5 MINUTES A DAY
If you are not currently reading the Bible, start with 5 minutes a day. This reading plan could take you through all 260 chapters of the New Testament, one chapter per day if that is where you choose to begin.
You may prefer to start by reading the Old Testament. Many of the Lord’s children have been “inspired” by reading the accounts in Genesis, Exodus, and the books from Joshua through 2nd Chronicles. The prophets are a little more difficult, so save those for later, after you have finished the others.
5 DAYS A WEEK
Determine a time and location to spend 5 minutes a day for 5 days a week. Obviously you must have a consistent time and place where you will not be disturbed so that you can regularly seek the Lord. You need to establish a pattern for when to seek the Lord. For example, you probably attend church services regularly and always go to church when it meets no matter what you might feel like or what you might have in mind to do. This same attitude needs to be applied to Bible reading. Read even when it is not convenient!
SUGGESTED WAYS TO DIG DEEPER
Pause in your reading to dig into what the Scriptures actually say. Five different ways to seek deeper understanding each day are listed for you. These exercises will encourage understanding, application and spiritual growth. We recommend trying a single idea for a week to find what works best for you. Gradually add the other ways to dig deeper.
1. Underline or otherwise note key words or phrases in the Bible passage. Use a pen or pencil to mark new understanding from the text and take notes in a separate notebook. Periodically review your notes. Avoid yellow highlighting since it can be worrisome later if your understanding of a passage changes or if it distracts your attention from the other words.
Use a Greek concordance (preferably Strong’s or one based on the Majority Text or the Textus Receptus) to see the exact words or phrases the Lord inspired in the Bible passage. Knowing the literal, original word the Lord used will quite often help you to understand a passage more clearly.
Ask and answer some questions about your reading. Questions unlock new discoveries and meanings. Ask yourself questions about the passage using one or more of the following words: who, what, why, when, where, or how. Jot down some thoughts on how you would answer your own questions.
Capture the complete context. God’s Word communicates the complete, overall subject matter, which necessarily includes many individual points. Periodically ask, “What is the main idea in this chapter, paragraph, sentence, or phrase.” Remember, as you seek for the main idea of the book, chapter or verse, that context is of central importance. Particularly in the Proverbs and Ecclesiastes, ask yourself, “Why did He bring that up?” There are very few abrupt subject changes in the Bible, except for books like Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. We tend to isolate verses from each other as we read, but they are usually connected by a common subject and we need to continually look for those.
Responding to God: When God speaks to us through the Scriptures, He intends for us to respond by receiving His understanding and following His directions. A helpful habit is to think of some of the ways that we can do what He tells us to do. Ask yourself: How will the rest of my life change if I continue to follow what I understand now?
–Beth Johnson