I have been asked many times where I get the resources from when I am bible journalling and I have to admit, it has taken me some time to get to this point. I want to share with you 4 simple ways you can deepen your time in the Word, without getting overwhelmed.
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Having the right Bible
It is vital that you have the right Bible for you. I highly recommend the KJV AMP Parallel Bible because I believe in the Authorised Version being the most accurate translation from the original Greek texts. Plus, the poetry of the wording is unheard of in any other translation. I love the Amplified on the same page, so that I can broaden my understanding on what the verse says plus it also gives you a cross reference to turn to. There are many options and versions out there, I would encourage you to pray over what Bible version to get if you are torn between a few.
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You don't need a library...
I used to think the more books I had, the better my study life would be. I still love my books and a good bookstore, but I found that it can overwhelm me when I think what book to use as part of my study. Keep it simple! Start with your Bible, a notebook, a few pens and a few highlighters
At the moment, I use:
KJV Amplified Bible (my main go-to)
Reformation Heritage Study Bible (for further reading/explanation)
NKJV Women's Study Bible (it has a breakdown of the book you are reading at the beginning)
William Nicholson's "The Bible Student's Companion" (for any further research on keywords, a vintage book picked up second-hand)
I sometimes use a book called 500 Bible Subjects depending on what I am studied (pictured below).
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Top Three Websites to expand your knowledge
There are so many free resources online that can help you study further but again, where do you begin? Here are my top three websites that I use on a daily basis - they have blown my mind and have me reading more cross references that I could have done on my own.
Biblegateway.com - the free version allows you to read various translations, search a verse through a keyword or phrase, listen to the audio bible and check out their reading plans. I now pay a small fee every month to access Bible Gateway Plus which gives me over 30 study bibles (including John MacArthur's Study Bible), 13+ commentaries and a few dictionaries plus maps and devotionals. Compared to spending thousands on the books (plus where to store them), I have access to it on my computer or my phone.
Blueletterbible.org - this is free to access and full of tools, including commentaries, devotionals, biblcial language resources (you get to read the Bible in Greek along with English!) I even found the Westminster Catechism of Faith on there too (A Puritan Catechism with Proofs) - have a read at the Heidelberg Catechism, it is powerful!
Hymnary.org - I use this website to read up on hymns, for the background on the hymn writer and how the hymns are inspired by scripture. Some of the hymns even have the tunes to listen to.
My recommendations -
Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary
Zondervan Bible Commentary
NKJV Wiersbe Study Bible
King James Study Bible.
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Go back to scripture to pray!
To help me concentrate more, I write my prayers down. I use the passage of scripture I have been reading, including the verses that I have found during my study. It's amazing how praying the Bible has helped me memorise scripture and even how the Holy Spirit brings verses to my mind as I start to pray. It's a vital part of my bible journalling.
If you're a reader, check out "Praying the Bible" by Donald Whitney. This was life-changing for my prayer life.
These are just a few of the resources that have helped me grow, and I am sure there will be many more. I hope this helps you get started with bible journalling.
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