One of those who heard us was Lydia from Thyatira, who was a dealer in purple cloth. She was a woman who worshiped God, and the Lord opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and the people of her house had been baptized, she invited us, “Come and stay in my house if you have decided that I am a true believer in the Lord.” And she persuaded us to go. —Acts 16:14-15 (GNT)
“Every time I study the Bible, I usually don’t understand anything, so I stopped studying.” “I don’t like reading the Word because every time I do, my mind goes blank and I feel sleepy.” You will hear these sentiments and many more from believers today who struggle to read and comprehend the Scriptures. I completely understand this feeling, as I experienced it too during my early Christian life. However, God showed me a secret that I want to share with you in this article.
When it comes to studying the Bible, you must realize that the devil does not want you to do it. He knows the numerous benefits that come from God’s Word. He understands that the Scriptures are food for your spirit; when your inner man is well-fed, you become spiritually strong and fortified against the works of darkness. The enemy knows that when a person possesses biblical knowledge, the gates of hell become powerless against them. Therefore, he stops at nothing to keep you away from the Bible.
To achieve this, the devil tries to make you lose your passion for the Word. Even when you make an effort to study, he attempts to cloud your mind so you don’t understand anything. He makes the process seem so complicated that you eventually decide to abandon the idea altogether. Many believers have found themselves trapped in this cycle of frustration. However, this is certainly not what God wants for you, because staying away from the Scriptures will do you more harm than good.
So, the best thing to do before studying the Bible is to pray. Ask God to remove any veil that might hinder your comprehension, and invite the Holy Spirit to open your understanding. When you do this, it might seem like nothing is happening at first, but trust me, your mind will be opened because that is exactly what God desires for you. Consider the case of Lydia in our opening scripture. The Bible records that when she heard the message, …the Lord opened her mind to pay attention to what Paul was saying. —Acts 16:14 (GNT)
Did you catch that? This verse shows us that it is God who opens our minds to understand the Scriptures. Therefore, I encourage you to always depend on Him for clarity and wisdom. The best way to do this is by praying before you open your Bible. Prayer arrests the activities of Satan in this area and positions you to receive the Word exactly as it should be understood. Praise God!
Today’s Rhema
If you truly want to understand the Scriptures, always ask God to remove the hindrances and give you understanding before you start studying!
Prayer
Father, I am grateful for opening my eyes to this truth. I declare that the next time I want to study Your Word, I will do it prayerfully, in Jesus’ name. Amen!
