How to Study the Bible

For more than 40 years now I have been studying the Bible, and it has drastically changed my life. It’s been the key to radical transformation in my perspectives and attitudes, and God has healed and restored my spirit, soul and body through the power of His Word.  

Even now, I’m still continually amazed by all of the benefits we have access to in God’s Word!  

How Will Studying the Bible Help Me?

The Bible is no ordinary book. The words within its pages are like medicine to your soul. It has the power to change your life because there is life in the Word! (See Hebrews 4:12.)  

Jesus says in John 8:31-32 (AMP), “If you abide in My word [continually obeying My teachings and living in accordance with them, then] you are truly My disciples. And you will know the truth...and the truth will set you free....”

These verses have brought me to a simple conclusion: If we don’t study God’s Word consistently and apply this truth to our lives, we will lack the power we need to mature in Christ and glorify God in this world.

So no matter where you are in your walk with God, I want to encourage you to start spending time in His Word today and be determined to stick with it! You’ll find that every time you study the Bible and pay attention to what you’re reading, you’re learning something.

Proverbs 4:20-22 says, My son, be attentive to my words…for they are life to those who find them… The word “attend” means to pay attention to, give some time to something. To attend to the Word of God is a lot more than just reading; it’s meditating on it.

We need to get into agreement with what God wants us to do because, as the writer of Proverbs says, these words are life! When you need an encouraging word, or you’re in a negative environment, it’s good to know that you can find life (plus healing and health) in God’s Word.  

What do I Study?

There’s really no wrong place to start. You can study anything that’s going to help you. If you’re dealing with anger or fear, use a concordance and locate those words to see which scriptures talk about them.

When I first started studying the Word, I didn’t have very good relationships and I didn’t really understand what love was.

As I studied the subject of love, I learned that it’s more than a warm, fuzzy feeling; it’s a decision you make every day to treat people the way Jesus would treat them.

By studying what the Bible says about love, I learned how to love. That’s when my life really began to change.

Being able to apply what you study to your life, like I did on the subject of love, is just one picture of what studying the Bible looks like.

Practical Steps to Study the Bible

Here are four steps you can take to begin digging into God’s Word now:

1. Purposely set aside time. I make an appointment with God in the mornings, but if that doesn’t work for you, find a time that does…even if it’s not every day. Whatever you can do, that’s what you need to do. Just start somewhere and you’ll see the fruit that this time brings to your life!

2. Make preparation for your Bible study. Have a place that you enjoy being—a room in your house where you can be alone, or somewhere you are comfortable and like to be.

3. Have all your materials available. You’ll want your Bible of course, but also get a good Bible dictionary, concordance, a pen and paper. That way, you don’t have to stop every few minutes to reference something or write something down.

4. Prepare your heart. Talk to God about things you may need to confess, and enter your study time peacefully and without anything that may block you from receiving revelation during your study.

Make it a top priority in your life to study God’s Word because there is power in it to change your life and help you become the person God wants you to be. And that’s the best possible life you can ever have!