To read your Bible effectively, you must first understand The Holy Bible, is holy and it contains the word of God. Therefore, we have to first treat it as such. In our Tewahedo Orthodox faith, we are taught to treat the Holy Bible with respect and great honor. Once we understand how Holy it is, we begin to understand it’s no ordinary book; so we wont read it like any other book. That’s why we keep it covered and always placed away for safekeeping when we are done with our daily reading.
Before you start to read your Bible, you will need a notebook or sticky notes to write your notes on, because we never write or mark in our Bible. You will need a pen or pencil to write down your notes. A highlighter, if you like to highlight things as you take notes. This will get you engaged in what you are reading. This will also allow you to write down encouraging scriptures that encouraged you during your Bible Study time. Lastly, it will allow you to write down things you might need clarifications on from your Spiritual Father, as we are never to interpret the word of God as we wish or as we see fit.
As you begin to read your Bible, you will need prayer, guidance and faith. You want to pray before you open your Bible and ask God to open your eyes to see His word and to open your heart so you can retain His word. As Psalm 119:18 says, “Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.” And God will help you to understand His word.
With all the different versions of the Holy Bible being altered and created, please be sure to only use the King James Version (KJV) or New Kings James Version (NKJV). If you can’t decide which Bible to buy, I highly recommend – The Orthodox Study Bible (pictured below), as it’s one of the best and well written Bible I have used. If you are wondering where to start, a good and easy to understand starting point is the Gospel of St. John in the New Testament, because starting with Genesis can be a bit intimidating and difficult to understand at first.
As our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ says, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4 NKJV). We truly need the word of God. I pray God’s word will deeply begin to resonate within your heart as you read His word daily. Please try to read at least one chapter a day.
Reading the Bible for the first time for me was like being in a desert dying of thirst and someone hands you a cup of water and needing more and more water to quench the thirst. I couldn’t stop reading and I found myself reading for hours. However, please remember to take your time and don’t rush through God’s word.
Make sure you are in a quiet place and alone with no distractions. Always remember, Satan doesn’t want us reading the word of God and he will try everything within his power to stop you. So as you start, brace yourself. Many distractions may seem to come out of no where, but pray and stay focused. You might even get the feeling as if you don’t have time, because you have so much to do. You might start to think to yourself, I should be studying, I have a test, an assignment, a project. But don’t stop reading. Ask God to clear your mind and He will. I always found, when I read my Bible before anything else, always helped me to do much better and to be more productive. There is power in the word of God, when we believe it.
As you read, you should never doubt or question the Word of God. Instead try to retain every single word you read in your heart and apply it to your life. The more you read, the more you’ll begin to apply it to your life. Reading your Bible daily, will also help to strengthen your relationship with God. Like any relationship, you have to spend quality time with that person to develop and grow your relationship. You have to put forth the effort. God is omnipotent, Omni benevolent and omniscient, but He never forces us to love Him. He gives us the free will too choose to love Him. Therefore start to get to know Him personally through His word and always remember to… “Pick up your Bible and start reading it like your life depends on it, because it really does!“
Afterall, how can you truly love someone if you don’t know Him. You can’t!
Selam Seyoum
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow,
and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
+ Hebrews 4:12 NKJV +
Tewahedo Orthodox Girl 