The holy Scriptures are to be read with an high and reverent esteem of them; with a firm persuasion that they are the very Word of God, and that He only can enable us to understand them; with desire to know, believe, and obey the will of God revealed in them; with diligence, and attention to the matter and scope of them; with meditation, application, self-denial, and prayer. [1]
TIPS for Bible study and “quiet time”:
TIPS for Bible study and “quiet time”:
1. Commit to a special time everyday [diligence & self-denial [2]].
2. Have a peaceful, quiet place to retreat [attention].
3. Pray for the Lord to speak to you through His Word [prayer].
4. Have a process to study His Word. Some examples are:
a) Our Daily Bread or similar devotional materials
b) Daily reading plan (found in the back of most Bibles)
c) Your own devised means of seeking Biblical answers
* many Bibles have Topical References of particular subjects or questions. Google is a very fast Concordance. eg.
5. Think what the reading is about. Is it exalting God? Is it teaching you some lesson? Does it answer your question, or do you need to look elsewhere in the Bible (cross references)? Do you need to ask God to change your life to be more holy like Christ? [meditation & application]
6. Use a journal to summarise what God has taught you in this time. (This not only helps you remember, but when you look back later, you’re encouraged to see how God has answered your prayers & matured you).
7. Pray about what you have studied, and ask the Lord to apply what you have learnt into your life [prayer & application].
Blessings
~ John
FOOTNOTES:
1.
2. Can it really be called self-denial if you allocate time to enjoy with the Lord?
