Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.–Psalm 119:11

When we talk about what is most important we better be careful. All too often we get things out of their proper order. However when I say that nothing is more important to the Christian than the Word of God, I do so without reservation. It is impossible for us to live as God desires if we neglect His Word. We must know it and obey it. Sadly many folks don’t seem to care. They go day after day without ever reading it. It’s no wonder that they fail to grow spiritually, resist temptation, cope with difficulties, etc. They are spiritually malnourished.

I can’t understand how a Christian could not love the Word of God. It is food for the soul, light for our path, a map to guide us, and a weapon against our enemy. It provides information, insight, and inspiration. We need that whether we think so or not. However, as great as the Bible is, it does you no good setting on a shelf gathering dust.

It would be good if every believer would study the Bible as does a teacher who is preparing a lesson or a pastor who studies in preparation for a sermon. The problem is that many do not see it as the treasure it is. That is a dangerous thing. Thomas Guthrie wrote, “If you find yourself loving any pleasure better than your prayers, any book better than the Bible, any persons better than Christ, or any indulgence better than the hope of heaven – take alarm.”

A. W. Tozer gave us this wise advice: “Read it much, read it often, brood over it, think over it, meditate over it-meditate on the Word of God day and night. When you awake at night, think of a helpful verse. When you get up in the morning, no matter how you feel, think of a verse and make the Word of God the important element in your day. The Holy Ghost wrote the Word, and if you make much of the Word, he will make much of you. It is through the Word that He reveals Himself. Between those covers is a living Book. God wrote it and it is still vital and effective and alive. God is in this Book, the Holy Ghost is in this Book, and if you want to find Him, go into this Book.“

“To obey is better than sacrifice.” 1 Samuel 15:22

Many people set a great deal more stress on religious rituals, than upon practical obedience. They will be faithful in attendance upon church services, devout and reverent in worship-and yet in their daily life, they will disregard the plain commandments of God! They fill the week with selfishness, pride, bitterness, and evil-speaking, and then go to church on Sunday, with great show of devotion, to engage in the worship of God!

But what God desires before our worship can be acceptable, is that we obey what He commands us. He bids us to love one another, to be unselfish, patient, kind, honest, pure, true; and unless we obey these commands, our religious rituals, no matter how conspicuous, how costly, how seemingly devout and reverent, are not acceptable to God!

There are many other phases of the truth. It is exact obedience which God desires, and not something else of our own substituted. When He tells a mother to care for her child, He is not satisfied if she neglects that duty to attend church. When God wants a man to help a poor family in some obscure street, He is not satisfied if instead of that lowly service, the man does some brilliant thing that seems to bring ten times as much honor to the Lord.

The supreme thing in Christian life-is to obey God; without obedience nothing else counts. The obedience must also be exact, just what God commands, not something else.(J.R.Miller)

“If you love Me-you will keep My commandments.” John 14:15

Whether you fish, hunt, play golf, or whatever you do, tips can be helpful. Hopefully your list of activities includes Bible study and I hope these tips will prove helpful. Here are some guidelines:

I. PREPARE

To study the Bible you have to make time for it. This is the biggest obstacle for most people-they just can’t seem to find the time. The fact is we all have the same amount of time. Bible study is a matter of priority. If we attach the value to it that we should we will take time for it. Get up earlier, or stay up later, do what you have to do-but don’t neglect it.

II. PRAY

When faced with verses they don’t understand most people run to a commentary. I suggest you pray instead. Talk to the Author of the Book before you turn to what man has written. I’m all for good commentaries, they serve a useful purpose, but they can’t take the place of the Holy Spirit’s guidance.

Our prayer should be, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.”(Psalm 119:18)

III.PLAN

There are many ways to study the Bible. You can study books of the Bible, chapters, characters, events, topics, words, etc., but you should not neglect to read it through in the order it is given.

F.B. Meyer wrote, “No one would think of reading a letter, poem, or history as many read God’s Word. What wonder that they are so ignorant of its majestic prose, its exquisite lyric poetry, its massive arguments, its sublime imagery, and its spiritual beauty! These qualities combine to make it the King of Books—Let the whole Bible be your study, because ‘all scripture is inspired by God and profitable.'(2 Tim. 3:16)”

IV. PEN AND PAPER

This sounds so simple that some don’t take it serious, but this is one of the best things you can do as you study. It helps to mark your Bible-underlining verses, phrases, words, etc. It can also help to color certain verses and make notes in the margin.

It is also helpful to make notes on paper. Jot down your thoughts, observations, references, questions, etc. Some have employed the use of a journal with great profit. You can’t remember everything, so keep a pen and paper nearby. A blank piece of paper may be the best study tool you will ever use.

