Here’s my list of non-negotiables for personal Bible study.  It’s the bare essentials for what should be an almost daily practice in the life of every Christian. Studying God’s Word is absolutely essential to the spiritual health and vitality of every believer.  These ten things are pretty much always a part of my daily devotional time with God.

I’ve got them listed in a particular order too.  The most important and necessary things are first.  The things that are not as essential, but are still helpful, are more towards the bottom of the list.

(For those less inclined to take the time to read a whole bunch of sentences in a row, I’ve provided a short version of the list. For others who are more interested, there’s a longer version which includes my own personal commentary on each item.  Enjoy.)

The Short Version

1. Bible
2. Relationship
3. Goal
4. Heart
5. Mind
6. Time
7. Place
8. Pen
9. Paper
10. Coffee

The Long Version

1. Bible
   Duh!  It should go without saying, but I fear many are tempted to do their “Bible study” from one of the latest titles off of the best-sellers rack in your local Christian bookstore (Or, as in my case, off of my personalized Amazon Wish List).  Of course, there’s also those who are a little more cultured than the rest of us. They may go for something of a more sophisticated nature like the C. S. Lewis book they overheard their smart friends talking about. The result in either case, however, will not be Bible study, just glorified book-reporting. There’s no substitute for the Word of God.  Make sure that when you do your Bible study you actually use the Bible.  Here’s my personal favorite.  I’ve been using it for a little over three years.
2. Relatonship
   True Bible study involves one person interacting with another—namely, you and God.  This must be remembered when we sit at the feet of the Scriptures.  If we study only to learn and grow in our own knowledge, ultimately we study in vain.  If we study to meet with God, though, we study rightly and our labors, by God’s grace, will indeed bear spiritual fruit.  Remember as well to pray while you study.  Talk to God about what you’re reading.  Ask for His guidance.  He will help you.
3. Goal
   Meaningless, aimless, spontaneous, fruitless—these are words that all too often describe the efforts of believers when they attempt to study the Bible.  Without any direction or goal in mind, they randomly pick up the Bible, read a few lines from whatever obscure passage they flipped to, and then put it back down.  The result is the same every time: nothing, if not discouragement.  The solution is having a goal.  A purpose.  Don’t just read the Bible because you don’t have anything else to do.  Read the Bible with a goal—namely, to know God!
4. Heart
   When we read God’s Word we should make sure that our hearts are present and active.  We should be ready to feel and sense both the truth and the Person we’re about to encounter.  The Bible is a book with great capacity for emotional intensity.  When we involve ourselves with it God wants to use those emotions to stir and encourage the greatest religious affections in us possible. Remember that every time you open the Bible.
5. Mind
   USE YOUR BRAIN!  So many believers employ their greatest mental and physical efforts on anything except for the Bible.  For some reason, when they read God’s Word they think that the magical message of perfect truth and application is just going to jump out at them like the 3-D artwork in a pop-up book.  That’s usually not the case, though.  Bible study is hard work, but its also very rewarding work.  So work hard and use the brain God gave you.  Think, analyze, be inquisitive.  Use your greatest powers of investigation and observation.  Reading the Bible is certainly not only a mental exercise, but that side of it is still super important.
6. Time
   God has given all of us 24 hours in a day to do stuff.  My advice to you: use it wisely.  If you don’t set aside a time to read and study the Bible you won’t do it.  I promise.  Personally, I’m a morning person.  My clearest and most deliberate thinking takes place between 6 and 11am.  As a result, I always try to do my Bible study at some point during that time frame.  Also, that’s usually when its quiet around my house.  So it works out great.
7. Place
   Football games are not a good place for Bible study, neither are restaurants—too much noise and too many distractions.  Sure, if you’re only planning at mindlessly looking at the words on a page these and other similar places will work fine, but if you plan on actually getting anything out of your time in God’s Word, then you’ve got to find a place where you can sit quietly, think, read, write, and basically do all of the things described in this list.  I’d suggest somewhere regular, somewhere that’s easy for you to get to on a regular basis.  Needs a good source of light so you can see and a low amount of noise and distraction so you can think.
8. Pen
   A pen in hand, for some strange reason, makes for a sharper and more focused intellect.  That’s the way it works with me at least.  I underline, circle, place stars—you name it—in my Bible.  I also take notes and journal out my thoughts.  This requires a pen.  If it helps, buy one you like using.  The fancy ones at Wal-Mart are only a few bucks and they’ll last you for quite a while.
9. Paper
   Given that I’ve just mentioned a pen and all sorts of things to write, this one sort of goes without saying.  I’m a notepad kind of guy, but some people like to go with moleskins.  Others even journal on their computers.  Whatever it is, I can honestly say that the best thoughts I’ve ever had during Bible study have always come to me while I was writing out what I thought.  Writing just has a knack about it that causes you to logically work through your thinking.  Besides, as you grow in the Lord, the things you record in a journal become a record of sorts for your spiritual life.  As time passes by, these written records can become special to you.  The more you write, the better you think.  That’s sort of the way I link to think about it anyways.
10. Coffee
    Okay, I admit.  This one’s not nearly as important as any of the others.  I do really like coffee, though, and I usually always do my Bible studying in the mornings—coffee is perfect.  A little cream, a little sugar—a lot of coffee!

So what did I miss?  What essentials to a personal time of Bible study do you consider non-negotiable?  I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.