A few years ago, I was tired of making excuses for not knowing, or understanding, God’s Word. Although I had completed many bible studies on specific books of the Bible or biblical characters, I had always wanted to read the Bible in it’s entirety. However, I never thought it was possible for someone like me.
Someone who had tried in the past, but had easily gotten bored, discouraged or too busy. Someone who didn’t consider herself a Bible scholar. Someone who wondered how anyone could possibly read that huge intimating book, including all the chapters about genealogy, lineage, temple building and sacrifices. Someone who could hardly make it halfway through the first few chapters of the Bible, much less 66 books.
But the time came when I was fed up with my own excuses, frustrated at my lack of overall knowledge of God’s truths, and sometimes embarrassed when someone asked me the answer to a spiritual question that I felt I should know. So I began to pray for God to help me get to know Him in a new and deeper way, and learn how to apply His promises and instruction to my every day life.
Then my church began a new small group class whose purpose was to read the Bible in one year, by using the NLT Chronological Bible. With hesitation and anticipation, I jumped right in. Then I prayed again – for the willingness to persevere, the ability to understand and for a passionate desire to dig into God’s Word every day.
365 days later, I had completed my goal – and I was ready to do it all over again. You see, for the first time, I had a glimpse of the bigger picture of God’s story. Not just popular bible verses, childhood stories, or important biblical characters – but the story of God. I now want to open God’s Word each day with excitement, instead of obligation because I have realized the importance of getting a daily portion of God.
My pastor once said that when we open God’s Word, we should say “OH MY! I AM ABOUT TO MEET WITH GOD!” I loved that! He also gave the example that if we saw an email in our inbox that was delivered from God, we would eagerly open it with great excitement. We would not wait, put it on the back burner, allow it to sit there idly, or procrastinate about it. We would open it immediately!
In essence, the Bible is really an email from God, quietly sitting there, waiting for us to open it every day. An email chocked full of vital, life giving information that we desperately need.
The key to getting a daily portion of God, resulting in spiritual growth and deeper Bible study, is choosing to open up that ’email’ – and discover the truths and promises within.
During my time reading the Chronological Bible, I learned to keep a daily journal of answers to a few simple questions. These questions helped me stay focused on the reading and deliberate apply it to my daily life. Now this journal that I kept during those 365 days is now a priceless treasure to me. It not only holds deep truths of God that I would have never known, but also precious memories of my daily encounters with God, and each whisper that He spoke to my spirit.
If you are ready to toss out your excuses and pick up some great summer reading that will impact your entire faith walk, then you might want to consider purchasing a chronological Bible, or find a daily Bible reading plan to use with your own bible, and just get started! It’s never too late to start meeting with God!
Below are five questions to consider using in your daily reading to help you learn to dig deep and experience God through His Word:
1. Is there a promise to believe in the passage you are reading?
2. Is there a sin to avoid?
3. Is there something about God to learn?
4. Is there a timeless principle to apply?
5. How should I pray in regards to this scripture?
It is so easy to read a passage of scripture, and check it off our to-do list without really trying to apply it to our lives or asking God to make the Words come alive. Yet, when we delve into the meaning of the readings by answering these thought provoking questions, the windows of our heart are opened so that God’s voice can be heard loud and clear.
Psalm 119:97-104 says:
Oh, how I love your instructions! I think about them all day long. Your commands make me wiser than my enemies, for they are my constant guide. Yes, I have more insight than my teachers, for I am always thinking of your laws. I am even wiser than my elders, for I have kept your commandments. I have refused to walk on any evil path, so that I may remain obedient to your word. I haven’t turned away from your regulations, for you have taught me well. How sweet your words taste to me; they are sweeter than honey. Your commandments give me understanding; no wonder I hate every false way of life.
We are to treasure God’s Word, and deem it sweeter than honey to our lips, and through a daily portion, He will use His Words to shape our faith, heart, mind and life. Only then can we truly experience the reality of God in our life, and maybe for the very first time.
