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How to Study the Bible I

As believers, most of us have probably heard over and over how important it is for us to study the Word of God. But all too often we don't really understand why and consequently have a difficult time really getting started. So before we get into the how-tos of Bible study, let's look at why studying the Word is vital to our Christian growth and maturity.
What a majority of Christians don't realize is that the Word of God is alive! The Word can really affect and have a life-changing impact on your day-to-day living. God reveals Himself through His Word.
As He reveals Himself to you, you can expect your life to change because you are getting to know God Himself, not just about Him. The reason we study the Bible is that we may know God, know His ways and walk in them. Then we can truly live a successful Christian life.
The Bible is a personal message from Almighty God Himself-straight from heaven -to you. The main theme of this message is Jesus-even in the Old Testament. Jesus is the living Word, the message of God to all mankind.
Ever since the Fall of Adam in the Garden of Eden, God was unwilling to leave us in our sin and live without us. So He had a plan-the plan of redemption-when He gave His Son to pay the price for our sin on the Cross and thereby bring us back into fellowship with Him. Glory to God! So look for Jesus in every book of the Bible. All scriptures either point forward to the Cross or look back on it.
Settle in your mind that, while the Bible is God's inspired Word, it was also meant to be down-to-earth. Don't just reverently give it a place of honor on a bookshelf, but treat the Word as your personal hands-on reference book on life-a how-to book for everyday liv¬ing. Get rid of the negative idea that it is just a set of rules.
God's Word is our very source of liberty. God sent His Word to set us free, not bind us up and load us down. So read the Word with a positive attitude, approaching it as an open door to free-dom, not as a list of dos and don'ts.
Knowing why studying the Bible is important will hopefully make it easier for you to make that quality decision to get started. For some, getting started is the most difficult part. But all it takes is a decision followed by pure and simple grit-your¬teeth determination. We suggest treating this period of study as an appointment that you're required to attend. Then, every day, follow through by building your schedule around this appointment-and not the other way around. Soon, you'll develop a desire to attend your study and it will become easier and easier. And if you miss an appointment once in a while, don't worry, just get back in the flow.
As you get started studying, it is wise to use a Bible you feel free to write in and take notes. Start underlining scriptures that have significance and special meaning to you. This will help personalize the Word for you. Marking these scriptures will also help you find them more readily when you need them.
At your appointment, one of the best ways to "dig" into the Word is to find a subject or certain scriptures you need to understand. Pray for understanding and discernment of the scriptures. Allow the Holy Spirit, Who inspired the Word of God, to reveal it to you. Read and think about each word in each scripture. You can check mean¬ings, too, by using a concordance to study the Greek or Hebrew root words and their meanings.
An important part of your study of the Word is meditating. To meditate means to think deeply and continuously, ponder or reflect. It also means to murmur, to mutter and to converse with one-self. This takes some time. Read the scripture over and over again as you pray in the Spirit. Meditation brings your spirit and your mind together and builds a capacity for your faith to be released (Romans 10:17). Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your understanding so you can comprehend the deep things of God. Then expect the Lord to do it. Expect Him to meet you on the level of your need and reveal His Word to you.


Watch out for concluding part
Adapted from KCM

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