4 Practical Tools for a Strong Bible Study Habit: Including Beautiful Watercolor Scripture Art!
Nothing screams “I CAN DO THIS” like a new journal and pen set – am I right?! There’s just something about opening up a crisp, clean, new journal page and a new pretty pen that makes me feel productive, even before I’ve used them! Like they’ll help me finally absorb the material instead of just reading.
Have you ever felt this way? Like you finally did it – you gathered all the things! That sleek study Bible, cute journal, colorful highlighters, a shiny new pack of pens. They look good there on your bedside table!
But now what…?
You sit down with everything spread out in front of you, ready to dive into Bible study. But instead of feeling equipped, you feel… lost. Overwhelmed. Confused. Like your kitchen’s full of awesome ingredients but you have no idea how to cook the meal!
Do you start with a random passage?
Look up a commentary?
Write down your feelings in your journal?
Highlight famous verses?
HELP!!
How do people actually use all these tools to study the Bible in a way that makes sense?
Last week, we talked about Bible study being a non-negotiable for a deep, rich relationship with Jesus. But knowing that it matters doesn’t mean you automatically know HOW to do it. And when you feel lost in the process, it’s very easy to just push your Bible back onto the shelf, thinking, “I’m not good at this.”
Stop! Don’t do it!
Let me encourage you: you do not have to be any kind of Bible scholar to study and understand God’s Word. You just need the right tools and the confidence to actually use them!
That’s exactly what we’re tackling today. I’m going to walk you through four simple but powerful tools I use regularly. I’m a busy mom, wife, and business owner, so I needed something practical and easy. Something that took out the guesswork. These tools are staples in my Bible study and unlocked a deep understanding of His character I had no idea how to access!
We’ll talk about each of their unique benefits, specific recommendations, and how to use them wisely. By the end of this post, I hope you’ll feel confident, equipped, and excited to dive into God’s Word!
Let’s do this!
Tool #1: Commentary Study Bible
Have you ever read something in the Bible and thought… “Huh?” I have! How awesome would it be to have a wise and trusted mentor next to you, explaining what it’s saying? To walk you through tricky passages, help bridge the gap between reading and application, and point out the deeper meaning you might be missing.
That’s exactly what a commentary study Bible does! While it should never replace the Holy Spirit’s guidance, it helps you uncover a deeper, more intimate understanding of God’s heart and character.
Why Is a Commentary Study Bible Important?
Historical and cultural background – If you’ve ever read a passage and felt like you missed half the story, a commentary explains customs and historical context so you can grasp the full gravity of the story. It opens your eyes to see a new side of God’s hand in each story, one that many people never get to know. It’s mind blowing!
Verse-by-verse explanations – Commentary notes break down each verse into bite-size pieces. If you get stuck on a verse with tons of “Christianese” words or just plain don’t get what it’s saying, these notes make it easy to digest and process in real-life terms.
Cross-references – I love cross-references because they show you how the Bible is tied together across ALL kinds of different passages. They also reinforce the true meaning of stories and passages.
Deeper word study – Some study Bibles include insight on key Hebrew and Greek words, helping you grasp a richer understanding of the intention behind those verses and how they apply to your life today.
Maps, charts, and timelines – These are perfect for all you visual learners who want to see, touch, and feel the storyline of the Bible.
My Top Commentary Study Bible Recommendations:
ESV Study Bible – A great all-around study Bible with detailed commentary, theological insights, and tons of maps and illustrations.
John MacArthur Study Bible – If you want in-depth teaching from a trusted pastor, this one is packed with incredible commentary and wisdom.
Key Word Study Bible – Amazing if you love digging into original Hebrew and Greek words without being a language expert.
How To Use It Wisely (Without Getting Overwhelmed!)
Commentary study Bibles are incredibly helpful, but we can all make the mistake of flipping straight to the commentary before asking the Holy Spirit to speak.
While notes are SO useful, it’s important to let God’s Word speak to YOU first before jumping to explanations. God gave you the gift of a brain and of thought to use for His glory! Think of it as one of the ways to love the Lord your God with all your mind. (Matt. 22:37)
Here are some practical ways to get the most out of your commentary study Bible:
Read the passage first. Let it sink in and read it over a couple of times before checking the commentary.
Ask yourself questions. What stands out? What confuses you? What does this tell you about God? (I’ll share a full list of questions you can steal for your Bible study in my next blog – stay tuned!)
Underline keywords. Notice repeated words or phrases? The repetition often reveals big themes in Scripture.
Use a dictionary. Don’t skim past words you don’t fully understand. Even if you’re familiar with a word, sometimes stopping to read the definition puts it in a whole new context.
A commentary study Bible is an amazing tool, but remember – it’s just that: a tool. The goal isn’t to gather more information; it’s to grow in a personal, close relationship with the living God.