When you deepen your study of God’s Word and let it sink into your heart, you will also deepen your relationship with God, making every minute of study well worth the time.
How inspiring your words are that make me motivated to be steeped in the Word of God. I need to absorb the living Word as I do my daily “bread.” I need nourishment to my spirit to sustain me throughout the day. We take care of our body by exercise, and eating proper foods yet I forget that my spirit needs to be exercised and have a diet of God’s Word. This is the way to strengthen my inner man (my spirit). Thank you for the insightful way to take in God’s Word in a daily way. Enjoying God’s presence is my desire and goal. This can only happen as I apply His written Word to my life.
I smiled as I read your words today. At the age of 30 I decided I was going to read the Bible all the way through by the time I was 35… 5 years, I know I should be able to do it quicker, but I had to be realistic! It has been fantastic and such a blessing. I am 3 years in, and feel as if my goal will be reached. I loved the last sentence of your post…spending any time with our Heavenly Father is so worth the time!
On a side note, I am truly enjoying the Stressed-Less book! Thank you for your encouragement.
Hi Tracie!
I LOVE the Chronological Bible! I read it several years ago. Recently I’ve been reading in the New Testament but needed some “new life” in my Bible study time so just last night began with Genesis. I plan to read the Old Testament for the next few months, reading those wonderful ancient narratives. However, I’ve been in a journaling “dry spell” despite knowing how important that is. THANK YOU for some questions to get me started!
Tracie, I have read the Bible once from cover to cover and the Old Testament once but since becoming involved with Proverbs31 Ministries last fall and your SLL OBS, I know that it will be a much deeper exploration of my relationship with my God and with the excitement and anticipation of what He is saying to me and to the whole world. I have been waiting to start this journey until summer as this school year has been extremely crazy busy with my students, my family and other community committees. Not considering it procrastination, but more want to enjoy my time with God’s Word. I can’t thank you enough for all I have learned not only from your book, the OBS, and Proverbs31, but from the deepening of my relationship with my Triune God. May the Lord bless you all!
Tracie,
This is a great list!! I am writing it down to keep in my Bible, but I also emailed it over to my friends who lead Bible Studies with college girls. These five questions are such important lessons 🙂
Thanks for posting! 🙂 Excited to keep this little gem with me.
Hi, Neat post. There is an issue along with your web site in web explorer,
would test this? IE nonetheless is the marketplace
leader and a large element of people will omit your excellent writing because of this problem.
Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this article and also the rest
of the site is also very good.
Wow, amazing blog layout! How long have you been blogging for?
you make blogging look easy. The overall look of your site is wonderful, let alone the content!
I don’t know if it’s just me or if perhaps everybody else encountering issues
with your blog. It appears as though some of the written text
within your content are running off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let
me know if this is happening to them too?
This could be a problem with my internet browser
because I’ve had this happen before. Many thanks
Swimsuit? To wear or not to wear? That is the question. I have always worried about how I look in a swimsuit, but after reading the inspiring word for today, I have a new look on the issue. I have worn my once this year & didn’t even think about how I looked. I was more worried on my great niece having fun in the water. She was afraid at first, but after continueing to get her in it, she loved it. So, I guess what I’m saying is, forget about how you look & enjoy the fun with someone special.
Aw, this was a really nice post. Finding the time and
actual effort to generate a top notch article… but what can I say… I hesitate a whole lot and never manage to get nearly anything done.
Thank you so mucҺ for giving me personally an update
on this theme on yօur site. Please kոow that if a completeky new post becomes available
or іf perhɑps any modificatioոs occur օn the current article,
I would be thinking about гeading more and
understanding how to make good utilization of thߋse strategies you гeveal.
Thɑոks for your efforts and consideration of other people by making tuis
blog available.
Howdy! This blog post couldn’t be written much better!
Looking at this post reminds me of my previous roommate!
He continually kept talking about this. I’ll forward this post to him.
Fairly certain he’ll have a good read. Many thanks for sharing!
You would like to understand how to cure diabetes. On review that will assist diabetics better realize their nutrition diet is from Greenland.