V. PERSONALIZE

If your Bible study is to be profitable you must make it personal. As you read the Bible God speaks to you! Make sure you get the message. Learning about ancient Israel is well and good, but you need to see how their situation relates to your life. Not only should you know what the Bible says, you need to know what it is saying to you. As you read ask yourself, “What bearing does this have on my life?” It’s not enough to just get into the Word– the Word needs to get into you(Col. 3:16).

VI. PONDER

Don’t study the Bible as you would cram for a final. Take time to meditate on what you are reading. The Psalmist said, “Oh, how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97). One of our problems today is that we don’t think deep and long enough.

VII. PRACTICE

Until we put what we learn into practice we don’t need to know anymore. Bible study should be a life-changing experience. It is more than just acquiring knowledge, it should transform us (Josh. 1:8). Our learning should affect our living. When you come to a command, obey it. When you come to a promise claim it. When you come to a glorious truth, rejoice. Tell others what you discover. One of the best things you can do to become a skilled Bible student is to teach others. Get into the Word, get the Word into you, and then get it out to others. Respond to the Word as soon as you can. Be a doer of the Word and not a hearer only (James 1:22). You will be surprised by how much you learn when you practice what you know.

“I will strengthen thee”   (Isaiah 41:10).

When called to serve or to suffer, we take stock of our strength, and we find it to be less than we thought and less than we need. But let not our heart sink within us while we have such a word as this to fall back upon, for it guarantees us all that we can possibly need. God has strength omnipotent; that strength He can communicate to us; and His promise is that He will do so. He will be the food of our souls and the health of our hearts; and thus He will give us strength. There is no telling how much power God can put into a man. When divine strength comes, human weakness is no more a hindrance.

Do we not remember seasons of labor and trial in which we received such special strength that we wondered at ourselves? In the midst of danger we were calm, under bereavement we were resigned, in slander we were self-contained, and in sickness we were patient. The fact is that God gives unexpected strength when unusual trials come upon us, We rise out of our feeble selves. Cowards play the man, foolish ones have wisdom given them, and the silent receive in the self-same hour what they shall speak, My own weakness makes me shrink, but God’s promise makes me brave. LORD, strengthen me “according to thy word.” –Charles Spurgeon

We will not become men of God without the presence of solitude.

Those words haunt me when I get caught in the treadmill of time schedules . . . when I make my turn toward the homestretch of the week and try to meet the deadline of demands, just like you. Alas, we are simply geared too high. Thanks to Alka-Seltzer, Excedrin, Sleep-eze, and Compoz, we repeat our nonproductive haste with monotonous regularity. As Peter Marshall put it:

We are in such a hurry, we hate to miss one panel of a revolving door.

Talk about pollution! I want you to think about what our nervous systems undergo just to stay afloat: Noise (music, news, talk, laughter, machinery, appliances, phones, and traffic) from 6:00 a.m. ’til midnight. Speed (bumper-to-bumper at 65 mph, on-ramps and off-ramps, deadlines and appointments) that makes us frown rather than smile . . . that causes us to check our watches more often than checking in with our Lord. Activities (meetings, services, suppers, luncheons, breakfasts, rallies, and clubs-all “necessary” and “nice”) that have a way of dismissing quietness like an unwanted guest. Sure-some things are important-super, in fact-but not everything. Listen, if you and I really treasure quietness, we will have to make time for it. When you feed it only the “leftovers” from the schedule, it always goes hungry.

Now, believe me, I’m not bitter. I’m just being direct and honest with you about an ingredient that cannot be ignored much longer in our lives without our paying a dear, dear price. I am jealous that we: “Be still, and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10). I am desperately concerned that we slow down and quiet down and gear down our lives so that intermittently each week we carve out time for quietness, solitude, thought, prayer, meditation, and soul searching. Oh, how much agitation will begin to fade away . . . how insignificant petty differences will seem . . . how big God will become and how small our troubles will appear! Security, peace, and confidence will move right on in.

This is what Isaiah, the prophet, meant when he wrote:

And the work of righteousness shall be peace,
And the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever. 
And my people shall dwell in a peaceful habitation, 
And in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places (32:17-18).

You know something? That still, small voice will never shout. God’s methods don’t change because we are so noisy and busy. He is longing for your attention, your undivided and full attention. He wants to talk with you in times of quietness (with the TV off) about your need for understanding, love, compassion, patience, self-control, a calm spirit, genuine humility . . . and wisdom. But He won’t run to catch up. He will wait and wait until you finally sit in silence and listen.–By Charles Swindoll (Scripture references changed to KJV)