One thing that took me a long time to realized was that nobody can apply the bible to my life for me, I have to do it myself. Reading devotionals and copying down bible verses with little-to-no retention doesn't affect how I live my life. The most important thing I have learned that has a huge impact on my day-to-day life is that I need to apply what I'm reading to today. I can't apply it to something that may happen in the future or something that has nothing to do with me. I've started keeping tabs on verses that have helped me out and I've written how certain books of the bible apply to my life currently.
I keep a prayer journal and when a verse applies to something I've been praying about, I connect it and write it down. Keeping a prayer journal also helps me remember how blessed I am and helps me keep tabs on all the important aspects of my life. Finding specific devotionals that apply to your life is a perfect beginning point when trying to connect verses to daily events. For my freshman year of college, I read the devotional Girl Meets Change by Kristen Strong. It's easy to find a devotional that fits your current situation, and they are usually not horribly priced. Digging deeper into God's word will help you understand biblical stories that you may think are outdated and have nothing to do with your life in the 21st century. Recognize that you probably are bringing your own baggage along with you when reading certain verses.
Keeping the verse in context is a great way to apply it in life without bringing in assumptions you already have about it. For me, seeking out a bible verse that applies to my current situation works better than reading a verse and struggling to apply it to myself. The truth is, not everything is going to fit into your life all at once. But that's alright because there is always something in God's word that will assist you in a time of need. A lot of bibles nowadays have an index in the front or back that have lists of bible verses for different situations/feelings. Finding a bible translation that works well for you is also something that will help apply it to your life. Some modern translations that are easy to understand are English Standard Version, New Living Translation, American Standard Version, and New English Translation. There are also so many different types of bibles that you can get. I prefer a journaling bible with large margins so I can write life applications right next to a verse. The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer is a great resource for times when you feel disconnected from God in your daily life. Learning more about God helps us learn more about our faith and how to live through Him every day.
