First we must have determination to learn God's Word. Wishing and hoping will not suffice. With your mind and will commit yourself to the task.

We should strive for daily periods of study. A hit and miss program seldom bears much fruit. But a regular schedule of study will soon yield good fruit of growing knowledge. Soon the habit will be set and you will look forward to your time for study.
There must be dedication to your task. Scripture study is a holy pursuit. You are seeking to know God, to understand his will and to be more like him. A heart dedicated to God will quickly and eagerly absorb the truths learned. Satan will not easily discourage you from your pursuit.

To succeed in study one must have a design or a plan. This is true of any course of study on any subject. Every schoolteacher is expected to have a daily study plan. Every textbook is written with a design in mind. To randomly pick a page of the Bible to read will yield little useful knowledge. But to study a topic, or a particular book of the Bible will be productive.

In Bible study there should be a spirit of devotion. In prayer we talk to God. Through the pages of his word, he speaks to us. Study should always be coupled with prayer for God's help in grasping the meaning he intends for us and for the strength to apply the lessons to our life.

A successful student will be a diligent worker. Remember Paul's admonition, "Give diligence to present thyself approved unto God, ... handling aright the word of truth" (II Timothy 2:15). Study is hard work but the rewards are worth all the effort. 

A wise person will study deeply. He will not be content to skim the surface. He will want to plumb the depths of a given subject, to follow a theme to its proper conclusion. The ancient Persians said, "Drink deeply of the Persian springs (the source of wisdom) or not at all for a little knowledge is a dangerous thing." 

A good student will use divers tools for his work. To understand the Bible you will need to consult additional works such as dictionaries, concordances and commentaries. Don't hesitate to use any tool that helps you understand God's word.