And if you don’t believe me, let me explain and check it out yourself for 30 days.
Everything I described may be the standard on all iPhoneis.
Databases are on-line servers comprising different software programs.
There is more great information about ZiPhone nowadays as version 3.0 has been released.
whoah this weblog is excellent i love studying your articles.
Keep up the good work! You recognize, many people are hunting round for this info, you
could help them greatly.
I believe this is one of the so much important information for me.
And i am glad studying your article. But want to observation on some common issues,
The web site taste is perfect, the articles is
actually nice : D. Good job, cheers
While you’re completed with it, you should send the owner to the
voicemail. What Is uncertain is whether or not this is a tethered jailbreak or not.
The metal and glass are supposed to be scratch-proof.
This site has been created as an on-line repository of free and paid applications.
I used my own quantity, which also utilizes the cellular version of WhatsApp, and it worked perfectly.
Pero , además, lea la página de recursos para la entrada a un número de otras herramientas no funcionan de forma rutinaria.
Usted necesitará un sitio de fans que es especial para su nicho
. Así es como viral tráfico para su sitio web podría mejorar drásticamente .
Obviously the clear answer is simple you may get
visitors out of your friends list. The selection now has choices to shutdown and restart much like prior designs.
But can others still view what place you are from?
More than 16 an incredible number of consumers perform Restaurant location each month.
Then you have to eliminate it from task manager every time you logon.
Deploy and manage the free Advanced IP Protection software.
What if you do not have a Cellular phone & you want to deliver SMS or
MMS to your buddies or family members. If you believe that you have absolutely nothing
to conceal, think once more. You don’t believe it can get any much better,
but it can.
Finally on the program the front of the
iphone-5, most cutting-edge iOS 5.0 would normally be published really soon,
which will be anticipated to get further improvements such as realizing more multi-touch motions.
The iMessage program would permit all consumers of I pod, i-phone, and i-pad to speak with each other.
Moving to the tendency of cloud storage additionally delivers us the iCloud support, which
enables wireless remote access to music, pictures,
apps, docs, and calendars stored in computers , notebooks, and
mobiles
Useful information. Fortunate me I found your website accidentally, and I
am surprised why this twist off fate didn’t took place in advance!
I bookmarked it.
Juust want to say your article is as surprising.
Thee clearness in your submit is siomply great andd that i could suppose you aare aan expert on this subject.
Fine together with your permission let me to snatch your RSS feed tto stay up to date with imminent post.
Thanks a million and please continue the gratifying work.
If you would like to take a good deal from this post
then you have to apply therse techniques to your won webpage.
Great items from you, man. I have be aware your stuff previous to aand you are just extremely
fantastic. I actually like what you havfe got right here,
certainly like what yoou are sgating and the way
in which wherein you say it. You make it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to keep
it smart. I caan nnot wait to learn much more from you.
That is actually a great webb site.
I blog quite often and I enuinely thank you for your information. The
article has truly peaked my interest. I am going to take a note of
your site and keep checking for neew details aboout once per week.
I opted in for your RSS feed too.
Hi, I do think this is a great site. I stumbledupon it 😉 I may return yet again since i have swved
as a fwvorite it. Money and freedom is the best way too change, may you
be rich and continue to help other people.
As a lifetime member that is paying, you will also receive several gifts that are free.
I feign that someone else locked the door, that external circumstance trapped me.
To jailbreak an iPhone is same as rooting an Android phone.
At one time, this used to be very hard to do, but it gets simpler and simpler.
Such a prohibition would cut off upgrades for the
over 200,000 users who have already purchased Evi from the App Store.
Howdy I am so delighted I found your webpage, I really found you by accident,
while I wass searching on Aol for something else, Anyhow
I am here now and would just like to say thanks forr a marvelous post and a all round
thrilling blog (I also love the theme/design), I don’t
have time to read it all at the moment but I have bookmarked it and also
added your RSS feeds, so when I have time I will be back tto read a lot more,
Please do keep up the fantastic jo.