Today I bring you Tip #8 in the “How to Read Your Bible” series. Scroll to the end for a full explanation of each previous tip.
TODAY’S FOCUS—
TIP #8: rEAD aLONE
On Good Friday this year, we had small groups of people read the Holy Week story out of John 17, 18 and 19 out loud around the room. It was powerful. Hearing the Word of God read aloud with others in this kind of setting is an incredible experience, and we should take advantage of it when we can. But I believe there is nothing like taking in the Bible daily on your own—sitting down in a quiet place with no distractions, and just by yourself—alone—reading God’s Word.
What are the gains?
Let’s remember that the Bible is God’s written Word. It comprises the “breathed out” words of the Creator God, how he is communicating to mankind—and how he is communicating to you (2 Timothy 3:16-17). When I say “read alone,” I mean that you are not depending on others. You are allowing God to speak to you. You are not influenced by others. There is nothing wrong with a podcast on a biblical subject. There is nothing wrong with listening to teaching from someone else. But God is ready to speak to you. You are unique and special, blessed with God’s Word in print and with the ability to read, and God is communicating to you personally. This happens when you regularly, daily, for the rest of your life, take time with just you and God, and let him speak to you through his Word, the Holy Scripture.
MY PERSONAL DEVOTIONAL
A peek into Billy’s devotional thoughts this week
Each week I am giving you a little insight into my devotional life and reading, only to show you by example what you can and should do with your personal reading of God’s Word.
My current daily reading locations:
- Old Testament — 1 Kings
- Gospels — Luke
- New Testament — 2 Corinthians
- Proverbs
A devotional from my reading this week:
Proverbs 20:27
The Lord’s light penetrates the human spirit, exposing every hidden motive.
I find that the older I get, the deeper I get. I don’t mean that I am necessarily “spiritually deeper” or wiser (although I certainly hope I have grown some in wisdom!). What I mean is that I am growing to realize how complex I am. How deep the caverns of my heart are. There are hidden spots, buried caverns, secret chambers in my life that I never really knew existed. I think that I, like most people, just find some measure of seclusion that I become humanly comfortable with, and just carry on.
As I open God’s Word and find scripture passages like Proverbs 20:27, I am asking God regularly not only to expose those cavernous holes in my life, but to heal them. He already knows all of those places in me. The struggle is that I don’t see them or recognize them. But when I bring them to him, the Almighty God of the universe, this is real healing. This is real wholeness. This is God working on me and in me.
God bless you as you dig into his Word.
TIP #1: READ SYSTEMATICALLY AND SLOWLY
How to Read Your Bible (Part 1)
Don’t worry about reading for speed. Learn to set a reading habit for the rest of your life.
TIP #2: CHOOSE THE LOCATION OF WHERE TO READ
How to Read Your Bible (Part 2)
Read the Bible in four locations:
- Old Testament
- Gospels
- New Testament
- Psalm
TIP #3: USE A STUDY BIBLE AS YOUR PRIMARY BIBLE TO READ FROM EACH DAY
How to Read Your Bible (Part 3)
Choose one of the many study Bibles, and make that study Bible your primary PAPER Bible to read each day until you have read the Bible through—then choose another one and start the process over.
Tip #4: Choose your Bible Translation
How to Read Your Bible (Part 4)
Choose from the reliable list of translations—but pick one and start reading! Over the years, read from other English translations.
Tip #5: Mark up your Bible! Take notes!
How to Read Your Bible (Part 5)
This is one of my personal favorites. I love to mark up and write in my Bible.
Tip #6: Treat weekends as worship and preparation
How to Read Your Bible (Part 6)
Read your Bible in one pattern for the five days of the work week, then treat the weekend to read as worship preparation.
Tip #7: uSE bOOKMARKS TO gUIDE yOUR rEADING AND pRAY FOR THE wORLD
How to Read Your Bible (Part 7)
Use your daily Bible reading as a bridge into praying around the globe for God’s work.