Start by asking God to give you understanding.
“Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out
of thy law.”
— Psalm 119:18
A simple prayer:
“Lord, open my heart and mind. Help me
understand Your Word, show me what You want me to learn, and help me live it
out. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
Instead of opening the Bible randomly every day, study one book at a time.
Good books to begin with:
John — Who Jesus is
Psalms — Worship, emotions, prayer
Proverbs — Wisdom for everyday life
James — Putting faith into action
Ephesians — Your identity in Christ
Romans — Understanding salvation and faith
Read the passage slowly—sometimes 2 or 3 times.
Ask:
Who is speaking?
Who is being spoken to?
What is happening?
Where is this happening?
When did it happen?
What words or ideas are repeated?
What stands out to me?
Don’t interpret it yet. First, observe it.
Now dig deeper.
Ask:
“What did this passage mean to the people who originally heard it?”
Look at:
The verses before and after it
The entire chapter
The surrounding chapters
Who wrote the book
Why it was written
Historical and cultural background
Important words and phrases
Helpful Bible-study tools
📖 Several Bible
translations
Compare translations such as KJV, NKJV, NIV,
ESV, CSB, or NLT to help clarify wording.
📚 Bible dictionary
Look up unfamiliar people, places, objects,
and biblical terms.
🗺️ Bible maps
See where events actually happened.
📜 Bible concordance
Find other verses that use the same word or
discuss the same subject.
📓 Bible commentary
Learn how trusted Bible scholars explain
difficult passages.
📕 Study Bible
A good Study Bible puts many of these
resources right on the same page.
This is very important.
Don’t build an entire belief around one verse.
Ask:
“Where else does the Bible talk about this?”
For example, if you’re studying fear, search Scripture for:
fear
anxiety
courage
trust
peace
faith
Then compare what you find.
Let Scripture help explain Scripture.
This is where Bible study becomes personal.
Ask yourself:
What does this teach me about God?
What does this teach me about myself?
Is there a command I need to obey?
Is there a sin I need to confess?
Is there a promise I need to trust?
Is there an example I should follow?
Is there something I need to change?
Don’t stop at:
“That’s a good verse.”
Move to:
“What am I going to do because I read this?”
Keep a Bible Study Journal.
You can use this simple format:
S — Scripture
Write the verse or passage.
O — Observation
What do I see?
I — Interpretation
What does it mean?
A — Application
How does this apply to my life?
P — Prayer
What am I asking God to help me do?
This is commonly called the SOAP Bible study method.
Turn what you learned into prayer.
For example, if you’re studying Philippians 4:6–7:
“Lord, Your Word tells me not to be anxious but to bring everything to You in prayer. Help me stop carrying things You have asked me to give to You. Give me Your peace and help me trust You.”
You’re no longer just reading the Bible—you’re responding to God through His Word.
🧰 Your Bible Study Toolbox
You don’t need 20 different resources. Start with:
Essential tools
📖 Bible
📓 Notebook/journal
✏️ Pens/highlighters
🔍 Concordance
📚 Bible dictionary
🗺️ Bible maps
📕 Study Bible
📖 Bible commentary
Optional digital tools
Bible reading/study app
Audio Bible
Cross-reference tools
Original-language tools for Hebrew and Greek
Scripture: Hebrews 11:6
Faith the size of mustard seed.
You must have faith in God word
Faith Bra – Believe it, Receive it, Achieve it.
Spiritual Warfare cannot be avoided. When you accept Christ and are adopted in his family we enlisted in the greatest war in the history of mankind. Satan goal is to distract and discourage. We You are either in a storm, just coming out of a storm or headed toward a storm. Every believer is victorious through Jesus Christ. There are different types are battles that we face. Knowing the different type of battle, you are in can determine your success or failure. There are 3 categories: SOVERIGN/SATANIC/SINFUL. THE WORD OF GOD IS YOUR WEAPON.
SOVERIGN STORM – STORMS FROM THE DIVINE – GOD SENT STORMS IT DOES NOT MEAN YOU HAVE DONE OR NOT DONE ANYTHING. THEY COME SO THAT GOD WILL BE GLORIFIED. THE STORM CAME SO THAT YOU WILL REMEMBER TO PRAISE/WORSHIP/GLORIFY HIM.
SATANIC STORMS – STORMS FROM THE DEVIL – GOD ALLOWED. STORY OF JOB. GOD WANTS THE GLORY IN WHAT EVER YOU GO THROUGH.
SINFUL STORM – STORMS OF DISCIPLINE – STORMS THAT COME AS A DIRECT RESULT OF SIN. THESE ARE CONSEQUENCES WHEN WE ARE DISOBEY GOD WORD. GOD CHASTISES THOSE HE LOVE. EVEN THOUGH HE IS LOVING AND FORGIVING.
Activity – list scriptures that will give you strength when in a STORM
Journal your experience,
FORGIVENESS IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD, NOT YOU AND THE OTHER PERSON. IT MAKES IT EASIER TO FORGIVE. HEAVEN IS YOUR DESTINATION. (SEE PAGE 109 VD Book). THERE ARE 7 STEPS TO FORGIVENESS.
· FORGIVENESS DOES NOT MEAN YOU FORGET – YOU WILL CHOOSE NOT TO HOLD THE OFFENSE AGAINST THE PERSON
· FORGIVENESS INVOLVES MAKING A CHOICE – THE CHOICE IS MADE OUT OF OBEDIENCE TO GOD. GOD WILL GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO DO IT.
· FORGIVENESS IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD NOT THE OTHER PERSON. WE MUST LIVE A LIFE PLEASING TO GOD. HEAVEN IS OUR DESTINATION.
· FORGIVENESS IS AGREEING TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE OTHER PERSON’S SIN. WHEN SOMEONE HURTS US, WE CAN NOT CHANGE THE SITUATION. WE CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE IN BITTERNESS OR PEACE/FORGIVENESS. REMEMBER JESUS DIED ON THE CROSS FOR OUR SINS.
· ACKNOWLEDGE THE HURT – THE HEALING PROCESS CAN BEGIN WHEN YOU ACKNOWLEDGE THE HURT. CAST YOUR CARES ON GOD. (FIRST PETER 5:7 YOU SERVE A LOVING GOD WHO COMFORTS IN TIMES OF DISTRESS.
· DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU FEEL LIKE FORGIVING – FORGIVENESS GOES HAND IN HAND WITH LOVE. IT IS NOT BASED ON FEELINGS. GOD WILL WORK ON YOUR HEART AND THE HURT AND FEELINGS WILL FADE.
· CONTINUE TO PRAY AND DON’T ALLOW SATAN TO CREEP BACK IN. DO NOT BE BURDEN WITH THE YOKE OF SLAVERY. STAY IN THE WORD SO THAT YOU DON’T BE IN BONDAGE. THE DEVIL TRY TO KILL STILL AND DESTROY RELATIONSHIPS. SATAN WILL TRY TO TAKE YOU BACK TO WHERE YOU STARTED. (1 PETER 5:8) .