I believe that what I am about to share has been true for most of us but I pray that after reading this you will truly be empowered to read the bible and not only read it but have it truly come alive for you.

I found that as I began to really desire to read the bible and learn from it, that it seems as if it was so deep and had a lot of hidden meaning. At times it didn’t feel as if I had any understanding or retention of what I was reading.

But in my journey I believe God has given me amazing nuggets that have helped me and now the Word of God is truly alive to me and in me. The written and spoken word God has imparted understanding and I along with others continue to grow in understanding and knowledge of the Word.  This is something that is available to all of us!

Let me share a couple of nuggets with you. Let’s begin with a scripture.

Luke 24:45 in New King James Version states it this way..

And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.

New International Version states it this way:

Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.

How cool is that? In this chapter the disciples are walking along the road and Jesus joins them (they don’t recognize Him at that point because He had not revealed Himself fully to them) they don’t have understanding about what just happened (the crucifixion). They are discussing the word and their understanding of it as it has been shared their whole lives. But in this moment Jesus joins them as they are in the midst of this discussion. Later He breaks bread with them and they have a moment of revelation. They see Jesus as the resurrection and life, as He truly is, but also the word becomes alive to them.

Where they lacked understanding He opened their minds so they could fully understand.

(Eph 1:18)  I pray that the eyes of your understanding being enlightened;

These are just 2 verses and there are so many more in the bible that describe what God desires for each of us. when you read the entire chapter of Ephesians 1 you get a greater understanding of the blessings of God and all He has released through Jesus His Son. All who believe on Jesus will be saved but also receive marvelous benefits as part of the rich inheritance He has imparted to us as believers!

So here are some Keys that will assist you and help you not only gain understanding, but lay hold of the Spiritual realities that are yours. The bible is full of treasures, and God wants us to discover each one and not only discover but fully lay hold of them and live inside of each one. 

1. Line upon line: as you read the word and you come upon a passage, if you read line upon line, the scriptures before it and the ones after you will gain greater understanding of what is being shared. Again, read Ephesians 1 the entire chapter and as you do you will gain understanding and become enlightened to what God has for you.
2. Meditate on the word; as you meditate on the word it goes deeper and deeper in you to establish the truths inside of the word.  Example on how to do this: take a particular passage and read each verse and stop and meditate on it study it out. Then take the entire chapter and read it over and over, like daily read this chapter and meditate on the wealth inside of it. You will discover the richness inside.
3. Memorize the word: as you memorize the word it again becomes alive in you.
4. Then pray the word….example: Lord I desire for you to open my mind that I receive understanding. Thank you that you do this… Lord I thank you that your desire is for me to have the eyes of my understanding enlightened in the Knowledge of you and the rich inheritance that I as a believer possess. Thank you that you are doing this as I read the word each day!

Blessings,

- Kim Hadaway with Patricia King and XPministries