A Plan for Study
When I was in my twenties and early thirties, I was an avid runner. I trained for several races, and part of my training plan required me to set out my running clothes and shoes and charge my devices (an iPod shuffle back then!) before I went to bed. Once I woke up, I had some coffee, studied the Bible, put on my running gear, and headed out the door. Making a plan once enabled me to simply enact the plan each day. I didn’t have to decide how or when to run. The plan was in place. I just followed the plan.
That’s the practical approach I suggest you take with Bible study. Choose your time and place and study plan now. Gather your supplies, and put them in your designated location. Then simply apply the plan tomorrow. And the day after that. And the day after that. This will go far in establishing a nonnegotiable habit to meet with your Lord each day or night. Here are a few practical considerations to help you structure your study time so that you don’t feel overwhelmed each time you open your Bible.
How Often?
The blessed, happy man in Psalm 1 delights in God’s word and “meditates” on it “day and night” (Ps. 1:2). While this isn’t a command, it is a principle we would be wise to observe. What brings the man spiritual growth and the ability to say no to sin is his regular, daily exposure to God’s word. His devotion goes beyond simply opening at random and reading. No, he meditates on Scripture, meaning he thinks deeply about it and even repeats it aloud to himself1—daily.
I like to think about the frequency component of study this way: I need to study God’s word as often as I need him to help and transform me. That’s every single day of my life. So the principle set before us in Psalm 1 is to come to Scripture regularly, daily—really, all the time.
This volume of TGC’s Disciplines of Devotion series invites women to stir their affections for God by cultivating the biblical practice of Bible study.
But keep in mind that a principle isn’t a command. And sometimes life has a way of interrupting our best-laid plans. It’s normal to have days when we miss our study time. Illness, parenting young children, missing an alarm, work crises—these are all ordinary experiences that might force us to miss our study time. I’m a mom to two children who, when they were little, joined my study time on a regular basis or needed me to put down my Bible and hold them instead. I also suffer from some chronic illnesses that make sleeping incredibly hard, and I’ve had seasons when I had to opt for extra rest instead of deep study time.
I don’t believe God sits in the heavens marking down all the days we missed our study time. Rather, his word describes him as patient, merciful, and compassionate. The key here is to treat the interruptions or derailments as temporary and seasonal and to know that God loves you as much on the days you study as he does on the days you don’t. When you do take time to study, though, you’ll be more certain and aware of his faithful love.
How Long?
If you’re new to Bible study, start small. The best way to avoid early burnout is to not start too strong. If you begin a new exercise regimen but start with lifting weights that are too heavy or running too far in the first week, you will likely quit within a couple of days or weeks. Start by spending ten to fifteen minutes in study and prayer. As you study regularly, your desire will deepen, and you’ll find yourself adding to that time. For me, what started as ten minutes a day fifteen years ago eventually grew into an hour each day. As you feed your soul with biblical nourishment, your appetite will grow, and you’ll expand your time with the Lord.
When?
The man in Psalm 1 meditated on God’s word day and night. While this implies that the word was on his mind all the time, it can also help us consider different times of the day as options for study time. Some texts refer to seeking God first thing in the morning:
I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I hope in your words. (Ps. 119:147)And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, [Jesus] departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. (Mark 1:35)
Other texts, though, speak of seeking God at night:
My soul will be satisfied . . .
when I remember you upon my bed,
and meditate on you in the watches of the night. (Ps. 63:5–6)My soul yearns for you in the night;
my spirit within me earnestly seeks you. (Isa. 26:9)
The principle we can gather from texts like these is that there’s no hard-and-fast rule about when we meet with the Lord. We can study and pray any time of day! The point is that we need to carve out time to study and pray.
We can study and pray any time of day! The point is that we need to carve out time to study and pray.
With that in mind, choose the time of day when you can most regularly show up to study. Make that time nonnegotiable. Don’t schedule other things for that time. Most people will find that the first part of the day works best. Your mind is free from other distractions if you meet with the Lord first thing in the morning. Personally, that’s the quietest hour of my day, so I go to bed early and set my alarm for 5:30 a.m. But if you’re a night owl by nature, morning might be your groggiest time of day. Perhaps you need to set aside that last hour before bed. Or if you have a regular lunch hour or your child’s naptime, that might be ideal for study.
Where?
Another helpful preparation for study is to make sure you have a space to do it. Find a place in your home or office where you can keep your Bible and notebook. A cozy reading chair or study nook is great but not required. A basket kept near the kitchen table can work just as well. You might have to get creative, but if you designate a space and leave your study tools there, you will find yourself more faithful to your study time than if you’re moving around all the time or looking for your notebook. So find or create your place to study. Put your tools there. Now just be sure to show up!
What Should I Study?
Perhaps one of the most intimidating parts of making a Bible study plan is knowing where to start. When it comes to starting any new habit, it’s helpful to give yourself an easy starting point so you don’t get discouraged early on. I suggest beginning with the book of James because it’s short, simple to navigate as a beginner, and easy to understand. The Gospel of John is another good place to start because it’s a good mix of narrative (recounting historical events) and theology (what we believe about God). Or if your pastor has recently started preaching through a book of the Bible, choose that book. You’ll gain so much more from the weekly sermons if you’re studying along during the week.
What Supplies Do I Need?
Don’t worry—I’m not going to send you to Amazon with a list of school supplies. All you really need is a good study Bible (I recommend the ESV Study Bible), something to write with, and something to write on. This is a bold suggestion, but I would like to discourage you from using screens during your Bible study time. It’s too easy to become distracted by social media and notifications. Let God’s voice be the only one you hear—open a physical Bible, and grab a pen and a notebook.
Notes:
- Interestingly, the Hebrew word for meditate in Ps. 1:2 means to mumble or mutter aloud to oneself.
This article is adapted from Bible Study by Glenna Marshall.
