5 Ways to get more out of your Bible reading

If we, as believers, intend to grow in our ability to understand and act on what God desires for us, then we must make a conscious effort to read Scripture and apply it to our daily lives. However, it can be a common struggle among Christians to establish and maintain an ideal frame of mind for absorbing the contents of the Gospel and effectively living it out due to the distractions of life that we all face. Because we understand the importance of taking Bible reading seriously, it can feel overwhelming when trying to approach the process correctly. It is worth noting that we are never expected to be experts at it from the beginning, and figuring out which ways we can best personally nourish ourselves with Christ’s truth is a unique journey. A good starting point in maximizing the impact of your Bible reading is to simply see the reading itself as a starting point. From there, you can take what you have read and decide what to do with it in order to make it stick the most. Here are some options to get you started!

1. Journal your thoughts on the passages you read

While mentally analyzing what you read out of the Bible can certainly help your understanding of it, there is a chance that you will forget what you have learned if you just try and keep it in your mind. To prevent this, it is highly encouraged that you acquire a study Bible or journal that gives you the freedom to write down notes in a format that helps you retain what you are learning. Think about how we came to have the Bible in the first place. If the disciples and other Biblical figures had not recorded what was being taught and decided to just try and remember the information, we would not have this perfect record of God’s plan since the beginning. By recording your thoughts on the Biblical content that you consume, you will have an easier time shaping your perspective around it and knowing how to properly apply it for the future.

2. Apply the lesson of your daily reading to how you live

Depending on the pacing of your journey through the Bible, your daily reading could consist of a parable, an experience by a significant Biblical figure, or minor figures being punished for something as an example of what not to do. Regardless of how the piece of Scripture that was read makes you personally feel, one of the responses that you should take is figuring out how you can live the rest of the day in a way that applies the lesson of the passage. Even if your modern-day context makes it difficult to relate to what happens in the text exactly, you can focus on the main takeaway and adapt it to the scenarios that you are currently facing. Isaiah 40:8 tells us, “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God endures forever.” This serves as a reminder that God’s word is meant to be applied at any point in time, giving us one of many reasons to take the reading process seriously.

3. Check other translations, footnotes, and cross-references

A step that everybody goes through when beginning their Bible reading is choosing a translation. This can be done with intentional thought behind it, or none at all, as a beginner to reading the Bible might not have any idea of what they are looking for. Some translations make it a priority to accurately maintain the exact meaning of the original language, while other translations attempt a more modern approach to provide easier readability. Because of this, there is much to be gained from multiple readings of the Bible across different translations and formats. Comparing and contrasting the way that things are explained can lead to a greater understanding of Scripture as a whole. It is also worth checking the footnotes and cross-references, as they can show you how one passage ties to other passages through grammatical descriptions and references to other events.

4. Use Scripture to observe what is around you

Reading Scripture and properly applying it can give you an entirely new perspective on the world around you, as culture changes while God’s word remains the same. Even things that you would not normally interact with or that do not directly affect you should be looked at with a Biblical perspective to find modern-day examples of what is praised, condemned, and discussed in Scripture. Reflect thoughtfully on your daily reading and what the culture surrounding the passage was like, and from that, you can discern how Christ would want you to respond to current equivalents. A practical but Christian example of this would be to look at our Forgiven Tee and the meaning behind it. This piece of Christian streetwear is meant to convey that Christ has forgiven us of the multitude of sins that we have committed. While the verse on the shirt (Psalm 103:12) does provide that message of encouragement upfront, it becomes much more powerful in its greater Biblical context by telling us that God’s forgiveness and compassion transcends comprehension so that we may rejoice in the hope that He provides for all time.

5. Discuss what you have read with fellow believers

While your daily Bible reading experience might be personal and unique, your growth from it will be enhanced if you discuss what you read with fellow believers. Hebrews 10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” This emphasizes the point that Christians are meant to share their experiences in Scripture with one another to deepen their understanding of God’s word and how it is to be applied. If you do not have any immediate Christian friends with whom you can do this with, look into finding a life group or Bible study at a church. However, you do not always have to be in a church environment to discuss Scripture, as you can simply bring it up with any Christians who are willing to engage in conversation with you. If you would like to connect with people on a more relatable level before diving into the depths of Scripture with them, try finding a community that shares your interests, such as faith-based clothing.

Choosing what is best for you

While you do not need to put pressure on yourself to consistently follow every single one of these points, it is recommended that you practice the ones that will help you better understand the contents of the Bible and be more prepared to discuss it in detail with others. God’s word has a profound impact on all of us, and He wants that impact to be shared with others rather than bottled up.