When first coming to Christ, everyone talks about time reading the Bible. This practice is one of the most important to a Christian growth journey. Apart from growing intimacy, the practice of discipline in your devotion to God will steady journey and focus your perspective daily. With this, many people don’t understand how to study the Bible. One of the most common hindrances with reading the Bible is that people find it confusing. Or they feel the Bible is obsolete. This is easily fixed through studying and practice.

A bit of a disclaimer, I’ll be using the phrase “quiet time” synonymous with the time dedicated to reading the Bible and gaining understanding. Also, all of the resources I’m mentioning are hyperlinked to allow you to grab what you need as you read.

How to study the Bible/execute a “quiet time”?

First, you will need a form of a Bible (whether electronic or paper). Also, a journal and writing utensil is recommended. While many people type their notes, writing is better for long term memory storage. Also, there is an array of journaling Bibles that put these two in one place. You may also want to have a computer/phone handy to access some additional resources.

Go into a time of prayer and worship. This focuses the mind on the Lord. The template that Jesus gives for prayer describes that we are to worship Him to align our perspective. Take this time to direct your thoughts. If you have anything pressing on your heart, express it to Him at this time. Also, ask Him to speak and invite Him within your space.
Read/listen to the Bible.
1. When choosing a scripture, you can use an array of tools such as a devotional, Bible app plan, verse of the day, book, sermon notes, or simply just listen to where the Lord leads you. This is when discerning the voice of God is elevated.
2. After choosing a passage, read to understand. This goes without saying, but in everything you do, get an understanding. So, when you read, read to understand, not just to say you did it.
Analyze the scripture.
1. “What is the Lord trying to tell you?” Conclude and try to pull life applications from the passage you read. Try journaling, and add your applications to your journaling.
2. Read commentary. Many theologians spend their life studying all of the historical and contextual nuances of scripture. You can go and get the understanding for yourself, or if pressed for time, you can get a quick summary from commentary. To find biblical commentary on your specific scripture you can buy a Bible with added commentary or just google it. Please note: commentary is generally from the lens of the author only, so commentary alone is not always enough to study scripture.
3. Dissect the original text. The Bible is originally written in Hebrew (Old Testament) and Greek (New Testament). Because of this, the many different biblical translations come from different translations from the original text to English. A great way to overcome this is to look at different versions of the text and to analyze the original text. The Bible app allows you to compare different translations, as well as BibleHub.com. However, it only allows you to view different translations for one verse at a time. They also sell Bibles that compare different translations. To compare the original text, I also use BibleHub. From here, you can see a literal translation, and all of the different times specific words are used.
4. Understand the historical context. Many of the misconceptions in the Word come from lack of context. Understanding historical context can offer a realistic perspective of the text. This can be gained from biblical commentary, but a good Bible that I have used that offers good historical precursors is the Fire Bible. Google is also a great resource.
5. Understand the chronological context. The Bible is not written in chronological order. As a result, it is often important to understand where in this long love story a passage is presented. This can be found again through additional commentary texts and/or google.
6. As a last resource, google sermons around particular texts. If you are reading Jonah, google a sermon on Jonah. It’s important to gain the critical analysis skills of the Bible on your own, but if you are questioning, confused, or curious, a good sermon is always helpful
End your time in more prayer, worship, and reflection.
1. This is the time to journal typically. Allow yourself time to apply and reflect on what you read. Don’t just understand the context of the passage, understand the passage’s context in your life.
2. Thank the Lord for speaking. His Word is never-changing, but your revelations are ever-growing. It’s an honor that He still inspires our hearts daily.
3. If you didn’t get a complete understanding, pray, and ask the Lord for clarity and understanding.

If you’re just starting to dig into the Bible for yourself, this may seem like a lot. It can take about 10 minutes in the beginning, and you’ll start with a verse or two. Over time, you should see advancements in your ability to understand and dissect passages. As my walk has progressed, I can sometimes be stuck on one verse for a few days and gain more insight every day. There is no time limit or one size fits all for your quiet time. It is time for you to gain personal intimacy with the Lord and gain greater understanding. So you get out what you put in.