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”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
Grow
In a family, when a child is born, he starts out as a baby and grows over a period of many years into a mature adult. It is the same in the spiritual realm. When you become a Christian you are born into God's family as a baby and God wants you to grow into spiritual maturity. As a new baby require nourishment to grow, so it is with us. We need spiritual nourishment to grow and this comes to us through the Word of God (1 Peter 2:2). It is our spiritual food. If we go for a long time without eating we become physically weak. If we go a long time without spiritual food, we will grow weak spiritually. As we grow spiritually and become more familiar with the Word, we come to know the Lord better as well as His will (2 Timothy 3:16, 17). We learn the things God desires us to do and this will help us avoid sin (Psalms 119:11). If we fail to read God's Word, we will know little of God and His will.
Memorization
Memorizing Scripture will help us gain victory over sin. As we hide God's Word in our hearts, we will not fall into sin so easily. This will enable us to do as Christ did when He was tempted by Satan in the wilderness. He quoted Scripture (Matthew 4:1-11). It will be good to start a regular program of memorizing Scripture. After memorizing the verse at the top of this page, begin memorizing other verses you feel are meaningful to you. You may want to put them on index cards to carry with you. A schedule of 2 – 3 verses a week with regular review will be a good start. As you read, study and memorize God's Word, you will find satisfaction and joy. Psalms 119:103 says ”How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart.” Approach God's Word with an attitude of expectancy, looking for and expecting a blessing. You will find that the Bible gives satisfaction, joy, guidance, comfort, encouragement, etc. (Psalms 119:105).
Study
The only was we can experience satisfaction joy, guidance, comfort, encouragement, etc., is by spending time in God's Word. Read again 2 Timothy 2:15 (above Scripture verse). We are also told in Colossians 3:16 to ”Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” A good way to do this is to have a time set aside each day, preferably in the morning, when you're more alert, to read God's Word and have a time of prayer. This “quiet Time” may be a half hour or just fifteen minutes. The most important thing is starting out is to be consistent. You can be sure Satan will do all he can to interfere with your quiet time by bringing in interruptions of every kind, but stick with it so that he cannot say he has won the victory.
I do suggest, as a new Bible reader, read the entire book of the Bible all the way through rather than skipping around to various chapters. This will allow you to see the books as a whole and prove more meaningful. The Gospels are the best books to begin reading and would suggest reading them through twice and then finish the New Testament. After that you might like to start and new reading program at the beginning of the Old Testament, reading one or more chapters at a time. Other book that will be helpful as you read and study are a concordance, Bible dictionary and atlas.
Begin your quite time with prayer for God's enlightenment as you read His Word (Psalms 119:18). Underline verses that hold special meaning for you. After you have finished reading, ask yourself these questions. 1) What did the passage say? 2) How can I apply what I have read to my life?
Writing the answers to these questions in a journal will prove helpful and will be a permanent record of your study. The meditate throughout the day on the passage you have read. This, too will help it become a part of your life (Psalms 119:97). Determine to make this quite time a daily habit in your life. It will not be enough to simply read and study the Word of God, we must also obey it. As we do so, blessings will result (James 1:22-25).