You might be thinking: Teach me how to read the Bible? Isn’t that obvious?
Well, not quite.
Many of us approach the Bible unprepared and, as a result, miss out on the richness it has to offer.
In this article, I’ll share a few key attitudes that have greatly helped me in my Bible reading journey. I believe they can also help you read the Bible more effectively.
I actually picked up some of these ideas from a sermon that really stuck with me.
In this article, I’ll share some key attitudes I have found helpful in my journey, and hopefully, they can also help you read the Bible more effectively. Some of this insight comes from a sermon I heard some time ago, which left a lasting impact on me.
How to prepare your heart before reading the Bible
For you to have a rich Bible reading experience, you need to read the Bible:
i. Consistently
Consistency is the name of the game when it comes to Bible reading. For the Bible to have its intended effect, you need to read it regularly—daily if possible.
Consistency means showing up even when you don’t feel like it, even during those dry seasons when the words seem hard to grasp.
That’s the essence of consistent Bible reading.
Make Bible reading part of your daily or weekly plan. If you leave it to chance, hoping to read only when you find time, you’ll likely never get around to it.
Schedule it.
Whether you are a beginner or a longtimer in these things, consistency is how to read the Bible daily.
ii. Obediently
The Bible isn’t like a novel you finish and put back on the shelf. It’s a living Word meant to transform, not a storybook meant to entertain.
So, come to it ready not just to learn, but to live out what it says.
Scripture always makes certain demands on us. Paul reminds us that the Word of God is useful for teaching, correcting, and equipping (2 Timothy 3:1-17).
That is, it shines light on truth, exposes what’s wrong, and points us back when we’ve wandered away.
As you read, pause and ask what God is calling you to do. Then act on it quickly. Delayed obedience can easily qualify as disobedience.
Moreover, God will not overwhelm you. He may not reveal more if you haven’t responded to what He said last.
Feeling like the heavens are silent on you?
Maybe God is waiting for you to act on what He already told you. Clear your outbox by obeying what He Has already told you so that He can send something new to your inbox.
iii. Expectantly
In addition to reading the Bible consistently and obediently, you also need a good dose of expectancy.
I am afraid that far too many of us approach the Bible half-heartedly. It’s as if we’ve silently decided God won’t speak, so we read without expecting to hear Him or learn.
We open Scripture with no expectation. This shows in how we approach our devotion.
We often don’t carry a notebook, take notes, or pause to reflect and listen. We reduce devotion to a hit and run.
Just quick reading and moving on, no waiting on God.
Sad.
See, God is more eager to speak than we are to listen.
Therefore, raise your expectations. Come to Scripture believing God will speak to you.
When you expect God to speak to you, He will.
Do it like Habakkuk (Habakkuk 2:2).
As He asked God questions, He came ready to hear God and write. When God asked him to write the revelation, he didn’t panic. He was prepared with writing materials.
What if he didn’t have writing materials? Maybe we would not have the book of Habakkuk.
Like Habakkuk, position yourself to hear God. As you read your Bible, ensure you have a journal or notebook to capture what He says.
An open heart is the greatest book. So, open your heart as well to learn.
iv. Conversationally
Most of us have a routine: pray before reading the Bible, read the passage, then pray again at the end.
That’s fine, but it’s not always the most effective way.
Think of how our day-to-day conversations go.
A real conversation flows back and forth. I speak, you respond, we clarify, and we understand each other better by the end.
If I call you to discuss something important and I talk nonstop for ten minutes, and when I finish, you also talk for another ten minutes before hanging up, there will be a communication breakdown.
You might catch bits of what I said, but the conversation wouldn’t be very meaningful.
As you converse with God through the Scripture, you need to approach it like you talk in your everyday conversations.
Don’t save all your praying for before or after reading. Talk to Him as you read the Bible. When something convicts you, pause and pray. When you see His greatness, stop and praise.
Don’t hold it off until you are done reading.
That way, Bible reading will become more interesting and meaningful, and you won’t easily get bored or switch off.
Read your Bible conversationally.
v. Structurally
Questions like how to read the Bible in a year or how to read the Bible in order feature in many Christian forums. The answer is simple: structure.
Random Bible reading is good, but not good enough. It gives you something, yet often leaves you missing the bigger picture.
You need structure to get the most out of your Bible reading and let the Word take root in your heart. Don’t just open and read wherever your finger lands.
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
You can read the Bible book by book, explore particular themes across Scripture, or take the long journey, reaping the benefits of reading the Bible cover to cover.
You might also try a chronological approach to see how events unfolded in real time.
Thankfully, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.
Many Bible reading plans are available to help you stay consistent and focused. Reading plans have pros and cons, but most are incredibly helpful in building a steady Bible reading habit.
vi. Wholistically
Speaking of structured Bible reading, why not read the Bible wholistically?
One major drawback of random reading is that it robs you of a wholistic view of Scripture. You may pick up inspiring snippets here and there, but you’ll miss the larger story God is telling.
To grasp the full picture, read the Old and New Testaments. Plan your reading so that, over time, you’ll cover every book in the Bible.
Read the Bible holistically.
As tempting as it may be to stick to familiar or comforting passages, resist the urge. Explore the whole Bible.
Read it in its entirety and you’ll begin to see how beautifully its parts connect to reveal God’s grand design.
Explore the Bible. Read it whole.
vii. Reverently
As you build structure into your Bible reading, don’t forget reverence. Come to God’s Word with deep humility.
Start by admitting that you don’t know everything and allow the Holy Spirit to teach you. If you think you do (which is false), you will not give the text the seriousness it deserves.
And you risk missing what God wants to reveal.
Humility also cultivates a teachable spirit. This attitude helps you receive instruction, correction, and encouragement with an open heart.
Friend, pride is the biggest enemy of learning. Read the Bible reverently if you are to get anything out of it.
viii. Deeply
It’s not enough to read the Bible; go deeper.
Study it.
Don’t get comfortable just reading the Bible. You will miss out on the richness of the Bible.
Granted, reading the Bible is valuable, especially when covering larger portions of Scripture to gain familiarity.
However, make it a habit to slow down and dig in. Zoom into the texts.
Read the surrounding chapters or the whole book for context. Then check out good commentaries to see what scholars have said about the given passage.
You could also use study tools to cross-reference related Scriptures.
This will give you a deeper understanding of the text, making the application relevant and meaningful to your life.
ix. Meditatively
As you read the Bible, make time for selah moments. Pause and reflect on what you have read.
Meditation serves as the bridge between reading and application because it deepens understanding.
After all, how can you apply a truth you haven’t first understood?
Don’t short-circuit the Bible reading journey by skipping the meditation process.
Resist the urge to rush on. Stop. Reflect.
At first, it may feel awkward. Your mind might wander, but don’t give up.
Over time, it becomes easier and more natural, even something you’ll look forward to as a sacred part of your quiet time with God.
Conclusion: How to read the Bible
Don’t just show up for your next bible study session; prepare well. I pray this piece will arm you with the right attitudes to help you prepare your heart well to make the most of your Bible study sessions and grow steadily in your faith.
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