Ways To Improve Your Personal Bible Study
Reading and studying the Bible can be mentally and spiritually nourishing. But you still may feel as if you’re not getting the most from your Bible study. Perhaps your mind drifts, you’re not logging enough time, or there are too many distractions around as you read. Consider these ways to improve your personal Bible study so you can optimize your time for spiritual growth.
Adopt a Study Method
The often-frustrating part of taking up Bible study yourself is there’s no one to teach you how to do it. You can go through the motions but still feel as if you’re not deriving all the insight, meaning, and growth that you should be. Adherence to a distinct method of study can help you allay these fears. By laying out and following a blueprint for studying the Bible, you can feel more assured you’re getting something out of your time and concentration. There are numerous study methods, from the “sword” method, the SOAP method, or simply free journaling as you read. Explore these study methods, find the one that’s right for you, and determine whether you’re truly grasping what you read.
Schedule Your Study Time
Lots of people like to read when they need to kill some downtime on the go. Some reading material is tailor-made for quick, pick-it-up-and-put-it-down scenarios. From short literary fiction to celebrity gossip magazines, there’s plenty of reading you can do in quick bits between other tasks. The Bible, as versatile as it is, is not best suited for brief and impromptu sessions. If you’re trying to sneak in your daily reading this way, you may fit the page-turning or tablet-scrolling in, but you’re not really absorbing the text as its writers intended. Set off a block of time each day dedicated to solely studying the Bible. It can be right before bed, right after work, or during a midday lull. By developing a routine and sticking to it, you can get yourself in the right mindset.
Set Aside Space
Just as important as dedicated time is dedicated place. Your bedroom, the family room, or your kitchen table can all provide distractions from your reading. Try to stake out space in your home, such as a guest room or a corner of your basement rec room, for concentrating on your studies. If you need space outside the home, consider your church, a coffee shop, or local public library as a place where you can lock your mind on your chosen method of Bible study.
A New Copy
One of the best ways to improve your personal Bible study is with a new edition of the Bible dedicated to your new study path. The KJV Store offers the King James Version of the Bible as well as the Spanish KJV Bible for our burgeoning Spanish-speaking population. Such an estimable printing of the book can be the centerpiece of not only your course of study, but of your entire home library.