Intentional Growth in God's Word

I am looking at my calendar today and see February staring back at me already… right there at the end of the week. How is this possible?

It is a whirlwind season of life here with our amazing teens, and I know some day I will look back at it it with such fondness. My current reality is racing from one activity to the next, even one state to the next, as my homeschooled kids fill their schedules with classes, theater, piano, dance, hockey, and college visits. Full disclosure: I still have Christmas decorations needing to be put in the garage!

So trust me when I tell you, if I don’t make a plan for things that are important to me, they just don’t happen. That’s what this month is all about, right? Being intentional.

And crazy as it may sound, I HAVE to be intentional about spending time in God’s Word. How hard is it really? It’s just sitting down and reading the Bible, right? With a life chock full of distractions, without being intentional it can be surprisingly hard!

The tyranny of the urgent can crowd out this important piece of my day. It falls into the “important but not urgent” category of Eisenhower’s principal. When I let the urgent rule my days (and that is so easy!) all those non-urgent, but important, things fall aside. I can’t let that happen.

Why Time in the Bible?

Why should we read the Bible itself? Why not just read scholars’ understanding, or listen to Christian podcasts?

While learning through the perspective of teachers has great value, because God’s Word is personal it is important to read and understand it for yourself as well.

“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12

When you are intentional about spending time reading Scripture, you will come to know who God is better. You will also see yourself more clearly. You will find guidance for real life situations that face you today.

“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3: 16-17

Understanding Yourself

When life is super busy but you want to grow, you have to be honest. Being truthful with yourself about how you tick, what your learning style is, and what the rhythms of your day look like, is critical to creating a plan that you will follow.

What is your learning style?

Visual – Reading may be your best choice
Auditory – An audio Bible might be better retained
Kinesthetic – You may benefit from being active, maybe walking or jogging, while you listen to an audio Bible

When do you have time?

Early morning – Can you get up 10 minutes earlier and have some quiet time to yourself?
During your commute – Using travel time for listening to the Bible (or reading if you take public transportation) can be a simple way to fit it in.
While doing chores – Listening to God’s Word while I mop makes the time fly by!
When you climb in bed at night – If you have the habit of reading in bed before sleeping, how about you pick up your Bible for a few minutes before that novel you are itching to read?

There is no scenario in which you can’t find find a way to fit some time in the Word into your day. You may just have to get creative!

What Does That Time Look Like?

There are many ways to grow with God through His Word. None is better than the other, and all are valuable to explore at some point in your journey.

Read straight through the Bible from beginning to end – I use the Bible app to help me keep track of where I am.
Study a topic – Is there a topic God is impressing on you? Look up all the verses pertaining to that topic. You can use a concordance, or even the Internet!
Study a section/chapter/book in depth – Hanging out in one place in the Bible for an extended period of time can help you plumb the depths of a passage in a way that a quick reading can’t. You can do this on your own or using a formal Bible study guide.
Use different versions – Every time I start at the beginning of the Bible again, I change the version I am reading. I find this helps the text stay fresh and sometimes highlights things I might not have noticed in other versions. My caveat to this is that some versions are less textually reliable. When I am reading a version that is more interpretation-heavy I will cross-reference with a more reliable version when I come to an unexpected passage, so I am sure I am understanding it correctly.

If You Are Struggling

Try as you might, you just can’t develop the habit? Here are some suggestions:

Try something different – A different time, a different version of the Bible, a different study, a different way of consuming (switch from reading to audio or vice versa).
Find a mentor – Look for someone further along the journey who can help guide you.
Find accountability – Do you have a friend who wants to develop a habit? Help each other with accountability.
Find a group – Look for a Bible study group. Sometimes knowing you will be meeting with people gives you a deadline that helps motivate you.

God Wants YOU

Friends, this is not about following rules, or about checking off a to-do list. No legalism please! Time in God’s Word is about growing in a relationship.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” John‬ ‭15:5‬

You start where you are. I did not expect my wild-child two year old to sit with me for thirty minutes and have a theological discussion. Now, at thirteen, he will happily sit for hours and discuss important topics with me. Your heavenly Father knows where you are in your journey. He loves you and wants to spend time with you where you are today.

There are no standards on how to do it “right.” Find a way to be intentional about spending time with God in His Word, in a way that works for your personality and your time. The fruit of your faithfulness will be joy!

“If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John‬ ‭15:10-11‬