- Use a concordance. This is like a Bible dictionary. You can look up any word and it will give you a list of all the scriptures where that word is mentioned. Seeing the word in all its contexts gives you a clear idea of what it represents.
You can go a step further with a concordance such as Strong's, which lists the original Hebrew and Greek of every word in scripture.
- Meditate (1 Timothy 4:15, Psalm 119:78). Find several scriptures that move or encourage you. Find some quiet time to sit and think on those scriptures and the depth of what they mean.
- ‘Scriptures to Start the Day’. Find a few encouraging verses to write up or learn off by heart. Recite them every single morning to stir up the right attitude. This is a brilliant way to kick your day off positively. Some scriptures for this could be; Psalm 5:3, Psalm 23:6, Proverbs 3:6, Psalm 118:24, Philippians 4:8, for example.
- Exhort to yourself! When you read a scripture, exhort to yourself from it afterward. Sometimes it's not crazy to talk to yourself! This is great way to exercise yourself in the Word. It is also good practice for when you have to do it before others in church. God gives you revelation of things to say when you must exhort . You’ll come up with interesting points on the scripture that you’ve never thought of before.
- Read aloud. Read out loud sometimes. Especially when you’ve got the house to yourself! This makes for good pronunciation practice. Sometimes the Word feels more ‘alive’ when we speak it audibly.
- Get creative/ Use your talents! Can you draw? Do comic strips? Write poetry? Or songs? Are you good at calligraphy or even embroidery? The next time you come across a scripture that particularly inspires you, use your creative talent to make something incorporating it.
- Use a dictionary. Look up any words you don’t understand when you come across them in the Bible. Not knowing what words mean can stop us from grasping the full picture of a scripture. Do you know what ‘concupiscence’ means (Romans 7:8)? Or do you know what ‘vermilion’ is (Jeremiah 22:14)?... No?...Then look it up!
Also look into the definitions of some of the words used all the time in church, such as ‘grace’, ‘mercy’ or ‘glory’. Sometimes we lose the appreciation of the deep meaning of such words when we get so used to hearing them. Don’t let them just become spiritual jargon to you.
- Make notes. If you don’t want scribbles in your Bible, carry a notepad, Post-it notes or some paper always tucked in it, ready to use. When you read the Word or are hearing it preached on, allow yourself to be a student by thinking about it and recording your thoughts and new things you are learning. Write down any questions that arise so you remember to ask your Bible teacher when you get chance. Make notes on scriptures that correspond and help your understanding.
- Bible school. For some things you need an experienced and anointed Bible teacher. Especially for very technical scriptures such as the mysteries in the book of Revelation.
- Quiz yourself. After reading a passage of scripture, write some questions on it. Go back to the questions at a later time to check you’ve remembered information from the scripture.
