5 Days Of Understanding The Bible From Always NearSample

It’s best to have a method to your Bible reading. Read the Bible each day, starting where you left off the day before. First, mark verses that speak to you. I enjoy tackling a book at a time, like Psalms or Philippians. 

Suppose you choose the book of Philippians, one of my favorites. If you own a study Bible containing background material, read the introductory comments. There are versions with introductions on this app. Then start with chapter 1, verse 1, and, asking God to guide you, pour over each verse in order. Ponder each word.

“Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, to all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy.” (vv. 1–4)

You may get no further the first day, for there is much here to consider. Maybe the word servants spoke to you. Am I a servant of Christ? What does that look like? What does that say about my attitude today?

Perhaps you lingered on the words grace and peace—qualities you need right now.

For me, it was the part about praying with joy that stood out in my reading. Usually I pray for someone because I’m worried about that person, and sometimes my worries spiral downward as I pray. But what about infusing our prayers with joy?

Going on, you read:

“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” (vv. 4–6)

What a promise! God is not finished with us yet. He has started a good work in us, but we’re still under construction. He’ll keep working on us till Christ returns.