Regularly reading and studying the Bible is an important part of the Christian life. The Bible is infallible, meaning it is never wrong, and it’s the Holy Word of God gifted to us. There’s a saying that if you want to hear God speak, read the Bible. If you want to hear Him speak audibly, read the Bible aloud.

But for some of us, picking up the Bible is incredibly daunting. Once you decide where to start, it can be hard to stay focused and truly understand what the words mean. God doesn’t call all of us to be Bible scholars, but He does call us all to read and understand His word for ourselves.

With just a few handy tools, you’ll be able to comfortably pick up the Bible and study it. Whether you are reading an old favorite Sunday School story, or one of the smaller prophetic books, understanding an inductive method of Bible study will help you to understand and apply the text to your own life.

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Forgiveness is hard. It’s something we try to teach children from a young age, but often struggle as much with it then as we do as adults. Forgiveness can be especially difficult when the person you need to forgive either cannot, or will not, seek it from you. Reconciliation is always the goal, but sometimes it just won’t happen, for a variety of reasons.

The world has plenty of advice for us in these situations, but every bit of it will only lead to more pain and brokenness. Conversely, the words of Jesus and the advice found in the Bible is often hard and can take a lifetime of work to achieve. But only by offering forgiveness freely can we truly be at peace.

Further, embracing this type of forgiveness can teach us a lot about the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross. Remember Paul’s words in Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” We certainly weren’t seeking Christ’s forgiveness while we were “dead in our sins and transgressions.” But still this gift was freely offered.

Understanding that, and seeking sound biblical advice, is the only thing that can help us to do the same.

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“One generation commends your works to another; they tell of your mighty acts. They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty — and I will meditate on your wonderful works. They tell of the power of your awesome works — and I will proclaim your great deeds” (Psalm 145:4-6).

Do you ever stop to meditate on God’s majesty and power? Sometimes it feels easy for us to remember how great and powerful God is. Other times, when we fall into a routine and don’t make intentional time for Him, it can feel harder. Regardless of where you fall in this spectrum, all of us can benefit from taking a brief moment to pause and look for God in the world around us. We serve a God who puts beauty in everything, from the smallest details to the biggest, most earth-shatteringly joyful events. God is active and present in every breath we take.

In college, my ministry group would go camp up in the mountains every summer. One of the things we did there was called a “retreat of silence,” where for three hours, we were to find a quiet space to sit with our Bible and notebook and have an extended quite time. I always spent this time as deep in the mountains as I could safely get. By a brook, among the trees, I could see little bits of God’s creation all around me.

We can see God’s hand at work in all aspects of our lives, both big and small. And it can be these simple reminders of His goodness, creativity, planning and majesty, that can help us to know Him better and feel closer to His heart. These moments, ultimately, should lead us to worship Him. And there’s nothing our Father loves more than for His people to rejoice in His goodness!

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Many of us are breathing a sigh of relief right now. “2020 is almost over!” And while it’s true that this has been an incredibly difficult year, it’s helpful to look back at the ways we have all grown. As Christians grappled with every new challenge of 2020, they continued to seek the wisdom and truth found only in Scripture.

The top articles from this year reflect this honest pursuit of truth. Our readers wanted to dig further into Scripture by asking things like “what does that verse really mean?” We also sought to measure our own lives against the Word, by investigating what the Bible says about things like alcohol and swearing.

The writers and editors at Bible Study Tools were right alongside you this year, with every challenge 2020 offered. We hoped in the midst of the craziness to continue providing you with encouraging, truthful Bible content. So thanks for sticking with us and holding fast to your faith throughout a difficult year. As we look back at the top articles from 2020, may we continue to hold onto these truths and cling to the promise of the Gospel, no matter what 2021 holds.

Here are the top 10 Bible Study Tools Articles of 2020:

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Among the thousands (millions?) of Christmas songs in the world, "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" is rather lesser-known. But the song, penned while the Civil Way ravaged the country, is a stark reminder of the broken state of the world and our desperate need for a Savior. While remembering this dark truth may not feel Christmasy, it is only through understanding the weight of sin that we can truly celebrate the miracle of our Savior's birth this Christmas. 

Sometimes a particular line in a Christmas carol sticks out. And after the year we've had, that line is definitely "a weary world rejoices" from O Holy Night. We are all weary this Christmas. And if we aren't feeling particularly optimistic or festive, can we still rejoice? Absolutely.

Racial reconciliation has been a hot topic in recent years, not just in Christian circles. The phrase itself may evoke a range of emotions in people, but at its heart the practice of racial reconciliation is complicated, messy and uncomfortable. Latasha Morrison has jumped headfirst into the messiness of this mission, wading through the hard conversations in search of the hope that can only be found on the other side.

Morrison founded the Be the Bridge group in 2016, and her book of the same name was recently released. It gives steps for the reader to form their own Bridge groups, with a process that is easy on paper, but challenging in practice. “I like to tell people that this is going to be uncomfortable,” Morrison said over the phone. “It’s going to be hard and you’re going to want to quit.” But she continues that this work is absolutely worth it and she is "excited about what God is doing in the hearts of people." 

2019 is drawing to a close, and with it comes the end of the decade. It was a sometimes thrilling, sometimes troubling year. But through all the highs and lows, the editors at Bible Study Tools worked hard to bring truthful, encouraging content to our readers. Indeed, the top stories from our Topical Studies section was as varied as the events of the year itself.

Our readers sought tips for physical healing by reading about healing foods and oils in the Bible. When news was bad, readers sought answer to tough questions like “Why does God let bad things happen?” and “Who does God say I am?” Together we dug into some beloved verses like Nehemiah 8:10 and Deuteronomy 31:6. Sometimes, current events even drove our readers to seek answers in Scripture, as in the article “Can Women Be Pastors?”

Through it all, we have sought to answer your questions and elucidate some foggier sections of the Bible. So thanks, readers. Thank you for reading, studying and growing alongside us. Keep sending us your thoughts, your questions and your insight. We look forward to another year (and another decade) working alongside you!

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Here are the best Bible Study Tools articles of 2019: