Yesterday I started another journey through the Bible. This
year, I’m using the ESV Study Bible Plan.
This plan features a daily reading in 1) the Psalms or Wisdom books, 2) the OT
historical books, 3) Chronicles and the Prophets, and, 4) the Gospels and the
NT letters.
Over the years I’ve also used the M’Cheyne One Year ReadingPlan
and the Reading God’s Story: One-Year Chronological Plan.
Both of these plans also take you through the entire Bible.
I believe that more than any other single habit or discipline
in my life, God has used the time I spend in His Word. It’s the most important
thing I do every day!
Daily time in God’s Word does at least three things for me:
1) It
reminds me of who and whose I am.
There are dozens of Scriptures that remind me of my identity
in Christ. The voices of this world and the evil one can be deafening. Opening
up God’s Word gives me God’s perspective on who and whose I am. I need this. Desperately.
… you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal
priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show
others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his
wonderful light. 10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
now you are God’s people. Once you
received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” —1 Peter 2:9-10 NLT
I
praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful, I know that
full well. —Psalm 139:14 NIV
2) It protects me from sin and temptation.
I have hidden your word in my
heart, that I
might not sin against you. —Psalm 119:11
3) It forms
my life, transforms my mind and shapes my world view.
Don’t copy the behavior and
customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing
the way you think. —Romans 12:2a NLT
In their book Move,
authors Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson reveal research related to the key
factors necessary for spiritual growth. Not surprisingly, they write: “Nothing
has a greater impact on spiritual growth than reflection on Scripture. If
churches could do only one thing to help people at all levels of spiritual
maturity grow in their relationship with Christ, their choice is clear. They
would inspire, encourage, and equip their people to read the Bible. [4]
Did you get that? Daily
time in God’s Word is a game-changer! More than any other factor necessary for
spiritual growth, nothing has a greater impact than reading God’s Word!
So, on this, the very first day of 2016, I want to encourage
you to make a decision. A very simple, but life-changing decision: READ. YOUR. BIBLE. EVERY. DAY!
There are several options and all kinds of free tools
available. I regularly use a combination
of YouVersion.com
and BibleGateway.com.
BibleStudyTools.com
also has some excellent resources available. There’s really no excuse to
not dig in, get strong and change your life! Transformation begins with one
simple decision to READ. YOUR. BIBLE.
Start your new Bible Reading plan today! Dig deep! Get STRONG!
[1]
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/29-esv-study-bible
[2]
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/24-mcheyne-one-year-reading-plan
[3]
https://www.bible.com/reading-plans/64-reading-gods-story
[4]
Greg Hawkins and Cally Parkinson, Move:
What 1,000 Churches Reveal about Spiritual Growth, Zondervan 2011, page 19.
[5]
https://www.youversion.com
[6]
https://www.biblegateway.com
[7]
http://www.biblestudytools.com
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