![\"Reading](\"https:\/\/jonathanbrooker.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/05\/Reading-the-Bible-Regularly.jpg\")
<\/p>\nHonest confession time, most of us Christians don\u2019t read the Bible like we ought to. Maybe we don\u2019t read it enough as we feel we should, or maybe it\u2019s that we just don\u2019t seem to be having the \u201caha\u201d moments that some preacher guy seems to always be having when he reads it.<\/p>\n
Plain and simple, some of us just seem to stink at reading the Bible regularly. So I wanted to take a bit of time and come up with why it is that we have such a problem with something that we probably think is pretty important. Why is it that we can want to read the Bible regularly but then sometimes find that we\u2019re not doing too good at that?<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Well I\u2019ve come up with 6 reasons that I think are fairly common. You may even relate to one or two in your experience.<\/p>\n
Right next to making the bed, doing the laundry, and washing dishes is where Bible reading sits with some of us. No, no, we wouldn\u2019t actually say that it seems like a chore, but in a sense it can sometimes feel like it. But reading the Word isn\u2019t supposed to be some thing we check off a list of things to do in the day. The idea is that we\u2019ve been given words from the very God who created us and knows the plans He has for us. Reading the Bible is our way of exploring that. It\u2019s our way of digging into narrative, law, poetry, prophecy, and gospel, and finding truths for our <\/i>lives!<\/p>\n2. \u00a0You read it like Russian Roulette. Instead, read it with its natural flow.<\/h3>\n
Another common problem I find people have is in knowing what <\/i>to read. So the solution is to flip open the Bible and see what pops up. It\u2019s like Russian Roulette, and though it\u2019s not going to produce exactly those same results, it\u2019s not entirely good either. The reason I think it\u2019s better to read through an entire book is because that\u2019s how it was originally written. Think about it. Paul wrote those New Testament letters in their entirety to a specific group of people. It doesn\u2019t make much sense to chop up a letter. So you\u2019ll find the Bible makes a lot more sense when read in its intended flow.<\/p>\n3. \u00a0You read it in a vacuum. Instead, read it in context of history and your life.<\/h3>\n
No, not a literal vacuum. But the idea is that we sometimes read the Bible as though it\u2019s some sterile ancient book rather than the living word of God (Hebrews 4:12). I would encourage you that if you sometimes find reading the Bible to be difficult to get a study Bible and read up on the context. It\u2019s a game-changer so often in my times of reading the Word. And then also take time to see how what you\u2019re reading speaks to your life. These stories and instructions aren\u2019t just for Abraham and Joseph, they\u2019re for you and me!<\/p>\n
If it doesn\u2019t strike you as interesting the first time, read it again. And then again. And even if it does seem interesting, read it again. And then again. It\u2019s easy for us to read something and miss parts. And even beyond that, truths can become embedded into our minds and hearts when we let them sink in a bit. It\u2019s like letting the Scripture marinate a bit on your life when you reread a passage.<\/p>\n
Another common problem we sometimes have is that we\u2019ll take the time to read our Bibles when we\u2019re either tired or distracted. So for some of you that means morning times aren\u2019t your best because that\u2019s when you\u2019re most distracted by what you need to do during the day. And some of us can\u2019t do at night because we\u2019ll get two words in and be fighting against Z\u2019s. So figure out what time of the day you\u2019re at your best and then give that to God in reading His Word. Doing this helps to make sure that you\u2019re actually getting something when you\u2019re reading rather than just doing it.<\/p>\n
Sometimes we stink at reading the Bible regularly because we feel it\u2019s not working. We\u2019re not getting the goosebumps we once had or have only heard about. We\u2019re not finding it instantly inspirational. It just seems to not be working. This actually is just showing that we\u2019ve come to the table expecting the wrong thing. We shouldn\u2019t be looking for a show, we should be looking for dinner. As much as it\u2019s great when we get the \u201caha\u201d moments, they\u2019re not the main objective. The purpose of reading the Bible is to hide God\u2019s Word in our hearts so we\u2019re prepared to live for Him throughout the day. Realizing that will free us up to eat what we\u2019re given (even if it seems like brussel sprouts!) because we know that it\u2019s ultimately giving us nourishment that we so desperately need!<\/p>\n
The Bible is your best source of hearing from God. I challenge you to take full advantage of such a gift! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"