Tool # 2: Bible Study Journal
Ever close your Bible after reading and think… Now what?
You want to understand it.
You want to remember it.
You want it to change your life.
But the lessons you learned get lost so fast in the mental clutter of grocery lists, homework, and all those unanswered texts.
That’s exactly why I created the Bible Study Journal – to give you a clear, guided process to help you actually absorb, apply, and retain truth.
Why Is a Bible Study Journal Important?
This is not just another cute notebook you have to decide what to do with. This is a powerful tool designed specifically for busy women like you and me – to help us actively engage with God’s Word so it sinks in, shapes our thoughts, and draws us close to the heart of God.
Here’s why it’s worth using:
Gives you direction. Whether you randomly open to a passage or follow a structured reading plan, the Bible Study Journal helps you ask the right questions. Instead of reading and forgetting, you’ll pause to reflect on what you’ve learned with specific, practical prompts.
Deepens your understanding. If you tend to skim because you don’t know what else to do, this Bible Study Journal is for you! Those guided prompts help you dig into the passage rather than just skimming the surface.
Keeps track of your spiritual growth. One of my favorite things is to look back over my journals to see how far God’s brought me! It’s deeply encouraging to see His faithfulness through seasons I thought I’d never get out of at the time.
Fits a busy schedule. Whether you have five minutes or an hour, the Bible Study Journal gives your quiet time a purposeful rhythm and makes the most out of the time you can give.
My Top Recommendation:
The Bible Study Journal – I designed this journal to take the guesswork out of your Bible study. As busy moms, wives, and business owners, we don’t have time to mess around. This journal has been a lifesaver for me, and I’m confident it’ll revive your time with God too!
How To Use It Wisely (So It Actually Helps!)
Instead of just writing your feelings in a journal, I designed this journal to help you ENGAGE. Here’s what’s included in each day of the Bible Study Journal and how to use it effectively:
Prayer Section – This section gives you space to pause, breathe, and talk to God. To unload your anxieties and burdens and create a personal, intimate experience with God. It also keeps a record of prayers so you can see how God answers them over time!
Passage Summary – Here you get to slow down and actually process what you read. Putting something in your own words is a powerful way to absorb it and make sure you fully understand what the Holy Spirit is saying.
Application. This section helps you walk away from the Bible study with clear, personal action steps for TODAY. It gives you a new purpose for each day and deepens your confidence in hearing from the Lord.
Observation Notes. Here you can write down what stands out, your questions, and your commentary notes. It makes Bible study interactive instead of passive and keeps your mind from wandering.
Biblical Themes. The Bible is not a collection of random stories – it’s one big, beautiful story of God’s love and redemption. This section helps you see how all of Scripture points to Jesus and reveals a holy thread of God’s hand throughout it all.
This journal will transform the way you engage with God’s Word! My prayer is that you will walk away from Bible study feeling confident, fulfilled, and deeply connected to Him, ready for anything the day might throw at you.
Tool #3: Prayer
I know, I know, we all know we should pray more. What’s new? But PLEASE don’t discount prayer as a crucial part of Bible study. Without it, we rush through God’s Word without really stopping to hear Him. That’s a little silly, because after all, He’s the One we want to hear from, so why wouldn’t we commit to regular prayer as we study the Bible??
Why Prayer Matters in Bible Study
Clear mental clutter. Before opening your Bible, a simple prayer can help hush the mental noise – those endless to-do lists and worries – allowing you to zero in on God’s voice. Prayer before reading Scripture prepares your heart and mind to receive what He wants to say to you.
Invites the Holy Spirit’s guidance. The Bible’s not your regular old book – it’s God’s LIVING Word! Prayer invites the Holy Spirit to illuminate Scripture, helping you wrap your head around its truth and practically apply it.
Deepens your relationship with God. Just like when you talk to your friends to get to know them, prayer creates intimacy between you and God. It’s where you get to share your heart and learn about His. It helps you stay close to Him, available for Him to work in and through however He chooses.
How To Pray During Bible Study
I get it – sometimes it’s hard to find the right words, especially if your mind is in a million places! Here’s a simple prayer to guide you:
“Lord, thank you for this sacred moment in Your presence. You are my King, my Shepherd, the One who sees me. I want to hear Your voice and connect with You. Please quiet my mind and open my heart. Guide me by your Holy Spirit, remove distractions, and help me apply your Word to my life today. Amen.”
Even if it sounds super simple, prayer engages you in dialogue with your real-life Creator! (WHAT?!) And He has no expectations of a big, fancy prayer. He just wants to know you, hear your voice, and have your attention. So next time you sit down with your Bible, take a deep breath, say a little prayer, and let God reveal His truth to you.
