How to Read the Bible and Pray Every Day

Reading the Bible and praying every day is both crucial and necessary in our walk of faith with God. It is the first step towards getting to know and understanding God’s heart, ways, principles, and promises in our lives. First, if you are a beginner in the Christian community and are wondering how to read the Bible and pray every day, here are some helpful tips:

1. Get involved in a discipleship program. 

Taking part in a community, or a group of similarly aged people, can be a wonderful and fun way to get to know the Lord. You can have an accountability partner to help you grow in your relationship with the Lord and work with a mentor whose knowledge of God’s Word, experiences in the Kingdom, and intimacy with God can radically impact your life, just like Elijah and Elisha, Jesus and His disciples, Paul and Timothy, and so on. Discipleship is one of the keys to growing in your walk of faith with God. After all, you can’t finish the race of faith alone, but only through unity, community, and fellowship with the Body of Christ.

2. Follow devotional plans offered by some Christian websites and mobile apps that may help you in reading the Bible. 

It can be difficult to read the Bible when you don’t know where to start or end, or what to do with the things you’ve learned in the Scriptures. You can follow Christian apps and websites that offer devotional plans that may guide you into reading the Word of God. Moreover, if you have a devotional journal or notebook, you can apply the S.O.A.P principle – Scripture, Observation, Application, and Prayer. As you do these every day, you’ll get to know God deeper and build a wonderful relationship with the Holy Spirit, who guides believers into the truths of God.

3. Begin your reading of the Bible with the Gospel and the New Testament books. 

Many new believers start on fire with God, until they begin reading the Old Testament and question many things about God and His ways. You won’t properly understand the Old Testament without truly knowing the heart of the Father, which is revealed through the life of Jesus Christ. It is best to begin with the Gospels, where you can read about the Lord Jesus, the Holy Spirit, who helps you understand God’s Word, and the love of God the Father. After being rooted and founded in the teachings and ways of Christ, along with other New Testament teachings by Jesus’ disciples, going back to the Old Testament can give you insight and revelation that points you back towards Christ and the Father’s love. It is important to know Jesus first, as He is the very foundation of our Christian faith.

4. The internet helps for searching topical Scriptures that may minister to you at the moment. 

For instance, if you are heartbroken, you can search for Bible verses about love, dating, anger, forgiveness, etc. There are many helpful Christian websites if you are searching for these things that will help you better read the Bible.

5. You can also explore Bible series shows that are faithful and biblically aligned to the Scripture. 

The visual medium can help you visualize ancient events that happened in the Bible and give you a clearer picture of what the Scripture is talking about. After watching biblical films, you will realize that the Scriptures are more understandable, as you now have an idea of what had happened during the Old Testament and New Testament. If you struggle to understand the deep Words of God, Bible-based films and TV series can help you. 

Now, let’s talk about your daily devotionals. As mentioned earlier, what is S.O.A.P, and how does that help you in your reading of the Bible? Remember that reading the Bible every day is not just your goal; you are meant to understand it, apply it in your life, and let God’s Word transform you every day. By doing S-O-A-P in your daily devotional, it can help you truly dig into the Word of God, go back to it anytime, enable the Holy Spirit to work powerfully in your life as you apply what you have read in your life, and pray to God. Here is an example of a S.O.A.P devotion:

Scripture:

John 3:19-20

For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Observation:

This Scripture says that people who do not do what is right in the eyes of God won’t come into the light or be in the presence of God, because they are afraid that their deeds will be exposed, whereas those who do what is right come to the light in order for everyone to see that they are doing God’s will, and God will be glorified in their lives.

Application:

I learned through these Scriptures that when you choose to do evil, you repel the presence of God. If you choose to do His will, even if you suffer for doing good, you will come closer to the presence of God, along with fellow believers who are doing God’s will. This shows that we are doing what is right and glorifying God.

As a believer, I must always choose to do God’s will, even if it causes me to suffer, because I know that God’s light will shine on me, and His presence in my life will bring others to His light as well.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your Word today. As I apply Your lessons in my life, may it bring glory to Your name. As I do Your will and obey Your Word, may Your light shine through me, so the people around me will see You and come to You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

As you follow these steps in your daily devotional, expect the Holy Spirit to move powerfully in your life. 

You should also check out these articles that may help you in your walk of faith with God each day:

• How to Make Prayer a Lifestyle

• How to Pray Silently

• How to Use Bible Verses in Your Prayer

• How to Pray Using the Scriptures

• A Daily Prayer for Everyday

As you read the Bible and pray every day, may God’s light continue to shine, and be a ray of hope to those who do not yet know the Lord. May God use you as a vessel of His peace, power, and love, in Christ Jesus’ name.