Do you want to learn more about God and deepen your relationship with Him? Open the Bible and start reading it! Reading the Sacred Scriptures is not a race but a holy deed that requires reflection, prayer, and intellectual will. Here are six tips for reading God’s word.

Get to Know the Author

The Holy Spirit empowered prophets from the Old Testament, like Moses, and apostles from the New Testament, like Paul, to write about God’s relationship with the people. 

Devoting yourself to the 40 traditional authors will help you understand the context of their writings. In this verse, Paul wrote a letter to Timothy in which he praises God after only his first chapter. 

“To the King of the ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen” – 1 Tim. 1:16-17.

Timothy was tasked with reading and teaching the Scriptures among the people of God. Like him, we should put God on our minds before reading the Bible. 

Pray Before Reading

Follow this prayer before reading the Bible.

“Dear Lord, I ask with a humble heart to receive whatever lesson you want to impart to me this day. Please show me your character, story, and grace as I read your Word. I surrender everything to you. Amen.”

In the same way, you should also pray after reading God’s word to thank Him. And pray while reading to encounter God in every word and apply the Scriptures to our lives.

You Don’t Have to Rush

Reading the Bible is not a race to see who can finish it first. It takes time to encounter Christ in His word. Feeling His presence is the ultimate goal, after all, not finishing the big book.

Consider reading every verse repeatedly so you can have several analyses of it. Pray after every story, and research its meanings on the internet.

Have a Reading Plan

Your reading experience should be consistent from the beginning to the end. Others start well but don’t find it fulfilling halfway through the Scriptures. Meanwhile, some people lacked motivation at the start of their reading journey and finally found a way to enjoy it in the end.

The key to an excellent reading plan is to start with the New Testament. Read the main gospels first, analyze similarities and didifferences, andhen compare them with Old Testament stories. 

Understand the Deeper Meaning of God’s Word

God impacts our lives daily, and you’ll be surprised at how reading God’s words will hugely affect you. Understanding the deeper meaning of His word requires prayer, research, and reflection. Make sure to read from your appetite to get to know God. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, study theological concepts, and connect the stories to your personal experiences. 

Keep a Journal

Scribble your thoughts, reflections, and prayers in any notebook so you will remember great scriptures. 

At the end of the year, peruse through your journal and realize that God’s words shower us with joy in our lives. You’ll discover how much reading the Bible has changed how you act, pray, and think.