Learned Techniques

Today I wanted to write a post, not necessarily on a specific Bible passage but rather a strategy when studying the Bible. Over the next three weeks I want to provide three different study techniques that I have learned from those who are much farther in their walk with the Lord. These techniques have Biblical backing and have helped me and I hope they help you.

Today we will be discussing the first technique; prayer should be first in our Bible study and we should ask for Jesus to teach us something. When we take a moment before we study and ask the Lord to be with us and teach us, we recognize who is the real teacher. No Bible study is self taught. There will always be two, the student and God.

Psalms 32:8-8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.”

Proverbs 3:11-12 “11 My son, do not reject the discipline of the LORD Or loathe His reproof, 12 For whom the LORD loves He reproves, Even as a father corrects the son in whom he delights.”

Asking the Lord to teach us at that moment only brings to focus the real relationship a believer has with the Lord. When non-believers read the Bible, they do not have the Lord guiding them and so it will be futile. The Word of God is the gift given by God for the believer and declaration of God’s judgement on the world. So take time to pray before your Bible study and ask Him to teach you. God loves you, this is why Jesus states in Matthew 7:7-11 “7 Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 “For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 “Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10 “Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11 “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!” You will be surprised how quickly He answers when we ask Him at the start of our Bible study, “Lord please let me learn something today from you in the study.” God does not neglect those who are looking for Him, why would He neglect those who want to learn from Him as well? So as for the first technique, we should pray and ask Him to be in our study right then and there.

Hold until relieved, our Blessed Hope is coming,

Jl