The Habit Of Reading Scripture
The Habit Of Reading Scripture | January 29, 2024
There was a point in world history when only the church officials read and interpreted the Bible. However, around 1440, Johannes Gutenberg invented the movable-type printing press; the rest is history, as they say! From that point on, the Scripture found its way into the hands of everyday people like you and me. As a result, people saw that what their priests taught them differed from the Bible, leading to the Protestant Reformation.
Thankfully, the opportunities to read Scripture have grown exponentially. Whether in hard or electronic copy, God's Word is readily available. Today, the Bible is the most translated book in the world. Therefore, reading and retaining the Scripture comes down to our investment in availability and attention.
Psalm 1:1-2 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
God promises blessings when reading the Bible, but like the psalmist, we need to be consistent and committed. Thus, approach this opportunity with a practical mindset. Pick a time, place, and book of the Bible. Consider having additional resources, like a morning devotional, to get you started. Secondly, guard this time and purpose yourself to meet God daily. Thirdly, get yourself a notebook or companion journal to jot down questions, insights, and prayers you might have from reading the Scripture. Think of it this way: To get the most out of your Bible reading, you need to do some form of note-taking. Next, enlist the help of a trusted friend for accountability. You can also choose to share whatever God is showing you. Finally, chart your progress. Make a running list of all that you are reading throughout the year. To get you going, I recommend starting in Philippians. Take the next week to read through that four-chapter book as often as possible, and be sure to implement the steps mentioned above.
May God bless you as you adopt or continue the habit of reading the Scripture.
Thankfully, the opportunities to read Scripture have grown exponentially. Whether in hard or electronic copy, God's Word is readily available. Today, the Bible is the most translated book in the world. Therefore, reading and retaining the Scripture comes down to our investment in availability and attention.
Psalm 1:1-2 says, "Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2but his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night."
God promises blessings when reading the Bible, but like the psalmist, we need to be consistent and committed. Thus, approach this opportunity with a practical mindset. Pick a time, place, and book of the Bible. Consider having additional resources, like a morning devotional, to get you started. Secondly, guard this time and purpose yourself to meet God daily. Thirdly, get yourself a notebook or companion journal to jot down questions, insights, and prayers you might have from reading the Scripture. Think of it this way: To get the most out of your Bible reading, you need to do some form of note-taking. Next, enlist the help of a trusted friend for accountability. You can also choose to share whatever God is showing you. Finally, chart your progress. Make a running list of all that you are reading throughout the year. To get you going, I recommend starting in Philippians. Take the next week to read through that four-chapter book as often as possible, and be sure to implement the steps mentioned above.
May God bless you as you adopt or continue the habit of reading the Scripture.
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