How to read the Bible

This devotional is written by Matt Coombs. Matt is one of the leaders at St Mary's.

Every so often I like to make space in the Every Day with Matt planner to help people with reading the Bible in different ways. For this one, you'll need a Bible you don't mind scribbling in, or an iPad with Apple Pen or a print out of a Bible and a pen.

This approach is to help you make connections with what the passage is saying to you, and therefore, how God might be speaking to you on any given day.

Read a passage or a number of passages through once to get an idea of what it is being said. Then read them again slowly paying attention to the following.

Observation

•  Circle repeated phrases 
• Underline promises 
• Draw a box around commands 
• Mark every reference to God with a triangle

 Reflection

•  What stands out to me? 
• What challenges me?

 Prayer

•  What prayer requests can I make based on what I have read? 
• What can I praise God for in this passage? 
• How can I see Jesus in this passage? 
• What one thing can I apply from this today? 
• How can I pray this passage back to God?

 Try this with any passages you like. Here are some you could try today:

Psalm 139
Philippians 2
Matthew 6