Choosing His Words - Part 10

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration.

It is easier for me now to have an uninterrupted block of time to sit down and read my Bible than when I had preschoolers. I usually wait until my husband leaves for work, or, depending on the activities of the day, may wait until after the children leave for school. Even so, I have to make this a priority, or it will slip through the cracks. There is always something else calling for my attention, and if I start on my To Do List, sit down to quickly read an email, make a phone call, etc. I start going from one project to the next, and find that my prime time for reading the Bible is pushed off and may not happen for the rest of the day.

I remember the days of being interrupted with babies crying and children fussing. My encouragement to young moms would be to daily read something from the Bible, but not to feel guilty if you are unable to read it through in a year.

My biggest challenge in Bible reading now that I am middle-aged is when we have guests and when we go on trips, which happens frequently. Distracted thoughts are another challenge.

Some tips that have helped me:
 A little is better than none, but always try for more.
 Keep a devotional journal. In one section record daily what I have read.
 Have a plan-Read through the Bible; do a study on a topic, word, or a personal area of struggle; study a Bible character or book. Use variety.
 Breathe a prayer before reading, asking God to “show me His ways, teach me His paths”…(Psalm 25:4)
 If a devotional book is used, make sure some of the reading is the pure Word of God.
 Make it a priority.

The Bible is full of hidden treasure. We only need to prayerfully spend time mining the gems. The more we read it, the more we love it. The seasons of life partially determine the amount of time we have for this, but the devil would like to make our time minimal in any season. It takes diligence, perseverance and discipline.

Some days we may have to snack on verses picked up here and there…daily calendars, snatches of songs, inspirational poetry. But many days we can read with discipline while feeding the baby; rising early; while children are napping; or after the washer is humming and the children are in school.

Some days our brains are foggy with pain, illness or grief and we are unable to concentrate on words on a page. During those times we reach up to God with parched lips, asking Him for living water to meet our need for the day. And He answers in ways that swell our hearts with worship even in weakness. As we persevere daily, we find the Word of God growing more and more precious. It is woven into the very fabric of our lives, enabling us to live with grace, strength and victory. - Timna H.