27/01/2025
Soaking In The Scriptures
There’s no wrong way to read the Bible and there’s no better time to start than now!
New Year’s often brings with it a host of unrealistic expectations that we mostly put on ourselves and therefore, we set ourselves up for failure from the start.
Psalm 119 teaches us about delighting in the Word of God: Not just reading the Bible, but truly soaking it in.
One of my most recent Bible endeavors was to write all of the names of God and their corresponding verses in one year.
It ended up being roughly 3 names of God a day. It doesn’t seem like much, but when I was finished, there was a whole book full of 952 names of God.
It was so much, I should probably do it again.
My little brain doesn’t always retain like it used to.
Success is not the big thing we do in life.
Success is found in the consistent little things we do in life.
It’s important to remember that a new mom who is getting up every 2 to 3 hours at night is not going to have the same Bible regimen as an empty Nester.
The same goes for the lady who has a relatively healthy family versus the lady who is caring for an aging loved one or child with disabilities.
During difficult seasons when I had little strength to take the next step, I found that devotionals were helpful. I’m especially partial to “Streams in the Desert,” and anything by Elizabeth Elliott or Corrie Ten Boom.
If you are looking for specific achievable goals. Here are some good options:
1. Use a Bible app such as Blue Letter Bible.
2. Do a word study. Look up a relevant word and read/study all the ways you find it in the Bible.
3. Read the Bible by its stories.
4. Write through passages of the Bible. Simply Scripture provides a well-organized plan.
5. Write through the names of God. There are over 900 names of God.
6. Read a Proverb a day. Simply read the corresponding chapter for each day’s date. Keep the Heart podcast has a wonderful recording called “Build your Bible Habit.”
7. Study the Bible with a spouse, your children, or a friend. We use the BAND app.
The most important aspect of Bible reading is prayer.
Ask the Lord to order your steps.
He’s good at leading if we will let Him.
- Marianne Barnett
