Back to the Basics: Studying the Bible

I am not going to lie to you...I love books! The feel of them in my hands, the ability to travel to unknown lands, and time periods: you get the picture. However, when it comes to the greatest book known to mankind, the Bible, I struggle to sit down for 30 minutes and read it. Why is that? I think it has something to do with this verse:
"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work"
 (2 Timothy 3:16-17)

Reproof? Correction? Ouch! I think this is one of the main reasons that it is hard to read the Bible: It convicts you! The Bible is exciting, no doubt about that, and if you get a translation like the NLT, it even makes it much easier to understand what the Bible is saying. So how does one go about getting better at studying the Bible? Here are some things I've found helpful:

Set aside a time for just you and God

I really love my husband's and my time with God. We read the Bible to ourselves from the Old Testament, read out loud to each other from the New, and the Psalms and Proverbs. This way we hold each other accountable, and we can also talk about what struck us the most. We also have a certain time we do it: before going to bed. Jesus spent time with God in the mornings(Mark 1:35) but I think that not all people are coherent enough at that time. Set aside a time that is the best for you, where you can give God all your attention and focus on Him. Also, if you are just starting, you may want to time yourself, or set aside so many chapters to read until you get in the habit. This brings me to my next tip:

Have a plan

'I read the Bible, I just close my eyes and stick my finger in a place, open and read!'
Although that might be a fun thing to do one day, it is not ideal in the least. If your Bible study consists of doing that, then you are missing out on context and better understanding of what you are reading. Context is a big issue with reading the Bible; it divides denominations, and theologies.  My suggestion is to start with a book, perhaps John or Romans, and go from there. My husband and I use YouVersion on our iphones to read the Bible in a year. This is a great way to get through the whole Bible, and it helps from wondering 'What should I read next?'

Let the transformation begin!

Warning: Read 2 Timothy 3:16-17 again. You will be changed! When God pricks your heart and you are called to live a life more pleasing to Him, do it! Yes it will convict, reprove,correct, discipline, but it will also teach you to be 'competent, equipped for every good work'. Don't let conviction keep you from reading the Bible. A true child of God will want to become more like the Christ that gave His live for them, reading the Bible and doing what it says will help you do just that!