Tool #4: Watercolor Scripture Art
This one might surprise you because it’s not a book or a typical “spiritual” tool. But watercolor Bible verses are the missing piece that helps Bible study stick throughout your day. They add beauty, creativity, and diversity to your reading. They keep Scripture personal, alive, and engaging in real life, long after you’ve put your Bible down.
Why Is Watercolor Scripture Art Important?
It keeps God’s living Word in front of you. Mom life can mean lots of chaos! Beautiful chaos, but chaos nonetheless! If we’re honest, we need constant reminders of God’s promises throughout the day. A beautifully lettered verse on your wall or desk can refocus your heart immediately, no matter what craziness is swirling around you.
It sets the tone for your home. Our homes are full of stuff, but what if they were full of God’s truth instead? Having Scripture watercolor in your space creates a peaceful, Christ-centered culture in your home and among your family.
It encourages you when you need it most. Some days you feel strong in the Lord. On other days, you’re barely holding it together. Seeing verses like 2 Timothy 2:13 displayed over your nightstand, the sink, your laptop, or the washing machine feels like a gentle, loving God-hug right when you need it most.
It’s an easy way to memorize Scripture. When you’re looking at a verse every day, it sticks with you! Without even trying, you’ll find yourself meditating on God’s Word just by glancing at Bible verse watercolor prints on your walls. Once you memorize one, it’s time to move on to the next!
Beautiful Watercolor Scripture Art for You!
Here are some of my customers’ favorite high-quality Scripture watercolor prints. Check out which verse might be the perfect for the season you’re walking through right now.
How To Use Bible Verse Watercolor in Your Bible Study
At first glance, watercolor Bible verses might seem like just a pretty decoration to add to your home. But it’s SO much more than that – and I speak from personal experience!
For all their delicate beauty, they are a powerful tool to keep God’s voice the loudest over all the noise. When life is crazy and Bible study feels rushed or scattered, having Scripture all over your home helps refocus your mind on the truth God’s speaking over you.
Here’s how to use Scripture watercolor to make the most of your Bible study:
Create a dedicated Bible study space. Finding time for Bible study is hard enough. But when your home is cluttered, it’s SUPER hard to focus. Creating a small space for Bible study helps keep it intentional and provides a little refuge for you to pull away. Use decorative watercolor Bible verses as your cue to take a deep breath and quiet yourself before God.
Meditate and reflect. When your eye lands on a Bible verse watercolor, ask yourself some questions about it. For example, if it says, “The Lord is my strength and my shield,” (Psalm 28:7) ask yourself:
How has the Lord been my strength today?
What battles am I fighting that I need to surrender to Him?
How can I lean on Him right now instead of trying to do it all myself?
Use it for Scripture memory and application. Let’s be honest: Scripture memorization is HARD, and life is BUSY. Having key verses in sight throughout the day helps you naturally commit them to memory without even realizing it!
Reinforce what you’re studying. If you struggle to remember what you learned once you close your Bible (that’s me, too!) hanging a verse that relates to your current topic helps cement God’s Word in your heart throughout the week. It keeps your Bible study from being a one-time reading sesh and turns it into something you live out daily.
Incorporate it into your family’s faith walk. Your Bible study isn’t just for you – it shapes your kids and your spouse, too. Displaying Scripture watercolor art where your family can see it makes room for spiritual conversations, prayer, and a Christ-centered family culture.
Bible study is not designed to just be a quick read, left behind once you step into real life. It’s a chance to soak in God’s life-giving truth and let it transform your life. One of the best ways to do that is to fill your home, life, and mind with His Word visually. Watercolor Scripture art makes God’s promises a constant in your life, keeping your heart connected to Him all day long!
You’ve Got Everything You Need!
If you started this blog feeling unsure about how to study the Bible or worried that you weren’t “doing it right,” I hope this encouraged you! With the right tools, you don’t have to sit in front of your Bible and wonder, “What do I do now?”
You now have a clear, simple way to approach your time with God:
A commentary study Bible to give you deeper understanding of God’s heart
A Bible study journal to guide your prayer and processing
Prayer to invite the Holy Spirit into your study
Watercolor Scripture art to keep God’s Word in front of you all day long
Remember, there’s no perfect “recipe” for spending time with God. He doesn’t want perfection or a rigid routine – He wants the real, messy, down-to-earth YOU. To know you and bring you in close to His heart. And that looks different for everyone in various seasons of life!
If you’re ready for a clear, structured guide to help walk you through Scripture, check out my Bible Study Journal below. It’s designed to guide you step by step so you know what to write, what to reflect on, and how to apply what you’re reading.
And if you love the idea of filling your heart and home with God’s beautiful Word, take a peek at my watercolor Scripture art collection below. These pieces will keep His Word in front of you all day, making it easy to remember truth no matter how crazy life gets!
I’m rooting for you, friend!
Xoxo,
Tam
