There are any number of ways to study God's word and any one of them can be effective but there are some basic things, a framework one might call it, that can make the time spent in God's word more fruitful, regardless of the method of study utilized.

The Bible is God's word, a guide to what we can understand about God and how He wants us to live our lives. After all, God is infinite and we are finite, but through Bible study God can be known and, indeed, desires for us to know Him better.

One thing that must be understood is that God wants to have a relationship with us. What makes a relationship grow and thrive? Time. Whether it is God, a spouse, a parent, or a friend, to grow a relationship we must spend time together. Time equals love. When we spend time in God's word we cultivate that relationship with Him.

A good Bible study, regardless of the method employed, should be framed by the following:

1) Time
2) Prayer
3) Reading
4) Meditation
5) Memorization
6) Application

Time. Time is the essence of a thriving relationship. If you desire to draw closer to God you must spend time with Him every day. Choose a regular time each day to spend in Bible study. You must spend time if you want to grow. It is much easier to maintain good Bible study habits with a regular time set aside each day. Bible study can't be micro waved nor is there such thing as a McStudy that can be picked up at your local fast food drive through. There are times where we just don't have the time give to a good study and that is ok too. In cases like this take time to read a portion of scripture, just a few verses as this will help keep your eyes on Jesus.

Start with prayer. Ask God to open your heart and mind and to fill you with the knowledge of His will that you might walk according to His ways. God sent His Holy Spirit to help us to learn and to understand His word so take advantage this Helper by seeking Him in prayer. Then thank the Lord for His help and willingness to aid you in your learning.

The next step is to read the Bible. There are a lot of wonderful books out there full of Christian topics that can help enlighten us but it's not the same as reading scripture. Take time when using extra-biblical material to check the accuracy by comparing it with what the Bible says. It is easy to think that reading a Christian book is a substitute for God's word but it is not, in fact it can be a danger. The author could easily take scripture out of context, either

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