5 Tips to Better Understanding of the Bible

Reading the Bible is a crucial practice for every Christian living in the world today. Reading the Bible and learning from it is what feeds our spirit. It is what keeps us encouraged and keeps us filled with the words of God. The problem is that while the Word of God is filled with a mass of valuable information there are times that it is difficult to understand and fully grasp what you are reading. It is important that we do everything we can to understand and grasp these concepts, information and advice and apply it to our daily lives so that we can benefit from them. Here are 5 ways to maximize your ability to understand God’s Word. 1. Get Away from Distractions Distractions are one of the biggest hindrances when it comes to being able to concentrate and focus on the Word of God. This lack of focus and concentration on the Word will keep us from being able to process what we are reading and think about it enough for our brains to be able to process it properly. It is important that before you begin reading the Bible that you find a quiet room away from people, sounds and items that will distract you from putting your complete focus on the Bible. 2. Ask God for Understanding of His Word Before you begin reading take a moment to pray and ask God to help you understand the scriptures you are going to be reading. God is the creator of the Bible and therefore He can give you understanding and insight on the specific passages you are reading. Remember God wants you to be able to read, understand and put into practice His Word and so He is always willing to help you out if you ask. 3. Take smaller Chunks of the Bible When reading the Bible your goal should be to read a chapter or two and then sit and ponder on those words you have read and meditate on what they mean. This will help you to get a better understanding and help your brain to process the concepts and words that God is giving you through His word. Trying to bite off too much at a time will only work to confuse you and have less understanding on what you read. 4. Try a Different Version There are dozens of different versions of the Bible out there today. These newer versions of the Bible that are out there now are put into words that we are used to and that we use today instead of the old English from the King James Bible. Some of these newer versions like the New Living Translation does a great job of giving you a very straightforward easy to understand version of the bible. 5. Write it down After reading the chapter take what you have read and write down a paraphrased version of what you understood from the scriptures. Write down any words or phrases that may have popped out at you and make notes on anything else you found to be important. Doing this will not only force your brain to process the information that you have read but will also act as a reminder or refresher for later on in the day or even in the future. Reading the Bible is important and I cannot stress enough that as Christians we need to continually fill our hearts with the Word of God in order to overcome the enemy and his attempts to destroy us. Even if you feel as though you are not understanding what you are reading, if you make an honest attempt and you ask God to help you He will help you without hesitation.