By Ann Weaver.
At the beginning of the new year, many of us made new year’s resolutions. Many of them are concentrated on health, skill, or organization, all practical goals that consist of growth, in one way or another. They take commitment and perseverance to keep up. However, some of us may have made more hobby-related goals, focused on learning a new hobby, starting a new collection, or remembering to do something fun every month.
The goals we make in the former category are more difficult to maintain. That forces us to place emphasis on them. As a result, many of us end up dropping the enjoyable goals. At the very least, they become a chore to us. We then lose sight of the fun it was supposed to bring us, and the intention becomes just another box to check off so all our goals have been completed.
For Christians, reading the Bible on a regular schedule often falls between the two categories I just named. It leans towards the first group in the way that it grows us spiritually, but it falls into the latter group in that the task soon becomes a box to check off. No longer is reading the Word enjoyable to us- it becomes another sentence on our list. And when that happens, we often read our chapters as quickly as possible, check it off our list, and forget all about what we read.
Instead of making the goal to read the Bible every day this year, I urge you to have a different intention this year. Rather than making the Scriptures a box to check off, let’s resolve to savor the Word instead.
Yes, this may mean that you only read a few books of the Bible all year. Because it won’t be about reading the entire Bible in a year or two or three. It means that instead of practicing a habit to attain, we cultivate a love for the Bible and every word in it.
But how do we do that? How do we turn from forcing ourselves to read ten chapters of the Bible as fast as we can between blocks of our schedule and learn how to read each verse slowly and with intention?
1: Pray before reading.
Before you pick up the Bible each day, ask the Lord to reveal Himself in greater ways as you read. In Proverbs 2:6 it is said that “…the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding.” Prayer not only will increase your insight into God’s Word but it will place us in the right frame of mind to enjoy and savor the passage or chapter.
2: Make notes/journal as you read.
Making notes on what you’ve learned will help the passage remain in your mind long after you’ve closed your Bible. It’s the same when you journal about what you’ve learned. When you write something out on paper, it helps your brain to retain the knowledge you’ve learned, and is also a great resource to return to the next time you read the same passage.
3: Meditate after reading.
Joshua 1:8 tells us to meditate upon the Law ‘…day and night…” and in Psalm 119 there are many verses that speak of meditation upon the Scriptures. Once you have read a small portion of the Bible, think on it. Reflect on how it impacted its audience long ago, and how it applies to your life today. You could even study the context of the text, when and why it was written, to gain further knowledge of the passage.
4: Discuss it with others.
You don’t have to form a group with other people to talk about the Bible with others. It may be nice if you have a youth group or Sunday School to discuss your recently learned insight with others, but it’s not necessary. Instead, talk about what you’ve learned with your mom or dad. Maybe your siblings. Maybe your grandparents. In 2 Timothy 3:16 we are told that, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Sharing what you’ve learned will not only help you to retain what you have learned, but may also help them grow in the Word as well. Perhaps it will even inspire them to make the goal of savoring Scripture too!
Bonus tip: Listen to Scripture memory songs.
There are many verses in Scripture that speak of obeying the Lord according to His Word. Once we have retained parts of Scripture, though, it can be easy to forget certain wordings or the reference to the passage we’d like to refer to. These days, we have the internet, but we should be remembering these things instead of relying on our electronic devices. One way to remember certain passages that stand out to us is by listening to Scripture memory songs as you go about your day. Play it in the car as you go on an errand, in your headphones as you take a walk, or as you complete a monotonous task around the house. Soon, Bible verses and their references will be running through your head as you go about your day!
As you read Scripture in the following days, make sure that you’re concentrating on savoring and retaining it in your heart, not completing a task on your list so you can check it off. Pray, make notes, meditate on it, and discuss it with others, and remember the words of Psalm 1:1-2: “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night…”
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