Study, Study, Study!

I have a reminder on my phone set to go off at a time when I'm not supposed to be busy that says "Bible Study."

Bible Study.

And yet, I usually only read one chapter. That doesn't mean I don't learn anything, but is it really a "study" if it only takes five minutes?

According to Dictionary.reference.com, the first definition of the word study is "application of the mind to the acquisition of knowledge, as by reading, investigation, or reflection."

The KJV says "Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth" (2 Timothy 2:15).

In the NIV, this translates to "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).

Well, God's Word is truth, and if we don't study God's Word, we won't really be learning how to obey Him, or what He expects of us.

So, reading counts as "studying." Reading a chapter of the Bible a day is certainly helpful for my learning, but I'm sure I could do better. Much better. I think I (personally) need to step it up and really study God's Word, instead of just glossing over a chapter.

Now, I'm not ashamed to admit that I do skim over the "beget" chapters, but if I ever needed them to do a blog post, I would certainly go back and study them in-depth.

I guess what I'm saying is that it's not enough to just give this our smallest effort. God's Word is the most important thing we could ever read, so we have to take time to study it, to commit concepts and verses to memory, and store them in our hearts. Remember, "studying" includes reflection.

This blog is really good for making me do in-depth studies of concepts and verses, but there is more I could be doing.

How do you study God's Word? Do you take 5 minutes, or an hour?