times, over the years I realized that I may be making the Bible all about ME instead of all about GOD. 

If you’re new to the Bible (or a lifelong church-goer that feels they simply haven’t grasped the Bible after all these years), I have a few suggestions for you that will give you deeper insight faster than just trying to figure it out on your own. 

What Is the Purpose of the Bible?

I love what Candace Cameron Bure says in her book, Healthy in the Hustle: 

The Bible is not just a book full of words. It is more than a lifeline, an instructional manual, a source of encouragement, and a tool for making decisions. It is how God communicates His heart to us. And the more we read it, the more we grow to know and love our creator and understand how he wants us to live our lives.

Candace Cameron bure

The Bible is a gift from God to us. It is how we learn about who he is and what he desires for us. It’s a book full of promises and blessings and tells the story of centuries of God’s love for his children. 
So let’s open it up and see what the actual Bible says about its purpose.

>>Check Out: How Long Does It Take To Read the Bible? 4 Ways To Read the Entire Bible

To Give You Hope and Encouragement

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. – Romans 15:4

To Give You Direction

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

To Be a Model of Righteousness

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;  for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. – James 1:22-24

To Be a Stable Resource for How to Live

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. – Isaiah 40:8

To Be Our Nourishment

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ” – Matthew 4:4

To Provide Truth, Correction, and Instruction

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

To Be a Perfect Example of How to Live

As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the Lord is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him. -Psalm 18:30

To Be a Blessing

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” – Luke 11:28

>> Check out The Difference Between The Old and New Testament

5 Bible Reading Tips For Deeper Spiritual Growth

 

>> Check out How To Memorize Scripture: 8 Helpful Tactics

1. Be Intentional About What You Study

Oftentimes we tend to just read whatever we flip to that day or open our Bibles and aren’t sure where to start. If you’re a new Christian, I suggest starting in the Gospels (that’s Matthew-John) because they are 4 viewpoints of the story of Jesus’ life on earth.

Otherwise, I recommend doing a guided Bible study workbook that is full of Bible verses rather than a topical commentary, because it will force you to actually read your Bible instead of simply talking about it. 

>> Check out 12 creative reading plans that will help you become intentional by clicking BIBLE READING PLANS.

2. Take Notes

Whether you purchase a Bible with room to write, or just have a spiral notebook you can jot down notes in, write about what you’re learning. Notice verses that stick out to you and write them down.

See a confusing list of genealogies? Write down who the main characters are and how they’re related to each other. The more you write, the more connections you will make.

3. Get Out Your Highlighter

When you return to the text later in another study, it will be helpful to have highlighted passages that spoke to you before. Sometimes I’ll highlight something that I want to pray over someone and write their name next to it. Years later, I can remember that moment and see how God has worked in my life over time. 

4. Invest in Bible Study Resources

While I always recommend you focus your study on actual Biblical text, a well-researched resource is helpful to bring context to what you’re studying. A Biblical Concordance will help you look up topics and a Bible Atlas will allow you to make connections to the places in which these events happened. 

>>For more information and resources check out these free online Bible study tools.

5. Be Open to Different Styles of Study

While many Christian authors have helpful wisdom, I suggest that you don’t limit yourself to one voice. Try multiple resources and styles to get a wider perspective on what the Bible teaches. After all, we don’t want to learn what someone we admire thinks the Bible is saying, we want to make sure our main focus is on the actual Bible. Try out Bible journaling, read books by Christian authors, and dig into a specific book of the Bible study.

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I am so excited for you to see where deeper Bible study will take you and I hope these Bible reading tips have been helpful.

However you choose to study, commit to reading your Bible every day. What time of the day works best for you? Set your alarm and start today! You’ve got this!

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