Developing a Consistent Bible Study & Prayer Life - Part 1

Bible Study

The reason many do not find bible study interesting and so, they are not consistent is because they do not understand when they read. You know how you stay with a novel you are enjoying, and almost do not want to stop, when you understand your bible better, you will almost have that feeling. Of course, I do not promise you it will seem like a novel, maybe more like a research document or maybe your physics textbook. Bible study is more of labour and requires diligence.

Another reason is a perceived “lack of time”. Your day is so crowded, and because it is on your low-priority list, it is easy to make bible study the opportunity cost for other things of perceived utmost priority.

By this, I mean that people always make time for what they consider important.

Prayer

Again, just as bible study, this is a matter of priority, not lack of time. As the saying goes, “Everyone has time for what is important to them.” Some perceive their prayer time, as something that bores them, or they feel it’s dry.

SO, HOW DO YOU BUILD A CONSISTENT BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER LIFE?

1. Solving the problem of priority

1 Peter 2:2 – Desire to grow. The desire to grow is in every believer (Philippians 2:12-13). You just have to fan it to flame. But until that desire is stirred, you will not have the inertia to start. There is no other way to grow if you do not learn the word of God.

You can stir that desire by:

• Attending a good bible teaching church. You can never underestimate the importance of this. Hebrews 10:24-25.

• Have friends who love the word of God and practice studying with them when you can. Psalm 1:1-2, Proverbs 13:20.

• Stay around and attentive in places where the bible is taught and discussed.

• Pray about your desire to be stirred to love the word.
  

2. Solving the time problem

Do not study your bible “when you have time”. Plan your other activities after having scheduled your bible study. Make your study time one that you can keep up with daily or almost daily. I particularly recommend mornings before you hit the road for the day or nights before you hit the bed. Those moments are easy to remember. However, whatever time that you can keep up with regularly is the goal. Mornings or nights are always the best times, from experience. You can plan your weekends too for this.

3. Solving the Understanding Problem

• Start with the teachings of your pastor, if you attend a good scripture-teaching local church. This is always better because you have the privilege of asking questions directly from your local church pastor whom you see and can relate with.
  

• But if this, unfortunately, does not serve you, I understand some believers are in local churches for one reason or another where they can not get the kind of teaching that really propels growth spiritually, then do audio teachings and materials of tested bible teachers. Use their study materials. You can find some here.
  

• Listening to audio teachings or reading and learning the word through the labour of others is another way to study the bible. That is normally our first contact with proper understanding of the word. e.g. The epistles, that is, our New Testament books are sermon notes of the apostles. They are apostles' study materials, having studied the scriptures and being taught by Jesus, who also taught from the scriptures. Luke 24:24-27,44-46.
  See 2Tim 2:2 – notice Paul taught Timothy, Timothy will teach others, who then will teach others. No one is laying claim to their own “personal revelation” and so refusing to learn from others. It’s queer to say the Holy Spirit is the only one teaching me scriptures. He uses men. Also, the church in those days, generally, did not also have bibles like we have today. They read Paul’s letters to them – that’s like hearing an audio teaching today. Colossians 4:16. When you read and have listened through other trusted materials well, it grants you leeway into being able to research through the bible yourself, because the materials of others help you learn how to study.

Other hacks for solving the time problem

• Audio Bibles or audio teachings loaded with scriptures. If your workplace is not far from your house, you can walk while you listen to an audio bible, and in 15-30mins you could have listened to a book of the New Testament.
  

• Work breaks can be utilized as well.
  

• Set reminders for bible study on your phone.
  

• Use bible apps that offer reminders.
  

• Have an accountability partner: Someone who checks on you, and reminds and compels you to stick to your resolution. Could be just a Christian friend or a church brother/sister.
  

DO NOT SET UNREALISTIC GOALS!

• Do not plan to start now, by finishing the bible 10 times this year. You will weary yourself out and lose a major essence of why we want to do this.

• Start with what is realistic and achievable. Two chapters of reading daily? Meditate on a verse a day? Listen to a one-hour audio teaching a day? And keep increasing steadily like that.

• If you miss a day, it does not mean you are not consistent, pick yourself up and go again the next day. Part of consistency is being able to continue even if you skipped a day, you are under training. So do not condemn yourself.

To be continued...

Ibukun is a Christian, a Pastor, a Certified faith-based counselor, and a worship leader. He currently serves as a Young Adults & Youth church pastor with the Redeemed Christian Church of God and is domiciled in Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. He is passionate about teaching the Word, thereby helping believers grow spiritually. He holds several meetings via his local church which are focused on sessions of teaching the word, flowing in the Holy Ghost, and healing meetings. You can listen to Pastor Ibukun's sermons here. Check out more of his posts here.

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