How to Study the Bible - Don't Be Intimidated!

The Bible is a big, thick book of revelation and wisdom, told through the telling of stories both before Jesus was born, the Old Testament, and after His birth, the New Testament. There are sixty-six separate books contained in the Bible. It can be somewhat overwhelming if this is your first time being led to read it, but the benefits far outweigh any apprehension. Even those who have been reading it for years never grow tired or weary of it because it is anointed and fresh every time you read even the same passage.

The Bible comes in many translations now, which means that it is the exact same book and meaning only it has been translated in different fashions so that the reader is able would be able to read it and understand it better, or to compare the different versions for more meaning.

One very popular and probably the most difficult to understand would be the King James Version written in
1600 AD. The Message Bible is probably one of the most recent versions and then there are quite a few more in between. The Living Translation is translated very close to the way we talk today in 2009, as is the New International Version. And then there are many others, but don't let this confuse you or hinder you, just go to your local bookstore and look through the ones they have, so you can find one that you can understand and are comfortable with. You can always get another version later if you so desire. The important thing is to get one you are able to read everyday. It is the Holy Spirit that will lead you as you are reading, so all you have to do is to set aside the time everyday to read. Most people prefer their time first thing in the morning because it will set your day off right with God, but if your schedule only allows you to read in the afternoon or night - Great!

The best way to start is like any other book, at the beginning. Read the Bible like a novel, from beginning to end. Ask God to give you revelation before you read, and then just read. As you come to a word or phrase that just seems to POP out at you, then stop and meditate on that word or scripture because God wants to give you deeper understanding there.

If you have a few scriptures that are especially meaningful to you, like Psalm 23 or 139 or 27, or healing scriptures, you can choose to read them before you start.

If you are a new believer, try starting with the book of John and then Acts first. The reason being that these two chapters tell you the story of Jesus, and the new church, and you will want to know them first. Then just go back to the beginning, the book of Genesis and read like a novel.

The important thing is to read some everyday. Make it a habit or just a part of your life to where every morning you just pick up the Word like you pick up your cup of coffee. When you get into this routine you will be filling yourself with the word of God and that Word is alive! It is alive and as it comes in through your eyes and you begin to meditate on it, it gets down in your spirit and your soul, and begins to change you from the inside out. The Word rejects your bad traits that it runs into and allows room for God's goodness and mercies to come in. And what happens is that we become more like Jesus. So taste and see that the Lord is Good!

There's only one way to allow God's characteristics to come in. You can't wish them in, or wish yourself changed or listen to enough motivational tapes to help you to heal from doing those things that occur on the outside, like lying, and cheating and cussing. Reading the Bible on a regular basis is the only way to allow yourself to be molded by the King.

The Bible is not meant to be put up on a shelf and forgotten about, it is meant to be your handbook for life. Use highlighters to highlight whatever is important to you as you read through. God has put down in this book everything that is needed for you to reach all that is good and full of prosperity. Let this Bible be your solution to any problem or situation that you come up against. If you do what it says, you will have success and victory will be yours. "You are more than a conqueror through Christ who strengthens you!"