As believers, we’re told we must read Scripture.
And why wouldn’t we? It holds transformational messages, guiding principles for making decisions, comfort, hope, wisdom, and the very words of life.
But many times, when we commit to reading the Bible, it can feel empty. Boring. Confusing. Like trying to interpret a different language. Greek, maybe? (Hebrew if reading the Old Testament.)
Admittedly, there’s some strange material within its pages. It’s hard to feel the promised inspiration and joys of investing hard-earned time and energy into reading Scripture when we bump up against odd-sounding passages about things like the Nephilim, the wrath of a “loving and patient” God, instructions for “slaves,” and odd comments about women. We’ve all “been there.” And felt confused.
Here are some helpful tips for when we accept the dare to dive into this complex collection of ancient writings and push past any challenges to experience its life-giving nature:
- Prepare your heart and mind for reading the Bible by committing to it – even when you don’t feel like it. Whether you create a specific time and place you can be undistracted each day or simply agree to not let other things get in the way regardless of the time or place, this will make a huge difference. Don’t break your promise to yourself!
- Ask God what He wants you to read. If you don’t hear anything specific, pick a book and stay with it unless He leads you differently.
- Each time you sit down to read, ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you – to reveal Himself through your reading. Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” This one practice is what upgrades a commitment to reading the Bible from a mere pursuit of gaining intellectual knowledge to an opportunity to experience life transformation.
- Start reading slowly until something speaks to you or brings up a question. You may wind up reading a chapter, several chapters, a paragraph, or even just a couple of verses before something jumps. Don’t be tied to a certain amount of Scripture you need to read to meet a goal for each day. This shuts down exploratory conversation with the Holy Spirit and inhibits sensitivity to His leading.
- Turn reading the Bible into a conversation with God. Talk to Him. Ask Him questions. Tell Him what in His Word is bothering you or making you feel uncomfortable. Ask Him to lead you to the help you need to understand tough and confusing passages. Talk to Him about your own life, feelings and experiences that connect with what you’re reading. Talk, talk, talk…
- When something you’re reading jumps out and you feel you need to stay with it, read the paragraphs or chapters before and after to understand the whole conversation these verses are a part of. Pick up different versions of the Bible and read your passage in them (you can look up a verse on Bible Hub and read verse-by-verse in different translations). Talk to God through this process – ask Him to help you understand.
- Meditate on (repeat over and over) each verse that is standing out and the insights God is revealing to you to help your brain wire up the concepts and weaken old, sin-infected neural pathways. “I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.” Psalm 119:11 NLT
- Write down any insights you gain from your time reading and conversing with the Spirit. These writings can become a journal of your conversations with God and how He has used Scripture to change your life.
- Also, write down any questions you run into and commit to finding someone to help you answer them. While reading the Bible privately is imperative, Scripture was always meant to be read alongside careful instruction from members of the Body of Christ who God gives the spiritual gift of explaining and clarifying the original languages, cultures, contexts, and historical events being described. (Just one conversation can clear up those odd and confusing passages about things like Nephilim, God’s wrath, slaves, and women.)
- If God reveals anything He wants to help you change in your life and you are ready to go through His transforming process, repent and decide to live in the ways He leads. “As I learn your righteous regulations, I will thank you by living as I should!” Psalm 119:7
- Thank God for what He has revealed!!! Gratitude creates desire for another reading session.
There will be times that reading Scripture will be an emotionless, dry experience. And there will be other times you will feel an overwhelming sense of peace and/or elation over God’s goodness as you engage the text. Either way, never underestimate the power of how reading Scripture is changing you slowly. Over time. Even when you don’t feel anything is happening.
Many who have gone before testify to the reality that it all adds up! You can be assured that you will find yourself gradually living differently as you embody the very things that used to sound like confusing Greek (or Hebrew).
“I will walk about in freedom, for I have sought out your precepts.” Psalm 119:45 NIV