This is the lifeblood of every born-again Christian believer – God’s Word, expressed through the Bible.
This is literally what it says on the tin: God revealing His words and will to us in a written form we can understand. Although there may be different ways to know how this was practically inspired, it’s basically God allowing people to transcribe what He wants to say.
It’s therefore deeper than just a mental understanding. For those who take the step of faith to believe, this is actually the power of God working through people by His Spirit.
On a personal note, this is what I’ve experienced and taking God’s Word seriously and reading, studying, absorbing it – and ultimately aiming to live by.
Everything then stems from this – from prayers and worship, to service and obedience.
Top seven tips on how to practically read and apply the Bible
Even if you already understand this and see the importance of God’s Word to grow as a Christian or even find out more about Christianity if you’re not yet a believer, then it’s good to get more practical on how this can look.
To also move away from just a dull routine, to see naturally ingrained into your daily life and see fruit from it.
Therefore, here are ten tips I’d recommend from personal experience:
1. Choose the correct version of the Bible
This is the style that a particular translation of the Bible is in, which seems to be ever-increasing, particularly with more liberal versions (even with the popular series The Chosen coming out with their version of the Gospels).
I used to be more relaxed about this, but now I’ve changed to only using the old-school King James version of the Bibe.
Yes, it can be more challenging to read with older English language, but I believe it’s the most accurate one available, which after all, is the most important thing.
2. Focus on written, offline versions
I’m old enough only to the pre-digital age, where you needed a paper copy of the Bible, but which I still think is the best version to have. There’s something about a real book you can handle, and such a nice contrast with today’s otherwise digital content.
Therefore, it’s good to see younger generations also taking this stance, who are otherwise tech-savvy and could easily keep just digital.
Getting more detailed, I’d suggest using the bigger copies and sized words which are easier to read, and also having multiple copies scattered around to easily dive into where you are.
You can also write notes in them, highlight certain verses, and have a notebook or journal alongside to write down thoughts and what you believe the Lord is revealing to you through His Word.
However, don’t completely do away with other versions of the Bible, which can still be helpful as a secondary way and use every opportunity in your daily life to experience it.
For example, Bible apps on your mobile phone to quickly refer to, online bibles to instantly get passages of scripture, and even using an audio version to listen to when you’re travelling (I often listen to the audio version on my mobile in the car as it plays through the stereo system).
Another good example is at church services or Christian meetings with speakers often quickly referring to Bible verses – use the opportunity to locate yourself and read through at the same time.
3. The study & soak principle
These are two very general ways you can read and digest the Bible, both different and valuable in their own way. These both go beyond just picking odd verse often out of context and aply various different meanings to them.
The first study one is more obvious, and that’s getting into the details with careful reading and note-taking and probably with teaching aids (see below).
This is essential for every Christian. However, in reality, it’s easy for people to rely upon someone else’s work and presentation of this say in a church sermon or online teaching.
But even with the best and most accurate teaching in the world, still study it for yourself, not only to check whether it’s right but to absorb it better (just like the Bereans did in the New Testament).
The soak part is different – that’s taking time to more slowly read, meditate on, and digest what’s being said beyond just a mental understanding of it. There are various ways to describe this, such as a ‘quiet time’, but this is basically giving time to let the words in the Bible almost jump out with meaning for you at that point.
It's important to have time, space and often quietness for this. To also pray to God before and during this, and allowing a great sense of peace, clarity and 'lightness' at certain points in the text.
This is where, by faith, we see God by His Spirit showing us specific things from His Word to us – whether general revelation and encouragement, or more specifically for our situation.
The amazing thing is that the same piece of Scripture can reveal completely different things to you at a different time as you allow God to emphasise these things to you.
Also, be ready for this to make a difference. To want to pray, worship and follow God's ways after he and His Word have renewed you.
4. Using the proper study aids
When you are studying scripture, it is helpful to have other resources to help steer you in the right direction.
However, be careful which ones and how much you use these. They’re only a guide to help you discover this yourself in the Bible.
Try to get a good balance, and also different opinions on something. Plus, remember there are other formats available, right from large printed concordances to online YouTube videos.
One example is when I’ve gone through each book of the Bible to get a general overview of each book and also how it all links together in one amazing history of God’s plan right from creation to the end of time.
Online resources I’ve found helpful for individual books are David Pawson's Unlocking the Bible, Bible Project, One Hour One Book, and The Bible From 30,000 Feet. But I’ve always noted that each of these teachers will have a different interpretation of things, and to only bring out the important points from all of them after I have first read each book of the Bible and taken my own notes.
5. Experiencing with others
Some people will prefer this more than others, and that’s also reading the Bible with others rather than just on your own.
Even if you don’t automatically gravitate to this, I’d still suggest doing it to some degree, as God has made us to depend upon each other in our Christian journey, and the discussions that emerge can help us appreciate other points and perspectives we wouldn’t otherwise spot.
Even if this is just being in the background and listening to others speak, still do it. But when you do feel the need to say something which is bubbling up inside to share, then make sure you do!
Plus, remember both the online and offline versions of these, such as a Bible study on a Zoom call or a mid-week fellowship group at your local church.
6. Memorise scripture
This is a different form of digesting the Bible, worth mentioning and that’s memorising certain verses of the Bible (there are ways and even apps to help with this).
Actually, this is hard to do, but actually one of the most effective ways, as you are literally remembering God's Word, to then recite whenever needed, including when the Holy Spirit brings something back to mind to strengthen and guide you (and others).
There are two tips I would suggest to help with this: firstly, to focus on verses that actually mean something to you personally and almost jump out as you read them (and ideally sense that God is speaking to you through these).
Secondly, to keep going over and over the verse in bite-sized chunks until you’ve got it, including writing it out and reading it aloud.
7. Something is better than nothing
A final point to remember is that something is always better than nothing.
Because the Word or God is actually a spiritual exercise where you’re trusting for God’s illumination rather than just a mental understanding, then our carnal/fleshly selves can often resist this as we focus on our own selfish ways.
This happens more when you’re tired, rushed, hungry etc – and almost coming up with every excuse under the sun why you can’t (or rather won’t) put time aside and get into God's word.
In this situation, say a quick prayer and start with something small and easy, for example, Psalms or the Gospels. It’s incredible how you can then often see this make a difference, and then how you want to read more as your spiritual muscles get back into shape.
Staying firm Word the Word
Whatever stage you’re at in your faith, it's still important to continue going deeper into the Word of God!
In fact, I’d go a stage further to say that you can’t grow and even live as a Christian without this. And even when you think you have enough, unless you continue in this, by default it will unfortunately diminish away in your life as the world, and life generally gets in the way.
In terms of what the next stage is for you: pray and ask God, note immediate practical steps you can take, and then go for it.
