Focus and Bible Reading

We live in an age where everything is beeping at us and constantly vying for our attention. The ability to focus while reading is a learned skill and we must not take it for granted. Distraction is one of the greatest (humanly speaking) hindrance to understanding.

Here’s what may help you during your Bible reading:

1. Put your phone in Do Not Disturb Mode

2. Take notes (Handwritten or Typing)

3. Underline or highlight and stop to think about what you are reading

4. Understand the difference between Bible reading, Bible Study, and Bible Meditation

   1. Bible Reading: just reading the Bible stopping to think where appropriate but not spending long periods of time reflecting

   2. Bible Study: In-depth examination of words, context, grammar, meaning, etc

   3. Bible Meditation: In-depth contemplation of a single verse

Understanding point #4 above is crucial!

As a reminder according to John MacArthur, there are 5 ways to grasp God’s word:

1. Hear

2. Read

3. Study

4. Memorize

5. Meditate

We can not do all 5 at the same time and need to use different approaches for each based on your unique personality and learning style.

You can do it!

Remember: Distraction is the enemy of understanding. There is no greater person to focus on than the Triune God of the Bible and the redemptive work of the God-Man Jesus Christ (perfect life, death, burial, and resurrection).

SDG,

John