If you’re a reader, there may come a point in your life when you realize that you’re in a dry spell and not gobbling up books as you used to. Or maybe you’re not a reader and wish that you were. Either way, reading can often take some discipline. It most of all needs to be a habit, and that’s especially true when it comes to the Bible, the most important book we’ve been given, as the Lord has given it to us as a way to be with Him.
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” – Matthew 4:4
But sometimes we need help making the reading of the Word a daily habit. Here are four ideas:
- Journibles
Journibles are journals plus Bibles (get it? Journible?), with each one focused on a book, or multiple small books of the Bible. There are pages where you are supposed to write out the scripture passage for the day, and then pages for you to write out your thoughts on the passage. There are a few questions sprinkled along the way to help spark your thinking, too, but mostly it’s a journal dedicated to helping you soak up the Word. - The Bible in 90 Days by Ted Cooper Jr.
For those who want to zip through the Bible, and maybe go through it twice in one year, there’s The Bible in 90 Days. The book gives you 12 pages of the Bible to read each day. - YouVersion’s Bible App
A Bible app can be a great way to make sure you’re spending time in the Word. This app by YouVersion can alert you each day to the passage you’re supposed to read, depending on which plan you sign up for. Checking off each day’s reading is a pleasure of it’s own. It can also adjust the reading plan if you get behind. And let’s not forget how handy it can be to have your daily reading in hand when you’re riding the subway or waiting in line at the doctor’s office. - An hourglass and a favorite chair
A conference speaker that I heard, Elizabeth Fitch, shared this idea. She has a comfy chair with an hourglass on the table next to it, and disciplines herself to sit in the chair each day while the sand sifts, reading the Word and praying.
The Word is how God speaks to us, feeds us, cares for us. It is his daily gift to us, part of our daily bread, that helps sustain us. Let us care for ourselves by caring for this gift He has lovingly bestowed, cultivating a habit of being with Him each day. Not for the purpose of being a “good” Christian, but for our good and His glory.