“I really need to spend some more time in the word of God… how about I read for 15 minutes rather than the 1 minute I normally do.”
Most of us have had a thought similar to this. We’ve all had times when we’ve felt guilty or ashamed for not spending as much time as we should in Scripture. So we’re constantly making new target times to meet in reading the Bible.
Often we find ourselves reading the Bible word for word as though it was a passage given for an assignment. But at the end of reading, we wonder what we actually read or learned from it. Sometimes, reading the Bible just seems like something to get done,as though it was a chore.
If that sounds like you, it might be time to be reminded of a few important truths:
The Bible is no ordinary book
The Bible is no ordinary book and therefore should not be approached as such.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 says, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.”
God speaks through his word. It is by his words that the world came to be (Genesis 1:3, And God said, “Let there be light “). It is through God's Word that he made us in his image and his ways are made known to us.
And so when we take the Bible in our hands, we are in fact holding the words and thoughts of God. We have the words spoken to ancient prophets and words that have lived through the ages. This is as real as it gets.
God speaks through the Bible
One of the reasons why reading the Bible becomes a chore is because we start reading with no expectation of hearing God through his word. We don’t open the Bible to gain information like reading a text book, but rather to hear God speak to us!
So be prepared before you read God’s Word to discover something about yourself, God and his world.
You can ask for God’s help!
When your Bible reading feels hard, don’t forget that we have the Holy Spirit to guide us through the Word. We should pray before we start our devotions to commit our hearts, minds, and spirit into God's hands. Here is a short prayer based on the Bible that will help you focus and give the time to God:
Dear Father,
Open my eyes to wonder—Psalm 119:18
Have Mercy on Me—Luke 18:38
Make Me a Do-er of Your Word—James 1:22
Open My Eyes to Jesus—Luke 24:45
It is only with the Holy Spirit's help that we can truly understand the Bible and come to love it more!