I thought I would take a minute and explain the method to my madness. :) I don't think this is the best and certainly not the only way to study the Bible. It is what has worked the best for me over many years. I will take breaks from this method and do a Bible study or focus on one book in particular at times, but I find myself coming back to the methods my dad taught me as a girl.
I read five chapters a day from one or more sections of the Bible. I have divided my reading sections into OT History (Genesis-Esther), Poetry (Job-Song of Songs), Prophecy (Isaiah-Malachi), NT History (Matthew-Acts) and NT Letters (Romans-Revelation). I used to read five chapters a day from each of the sections. I love how that helped me to see the Bible in a big way because there was so much overlap in the passages I was reading. However, I don't have that time anymore and usually read one section per day. I have a bookmark with five strings knotted at the top in order to help me keep my place in each section.
In order to make sure I am processing the information and not just reading to read, I use the color code system my dad taught me. I underline everything pertaining to...
God (his names and attributes) in Purple
Sin (acts and the consequences) in Blue
Salvation in Red
Commands (and things we should do) in Orange
God's Promises in Pink
God's attitudes and actions towards His people in Green*
I have found that the color coding not only helps me pay attention to what I am reading, it helps me find things later. When I need to understand what God asks of me, I read just the orange passages. When I want to worship, I often read just the purple.
*The green category is my own and it is a little vague. I have struggled with a poor perspective of myself (sometimes I think too highly and sometimes too negatively) and have benefited greatly from marking what God has to say about me and who I am.
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