5 Resources to Help You Study Scripture

One of my own personal goals for this year is to better learn how to study Scripture and make it a priority.

I have to admit that after having heard the same parables, verses, and stories through the years I have lost my awe and zeal at times for God’s Living Word. I take for granted that which is so accessible to me while others in this world yearn to hold the Bible in their native language. It is a gift to hold this treasure!

Sitting down with the ancient text of the Bible can sometimes feel daunting. “Where do I start? What does this mean? How do I pronounce that name?” These are all questions that we can get hung up on which keeps us from receiving the wisdom and joy that is at our fingertips.

If you are seeking to know more of the Bible or need a gentle kick in the pants to get back into the Word, I hope these resources will help you.

5 Resources to Help You Study Scripture:

1. Women of the Word: This book by Jen Wilkin is fantastic at encouraging us to dig deep into the Bible and not just settle for surface level, feel-good understanding.  To know God best, we need to know his word with our heart AND mind and this book lays out a Bile study method that can help us do that.

2. She Reads Truth: The girls over at She Reads Truth want to make quality Bible studies as accessible to you as possible. They have a collection of free reading plans and studies that you can access online or thru their free She Reads Truth App. If you prefer a hard copy in your hands, they also have book studies that can be purchased.  These are great studies to help you walk thru books of the Bible while also giving you opportunities to join in community thru their Facebook page or blog.

3. a Study Bible: Knowing the culture, original language, and other history behind the text is necessary in giving us a full understanding of the words and meaning. A good study Bible like this one or this one can help guide us.

4. a journal: For some, understanding comes from putting pen to paper. A journal can be a helpful tool to flesh out your questions, prayers, and thoughts that come to mind as you read. I love a Journaling Bible that includes space right beside the text, but a simple notebook would do.

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Have you guys seen this whole, new Bible journaling community that has formed online? It’s unbelievably inspiring. If you want to explore your faith through creative means, check out Shanna Noel on Instagram or her growing community at illustratedfaith.com Shanna even has a Facebook group for teens! What an amazing way to get our teens to grow their faith in a creative way!

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5. Prayer and Patience: We’re a culture who appreciates fast results and has become accustomed to expressing our thoughts with a 140 character limit. When we sit down with Scripture, we need to set aside the world’s ways. We need to remember that we are promised that the truth will be revealed to us when we ask and seek {Matt. 7:7-8}. But this doesn’t mean it happens right away. Come to the Word in prayer and ask to know more of God. He gave His Word to accomplish much, and I believe our hearts and knowledge are included in that  {Is. 55:11}.

Let me encourage you to not make Scripture study a thing of guilt. God’s Word is a source of freedom. It may take discipline at times to stay focused and consistent, but grace abounds where we are lacking.

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Adriel recently shared how we can pray through the Psalms. Maybe this would be a great place for you to start your practice of studying the Bible.

What helps you study the Bible?  We would love to hear in the comments.

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