I wanted to share a guide on studying the Bible beyond just reading devotionals. For those of y’all who don’t like to read, I’m gonna need y’all to start! BUT there is a RECAP at the bottom of this page.

I preface this by saying that there are great devotionals out there, which can really be helpful for a breakdown of smaller passages. You can certainly still read those. I still have a few great ones on my bookcase that I’ll share soon! However, in my current season, I have preferred having more historical background and context beyond just a few verses, so I can work on knowing and applying the Word correctly.

I personally don’t use a rigid following of the popular S.O.A.P method (writing out the Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer of a passage) for Bible Study. I personally think the SOAP method is great for smaller passages or verse memorization (I also have another method similar to SOAP for Bible verses that I found from another Christian creator which I’ll share soon!).

There are also great devotionals out there, which can really be helpful for a breakdown of smaller passages. You can certainly still read those. I still have a few great ones on my bookcase! However, in my current season, I have preferred having more historical background and context beyond just a few verses, so I can work on knowing and applying the Word correctly.

I have been focusing on studying individual books of the Bible (I studied Psalms and Proverbs from May through September, and I started Ecclesiastes this week!). I also use two specific Christian resources for clarification and guidance, and other credible websites I find online. I write and highlight in a physical Bible...and it has changed my LIFE in this digital age. Here’s how I have taken my morning devotions to a whole other level.

USE A STUDY BIBLE TO GET STARTED

If a digital Bible (on your phone or tablet) is working for you, then that’s great. For years, I used my cell phone to follow along with the Scripture reading at church and morning devotionals. However, I’ve made my way back to using a physical study Bible. Study Bibles are great because they give you more historical background and context for each book so you can understand a bit better. I currently use the She Reads Truth Bible which gives some background about each book, has devotionals throughout, and enough room to write in the margins for my Bible journaling (more on that later).

There are other study Bibles that are likely more in-depth, but I appreciate the She Reads Truth Bible because it gives devotionals from a woman’s perspective.

PICK A SPECIFIC BOOK TO STUDY

First, I would say pray for God to lead you to a specific book to read and study for a time. There are a bunch of plans to read the Bible in a year. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se, but I felt like bouncing from book to book in a given day doesn’t best help me retain what I’ve read or learned. It’s okay to TAKE YOUR TIME to digest God’s Word. It’s a lot and can take time to digest for anybody. But guess what? It has been around for literally thousands of years; it ain’t going anywhere!

God called me to start my “Bible deep dive” with the book of Psalms, but others, particularly newer Christians, may want to start with one of the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that detail more of Jesus’ ministry, death, burial, and resurrection.

START EACH BIBLE SESSION WITH PRAYER.

I begin my personal devotion time with prayer…well, most days. Sometimes, I get excited, or worse, I start the day late or get busy and then realize I haven’t read my Word all day. At this point, I stuck a Post-It note in my Bible with a short prayer asking God essentially to speak to me as I’m reading — to teach me, correct me, encourage me, and convict me where needed.

Ultimately, the Bible is our guide to knowing God and navigating life as Christians. Yes, it’s a source of encouragement and comfort, but it also is here to get us all the way together when needed! So we should ask God to give us guidance on what we need to hear in each session.

FIND CREDIBLE COMMENTARIES OR REFERENCES FOR GUIDANCE

I also suggest using different commentaries or resources when reading the Bible, especially if something just ain’t clicking! My personal favorite references to use have been Enduring Word and Right Now Media. Enduring Word is an online commentary (also available as an app!) from Pastor David Guzik who has over 35 years of experience in Christian ministry.

Right Now Media is a service available through my church with over 20,000 videos from preachers/teachers all over. Solid Biblical teaching on different books of the Bible as well as what the Bible shares on specific topics like relationships, mental health, finances, and more! There are even Biblical kid shows for the babies! The pricing plans are exclusive to churches it appears, but they work with new, old, small, and large churches at different price points.

Throwing this in–if you have a pastor, minister, or some other person in your life who knows the Bible well, definitely ask them questions! Throughout the book of Proverbs, Solomon writes about the importance of seeking wise counsel that can also help you navigate life. Use them as a resource as well!

RECAP:

• USE A STUDY BIBLE TO GET STARTED.
• PICK A SPECIFIC BOOK OF THE BIBLE TO STUDY.
• START EACH BIBLE SESSION WITH PRAYER.
• FIND CREDIBLE COMMENTARIES OR REFERENCES TO HELP YOU.
• DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK OTHER MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE CHRISTIANS FOR HELP TO UNDERSTAND!