You ask, “How do I use the Bible?”
The clearest answer is found in the words of Jesus when He promised, “Ask, and it will be given unto you; seek and ye will find; knock and it will be opened unto you,” (Matthew 7:7). Prayfully, we need to ask God to guide us, and through His help we come to understand. It is not just because we are reading and using a study Bible. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you (John 14:26).
Before reading the Bible, Pray. Invite God to speak to you. Go to the Scripture looking for God’s Divine guidance, and do not look for your own ideas. Read the Bible carefully. Seek and you will find. If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; then you will understand the fear of the LORD, and find knowledge of God (Proverbs 2:4-5).
Be a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth (2 Timothy 2:15). Study the Bible a little bit at a time. Use a good Study Bible to help you. The soul needs a steady diet of the Bread of Life to stay strong. The soul can not digest it all at once. Don’t be discouraged if your reading reaps a small harvest. Some days a lesser portion is all that is needed. What is important is to search every day. A steady diet of God’s Word over a life time builds a healthy soul and mind.
Knock, and it will be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7). To knock is to stand at the door of God. Make yourself available to Him. To knock is to ask what you can do. How can you obey? Where can you go? If you chose and do what Jesus asks, you have a special reward awaiting you as God promises!
Ask. Seek. Knock. Use a Study Bible if you need to. You will reap the wonderful reward of God’s everlasting promise.
For all those circumstances when you don’t know what measurement a cubit equates to, or what the heck ‘escheweth’ means, a bible dictionary is essential. Reading the bible can be an enjoyable and life altering experience, but most versions are difficult to understand with their archaic language. Owning a bible dictionary will allow you to both interpret words in English, but also look back to the original translations of words without learning Hebrew or Greek. For bible study, this book is one hundred percent necessary.