Back to my lesson on daily Bible study. (For those who didn't read the last blog, I talked to a group of teenage girls about Bible study last week.)
While I encouraged them to start while they're young. I admit, I didn't get into the habit until three years ago. (OK, I guess that's pretty young.) No matter what your age, I would highly recommend getting into this habit.
I can not begin to describe what a comfort daily immersing myself in God's word has been to my life. There is so much wisdom in there. Over and over it describes God's love for man.
What does God's word do for us?
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
Psalms 119:11
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.
Psalms 119:105
For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to confirm your calling and election, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:3-11
The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb.
Psalms 19:7-10
There are so many other verses that talk about how the Bible can add peace and beauty to our daily lives.
It's so easy to think that because you go to every church service and Bible study that you're learning enough about God, you're putting in your time. But this is the wrong way to look at it. Can we really know enough about God and what he wants for our lives? Should we put in the minimum amount of work possible on our Christian lives?
I admit, I've found myself thinking this way many times. It doesn't make you a bad person, please don't get me wrong. There's just so much more in the Bible than some people take advantage of.
Have you ever gone to church and left saying the sermon was "exactly what you needed?" The awesome thing about daily Bible study is you can have that feeling every day. You can choose to study EXACTLY what you need. Lost a loved one? Find words of comfort. Struggling with sin? Read about others who have struggled. Unhappy with how your life is going? Learn to refocus your life on what matters.
I hope anyone reading this starts a daily Bible study. It has the power to transform your life.
If I've convinced you to start a daily Bible study, here are a few tips that helped me succeed.
1. Just do it! Don't have an all or nothing attitude. In other words, don't feel like there is a perfect way to do it and, if done wrong, you're better off not studying. Don't wait for the right time or when you have enough time. Do it now.
2. Keep doing it. Don't let missing a few days of study completely derail your efforts. Have you ever tried to read through the Bible in a year? Did you get derailed at Leviticus or Numbers? My suggestion: skip it. It is much better to thumb on over to Joshua than to put your Bible away for the next few months.
3. Set aside a regular time and place so you can get into the habit. Habits are powerful things. And getting obstacles out of your way is important. I personally love doing it in the morning, the house is quite and it's a great way to start the day. I also always do it at my kitchen table and I keep my Bible study materials nearby.
4. Begin and end with a prayer. Begin by asking God to help you focus through the study and end by praying for what you've learned you need to apply to your life.
5. Takes notes as you go so you will stay focused on what you're studying. Have you ever read a chapter in the Bible and then thought, "I have no idea what I just read?" This will prevent that problem.
6. Condense what you've learned onto something you can carry with you all day and review.
7. Make this Bible study time your own. If you want to skip around from study to study, do it. If you want to study the same thing over and over again, do it. This is your time. Study what you know is best for you.
Well, that was my talk. Let me say, I am in no way perfect at a daily Bible study. As I told the girls, I often skip Saturday. But when I stick with it, the benefits are amazing. I have grown so much closer to God in the last few years and I KNOW it is because of the daily time I spend in His word. The main point of all my tips is don't feel like you have to be perfect. Just commit to accomplishing it.
If anyone does decide to make this commitment. Let me know!
Love,
Katlynn
