Getting into the Word
For those of you reading this in the United States, it’s been a crazy week, to say the least. And I felt led to discuss what has been keeping me grounded in my faith, especially in wild times such as these.
My first post for the year was about how I’m really focusing on my faith this year and wanting to spend this year getting even closer to the Lord. I’m doing two Bible reading plans: one where I read a passage of the Bible, out loud, for 1 minute every morning and another where I’m going through the Bible, and if I remain on track, will have read it cover-to-cover by the end of the year.
If you haven’t picked up on where this is going based on the title, the focus of this post is reading God’s Word.
I want to start by saying that this is not intended to be another Christian shaming you for not reading your Bible daily if you are not in the habit, and this is not meant to be another Christian who is so self-righteous to think that her quiet time with the Lord is the only way to have quiet time with the Lord. Nope, that’s not what this is. Rather, the whole point in my writing this is to help encourage you that developing and maintaining spiritual disciplines are overwhelmingly helpful for your spiritual life and every other party of your life, as well. Also, I want you all to know, especially those of you who feel like you've been dragging your feet in the faith department, that you aren’t alone.
“I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. ... It doesn’t change God. It changes me.”
Begin with Prayer
If you are someone who currently has no spiritual routines or disciplines, by that I mean, you don’t have a set-aside time that you spend with the Lord by reading the Bible, reading a devotional, praying, or all of the above, but you want to, I would say start by spending time in prayer, every day.
Now, this time is something that you get to decide what it looks like. If you have a long commute in the mornings, spend a portion of that time in prayer. If you’re alone, talk out loud to God. Talk to him like a friend. Ask him questions. Tell him your joys and fears. Lay it all down before the throne. He’s there and desperately wants to spend time with you. So do that. I promise you won’t regret it.
Personally, I do a variety of things, but the most consistent prayer method for me is writing my prayers down. I’ve been doing this since I was in middle school and I love being able to write out my prayers like letters. I also love being able to go back and see what I prayed for, the tone in which I prayed it, and seeing if they have been answered down the road when I revisit them. It’s a physical thing that I can use to track my walk with God. Within the many filled journals, I have prayers written from the deepest pits of despair and the ones written in absolute joy. And I love being able to see where I was and how God met me in all of those times.
My time in prayer is one of my favorite times of the day and I encourage you, if you don’t already, to start talking to God. He can’t wait to hear from you and talk to you.
“A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education.”
Start Reading Your Bible
I am not entirely sure why, but there is something incredibly daunting about sitting down to read the Bible if you’ve never done it before. I’m not sure if it has to do with its size or the gravity of its importance. But, for the individual who has never opened up a Bible to read it honestly, it is hard to start. And I’m saying this as someone raised in a Christian household, went to Christian schools for my entire K-12 education, was saved at 13, and so on. I was 18 when I finally started reading my Bible for spiritual growth and nourishment. It’s not something I’m proud of, but it’s the truth.
But, when I say that I noticed my faith growing and my love for Jesus increasing by adding that into my daily routine, I’m not kidding. Sadly, when life gets busy and chaotic, I’m convinced that, among other things, Satan goes after your spiritual disciplines. He doesn’t want you in close connection with God. He doesn’t want you talking to God. So, when I was in college and my life got really packed, wouldn't you know that my precious time of reading God’s Word was one of the first things that got put on the back burner.
Yet, that is not where the story ends. It took years for me to really get back into the habit of reading my Bible regularly. I’ve been incredibly inconsistent for years, having seasons of doing well while others are nonexistent. Now, I’ve started 2021, fully embracing consistency with my reading plan for the year. It’s only been a week, and, even amid all the chaos and insanity that this world is throwing at me, I’m feeling calm and centered in the only thing that matters: Jesus.
If that sounds appealing, please start reading your Bible daily. Start with one chapter. There are many easy ways to do it:
Start with the book of Proverbs. There are 31 chapters; read one a day, and you will have completed an entire book of the Bible in a month. I’ve done this several times, and it’s one of my go-to’s.
Download the Bible app. They have so many excellent reading plans. They have Bible studies, full-year programs, and so much more. Also, on the homepage of the app is their verse of the day. If you don’t even want to go through the trouble of finding a plan that you like, open the day's verse and read the whole chapter, it’s in. If you don’t like physically reading, have difficulty physically reading, or feel like you’re really busy and don’t have time, they offer the option to have the chapter read to you. So, you can be in the car, at the gym, washing dishes, doing whatever, and taking in God’s Word! Is that not fantastic?
Buy a One Year Bible. They have them in multiple translations and text sizes (if your eyes aren’t so young anymore and you need a bigger text size). The way the One Year Bible is set up so that your reading for each day in the year is portioned out. So, once you’ve finished that portion, you’re done for the day. On average, it’s about 5-15 minutes of reading, depending on your reading speed.
Again, if you have difficulty reading or want the option to drive & read, the Bible app has One Year Bible plans that will allow you to do the same plan, just with the bonus of consuming it like an audiobook.
“The very practice of reading [the Bible] will have a purifying effect upon your mind and heart. Let nothing take the place of this daily exercise. ”
Final Thoughts
We’re a whole week into 2021 and, even though most of us would already like to cancel our subscription to this year if we could, the year will keep going. The sun will set tonight and rise tomorrow. So, to keep our minds and hearts focused on things above, I strongly encourage you to prioritize your walk with Jesus this year. Spend quality time with him. Talk to him. Trust in him and grow your relationship with him. I promise you will only be better for doing so.
Anyway, I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I will be back soon. I’m thinking of talking kitchen wares next time, what do you think? Let me know in the comments.
Blessings,
Sarah
