One of the best practices in a growing disciple’s life is the habit of reading God’s Word personally on your own. There is everything good about a Bible study group with people, or listening to a sermon out of scripture. But none of this replaces the value of you personally sitting down in a quiet place and reading God’s Word, then reflecting on it—in other words, letting God speak to you.
For several weeks I am walking you through some tips on how to do this, giving you a peek into my personal devotional life and showing you how it’s done, with the intent of guiding you to do the same.
Here’s this week’s personal devotional tip.
Tip #1: Read systematically and slowly
Method of Reading: There are plenty of reading guides. If you want a goal of reading through the Bible in one year, that is wonderful—however, how much more effective would it be to read the Bible continuously for the rest of your life! It always bothers me that we have a goal of reading through the Bible cover to cover, treating it like a novel that we read one time and never need to pick up again. I want you to be a Bible reader for your lifetime! Sometimes you can read it more quickly, and sometimes more slowly, but never stop reading your Bible. Bottom line: read for purpose, don’t speed reading, and never stop. Let God speak to you through his word.
Next Week’s Tip: Choosing the location of where to read
My Personal Devotional
Now, a quick window into my devotional life. I only give this to you as a model for you to dig in yourself.
My current daily reading locations:
- Old Testament: 1 Samuel
- Gospels: Mark
- New Testament: Hebrews
- A psalm
My devotional: A Tragedy of a Hardened Heart
Hebrews 3:14 (NLT)
For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ.
If I were to think about real tests that I have gone through in my life, I would normally consider these tests as something like financial challenges, health challenges, circumstantial challenges. But when I read all of Hebrews chapter 3, it warns me of the greatest personal challenge to guard against in my life: a hardened heart. How many times have I become so frustrated with the world, life’s situations, or even with myself, that a calloused, hard skin grows over my soul, and I get to the point where I just don’t care anymore? The great challenge is for me to keep a soft heart, no matter what may come.
I pray that God will keep me soft and guard me from a hardened heart that can grow bitter and cold (see Hebrews 3:12-19). The challenge I face when I get discouraged by the world, frightened by the unforeseen, insulted by those around me, is to keep a soft heart for God. God can only use a soft-hearted and open life. A hardened heart will destroy my spirit, change my direction in life, poison my attitude, and totally derail my effectiveness and calling. My prayer is that I will find my rest in Christ, accepting what God wants in my life more than what I personally want. That is a characteristic of a soft heart.
Keep reading your Bible!
