The truth is you can’t watch television for three hours then read your Bible for three minutes and expect God to bless you with spiritual growth!’ As Galatians 6v7 says ‘A man reaps what he sows.’

• Form the habit of spending time each day reading the Bible, maybe just a chapter a day. But don’t rush. The aim isn’t to see how quickly we can through it but to see what we can get out of it! It’s the quality of time that matters not the quantity. It’s much better to reflect and mull over a single verse than to speed read and not absorb anything.
• Chose a time that works for you. Many people (myself included) find that first thing in the morning is the best time, but maybe a mid-morning or an afternoon break or last thing at night suits you better. Whatever time works best for you stick with it, and guard this time jealously.
• Use daily Bible reading notes or commentaries as an aid to help you understand the Word of God. There are lots of good ones available; try one or two and see how you get on. (I have used Explore Bible reading notes daily for several years.)
• Find a place where can go and not be disturbed, and pray before you start, asking God to help you understand what you read, and to show you how to apply what you learn. I often use Psalm 119v18 as a prayer: ‘open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.’ If you come to the Bible hungry and expectant to learn, your Bible reading will become a place of nurture and growth, as well as a source of guidance, strength and encouragement each day.
• As you read look for God on every page, then look for yourself on the same page: Ask how is this applicable to me today? What is God saying to me? Is there something in this passage that I should pray about?
• For new Christians or those just starting out in reading the Bible, I always recommend a great place to start is Luke’s gospel (24 chapters, so read one a day over three and a bit weeks) then read the book of Acts (see how the early church started, grew and spread), then maybe read Philippians and the Psalms.

R. Ian Seymour

R. Ian Seymour, Empowered Personal Evangelism, Weybridge: New Wine Press (2014), p.120-121