READING TIPS

“Where do I start?” is probably the most common question asked by people starting
out reading the Bible.

I remember my first attempts when I was a young man. I started at the beginning, but
didn’t get too far, losing interest by the time I got to Leviticus, a book full of ancient
laws.

Later, when I began developing a personal relationship with Jesus, I discovered that I
was better able to understand what I was reading. Paul tells us, “The natural man
does not receive the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness to him; nor
can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” Once you personally
know the “author,” the book becomes a lot more interesting.

I enjoy reading through the book of Psalms quite frequently. These are often actual
prayers and can help us to verbalize our own requests. A psalm may start out in
anguish and despair, but it usually ends in praise and thanksgiving. There are 150
psalms, and if you read five a day, you’ll get through the book in a month. There are
31 chapters in the book of Proverbs, which makes reading one per day for a month
convenient.

The Gospels are always a joy to read and are easy to get through. I go through them
a few times a year and find they’re the best for helping me to stay close to Jesus and
keep my life in check.

Another tip is to ask God to help you understand what He wants you to learn from
your reading. I often claim the verse “Open my eyes that I may see wondrous things
from Your law.” When I come to a passage I don’t understand, I research it further or
put it on the shelf of faith and leave it for another time.

You never go wrong reading the Bible. It is food for your soul and will give you
strength for life’s battles.