How to Study on Your Own

I love a good Bible study group. The laughter, the discussion, the things I learn from listening to others is hard to get any other way. But there have been seasons in my life when I did not have someone to study the Bible with me. Maybe others didn’t have the time. Maybe I wanted a different or deeper study than others were interested in. Sometimes there just wasn’t a group in that area. I could have given up and just went to worship on Sundays and called it good enough. But I don’t want “good enough.” I want deep, great, rich Bible study.

So what did I do?

I made the decision to study anyway, with or without anyone else.

Here’s the thing. Studying my Bible should not be dependent on someone else. It’s my responsibility. I’ve gotta take ownership of my time with God and not wait for someone else to schedule it. Jesus isn’t going to say, “Oh you poor soul, you didn’t have a study buddy?” Y’all, He is our study buddy!

So yeah, we need to stop making excuses for ourselves, make a plan, and dig into that Bible.

So, how do you study the Bible all by yourself?

1. Pray about your study time.

2. Pick a time.

Morning. Bedtime. Lunchtime. In car rider line. It doesn’t matter. Pick a time that works for you everyday. Then set an alarm on your phone. Some might think this is cheating because shouldn’t we remember to read our Bibles on our own? Yes, we should remember but until we do, use your resources to help you. I would much rather set an alarm to study my Bible than to watch Netflix, wouldn’t you?

Overtime, this will become a habit, and you won’t need an alarm. Later you might need to set an alarm again. Use what’s around you to point you back to God. Use sticky notes. Write a note on your mirror. Make a daily schedule with times or a check list for the day. Use all of these things. Use them until the time you have chosen becomes a habit and a part of your life.

3. Pick a place.

My place is on my bed. I have friends who cannot stand to study on their beds. They need a desk or table, somewhere to sit up straight. Some like the couch or outside on the patio or the basement where they can be alone and away from kids.

I like to spread everything out on the bed so I can see everything at one time, and this is a place I can be alone. My kids talk to me less when I’m in my room than when I’m on the couch. I can shut the door, and I’m out of sight.

Your place might be your closet. Where ever it is, pick a place that works for you.

4. Pick a book of the Bible.

You really could choose any book. Some books are easier than others to read through but all will be a blessing. Starting with Genesis and reading through the Bible one chapter a day is great place to start. Or starting with the New Testament gospels, like Matthew, would also work.

You could pick a short book of the Bible. This could help you feel accomplished, knowing that Bible study is something you can do. When we feel this way, we are motivated to keep studying. And that’s what we want: to keep studying.

The whole Bible can look pretty intimidating but we aren’t reading the whole book at one time. We are just reading one bit at a time. One verse or one passage or one chapter.

You can even start with something familiar. I always find exactly what I need every time I read God’s Word even if it’s something I’ve read several times before. Choose any book, and you are sure to be blessed by the Lord.

5. Pick a method.

There are a ton of ways to study. The simplest one is to read a chapter a day and then write a sentence or two about what you read. All you need is a Bible, notebook, and a pen. It’s a super easy method. This strategy is intended to help you get familiar with stories and passages of the Bible. The more you read, the more connections you will find in the Bible.

You can also add a step in this method. After you have written what the whole chapter is about, find a verse or two that catches your attention, and write down how this verse connects to you. Maybe it reminds you of something you went through and how God helped you. Maybe it steps on your toes, telling you of things that need to be corrected in your life. This application of Scripture is how we grow and keep it in our minds throughout the day.

6. Don’t give up.

Keep going everyday. Stick with it.

If the time and/or place isn’t working, change it! I’m not a morning person and for years I tried to make that my study time. It just didn’t work. And night times are reserved for time with my husband, so mid-morning works best for me. It took me years, and a lot of trial and error, to figure that out.

If you miss a day, it’s ok. Just start again the next day. We don’t want to make missing a day a habit, but it does happen from time to time. Unexpected things come up. Schedules change. So adjust your time or place to what is needed so you can keep studying every day.

We need to be in God’s Word, even if we are studying alone, because we need something in our minds that is better than what this world has to offer. God gives us better things to model and look to in His Word. So keep studying because you really aren’t alone. God is always with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.

So when and where are you studying? What book did you choose? And what helps you stick with it?