EquippedMama

As mothers of littles, it can be really challenging to get in the Word consistently, and without distraction. Moms of multiple small ones can have an especially formidable challenge finding those slices of time to really focus and study the Bible.

In different seasons, it looks different. Perhaps you decide to make the first half of your children’s naptime your opportunity to spend time with the Lord. Maybe you stash your Bible and notebook in your rocking chair and use a feeding session to have a few quiet moments. Maybe your children have outgrown the napping stage and so you enlist the help of your spouse to supervise the children in the early evening so you can steal away. Maybe you wake up at 5 a.m. or bring your Bible to the gym. There are lots of options, but the important thing is that you prioritize a pattern that allows you to be in the Word regularly.

So when you find this time, how do you start?

Read the Bible. Some people really enjoy topical Bible studies or devotionals which are offered through various ministries. While these are a great tool, they are best when used in addition to a comprehensive study of the Word of God, rather than as a surrogate for regular study. Only through understanding the metanarrative of the Scripture in context, can you really understand the overarching message of the Bible.

If you have never read through the entire Bible but have a basic knowledge of the Gospel and the major events in Scripture, consider reading chronologically through the Bible- Bible Study Tools offers a great reading plan to do so, so you can understand the context of a passage and place people and events in sequential order. Perhaps you want to read through the Bible, but making the trip in one year seems a little ambitious, I’ve really enjoyed working through the two-year Bible study plan released by Riverside Church. If you have never read the Bible more than a verse or two in isolation, a great place to start is with one of the four Gospels- many people suggest starting with the Gospel of John-though Matthew, Mark, and Luke are also a good starting place. These books tell about the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

What do you do when you read the Bible? Some of the Bible reads much like any other book, as portions of it are presented in narrative form. However, many books are not written in narrative form, which can prove a challenge for the reader. How do you understand what type of book you are reading? What do you do with Old Testament laws that do not seem to make sense? How do you understand difficult prophecy passages like are found in Daniel and Revelation?

Background information is super important. If you read a book of the Bible with no understanding of the cultural context in which it was written, author, or intended audience, then you probably won’t really “get” the passage. There are many great free resources available to help understand a passage, Blue Letter Bible offers some great commentaries and other helpful study resources.

One really great resource is being part of a Bible study that is formally taught and goes through a book of the Bible. The advantage of a study that is not discussion only is that you can learn a lot from the research of the leader. Some really great Bible study organizations are Community Bible Study and Bible Study Fellowship which are available in many locations throughout the US and internationally (and Community Bible Study has a great kid’s program and offers childcare, which is a big plus!)

Another help is to have an “attack plan” for reading the Bible. There are numerous Bible study books, but two I have found informative and accessible are Jen Wilkin’s Women of the Word and Howard Hendricks’ Living By the Book. These are great resources for helping you understand how to study the Bible, rather than just read it.

So how do you study the Bible? Pick a time. Read the Bible (not exclusively devotional materials). Pick a plan. Get help as you need it. In your faithful study you can honor the Lord as you-

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

2 Timothy 2:15 Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.