I’m a fan of daily Bible study. Now…before you go judging me for being some kind of prude, let me assure you that I’m not perfect by any means. Just because I ready the Word daily, doesn’t mean I know it by heart or that my Walk is without struggles.
I’ve talked to lots of people who have said that they wished they could have a routine like me. They wished they read their Bible every day. They try, but somehow, the next thing they know…it’s been a week or two and the ol’ NIV has just been collecting dust.
Well, I’ve got a secret for you. I’m no super hero. I don’t have any special Bible-reading powers. I just have a routine. A habit. And I’d like to share a few things that I’ve learned along the way, that just might help you get in to the habit as well.
First…let me make a quick case for why you should make the Word a habitual part of your day.
1. The Bible is a living word. It is the perfect word, God-breathed, inspiring, truthful, and living. Now, you may be getting ready to look away and come back when I’ve got a craft up…and stopped trying to convince you of “living” books. No, it’s not going to get up and walk down to Taco Bell for a Crunchwrap…but the Word will speak to you in a way no other book can.
2. You’ll be changed. Even if you are great the way you are {you are obviously awesome…you are here at amyallender{dot}com} Bible study will improve you. Your attitude will change. You’ll start to understand where morals come from…why abstaining from using curse words is more than just showing off your wide vocal. You’ll start to think about things differently. Even if you are already a practicing Christian.
Don’t believe me? Just try it. Give it 3 weeks. And, yes, I know there are loads more reasons to read the Word…but I’m not writing a book here. Just a little light reading. So let’s move on to some easy ways to put it in your routine.
1. Pick a time. I hate the morning. I’m lucky to get up and get pants on by the time I need to be at the gym to teach at 8:30 a.m. And I don’t think God cares that my study time isn’t first thing. I know lots of people who feel like they are Christian failures because they fail to pull their butts out of bed early enough to study the word before the day begins. If you love the morning…go for it…get up early. For those of us that aren’t that perky…know that God doesn’t care when you do it…He just wants to be close to you. So pick a time that works for you and stick to it.
2. Think about bed time. My study time is always before I go to sleep. Even after the longest day, I make myself stay away long enough to read a little bit. Even if it’s only one chapter…or one Psalm…or a couple Proverbs. Which brings me to my next tip.
3. Start small. The Bible is full of long names, genealogies, and wisdom. Don’t feel like you have to take on the whole book in one sitting. I’d even be bold enough to tell you to steer clear of those “Read the Bible in One Year” plans. To me…those are simply things that set you up to fail. You miss a day, a week…and next thing you know, you feel overwhelmed. This isn’t a contest. Read a little at a time.
4. Blessed are the children. Confused on where to start? Yep…I was. I recommend looking at a children’s Bible “Story Index.” Here is a pretty good online list. This is a good place because you might be familiar with some…and they are interesting. And you’ll avoid getting trapped in lists of laws and long lists of weird names.
5. Reread. My lovely friend Krissy just laid this little nugget on me while I was in California. She said, sometimes it’s most beneficial for her to read a passage night after night. Don’t feel pressure to read something new every day. Spend a few days with a chapter or passage. Let it sink in. Memorize part of it. Write in on your heart. It’s a living Word, remember? If we spend time to look deep into the word, it will faithfully look back at us. The word will speak to us. Without fail.
Give it a try. Set a time. Set a goal…an easy goal like: I’ll read at least one sentence of the Bible every night for a week. Accomplish the goal and move from their.
My life has changed since I committed myself to daily study. I’d love for your life to change too. Do you read every day? What helps you stay in a routine? What helped you start and establish your routine?
Amy
