3 Disciplines for Your Daily Scripture Reading

3 Disciplines for Your Daily Scripture Reading

Reading Scripture has brought depth and insight into my life year after year. However, I often feel as though I am caught in a paradox of sorts. On one hand, I try to stick to a daily schedule of reading Scripture and reflecting on it. Yet, on the other hand, I can begin to feel like I am stuck in a mundane routine. This poses a problem for me.

So, how can we daily enjoy what God's Word has for us? Allow me to suggest three disciplines: 

1. Pick a Place and Time: We are creatures of habit, and we tend to naturally drift towards the familiar. Now, sometimes there is value in challenging why we do what we do and changing the norm. But, generally speaking, we should use this tendency to ease into the familiar to our benefit. I would suggest going to the same place at the same time each day when it comes to reading Scripture. In the same way that football players listen to the same songs as part of their routine to get focused on their upcoming game, let's try to pick the same place and time to help us get focused on Jesus.
    
2. Pick a Plan: I know of too many people who randomly select a passage as their way of "hearing from God." Does that work? Perhaps on occasion, but that should not be the norm. Pick a book or a schedule to follow so you have something to work towards. You can find several different reading plans to print, or you can use a web-based program such as www.youversion.com, which has a number of great plans. Also, plan grace into the schedule. For instance, aim for 5 out of 7 days a week. No one is perfect, so there is no reason to get all bent out of shape for missing a day. 
    
3. Pick a Partner: When it comes to exercise, I am more prone to actually get out of bed when I know that my friend is counting on me (and if I don't show up he will probably use that against me later). Reading Scripture is the same way. When we work through a specific plan together, we are more likely to maintain consistency in our reading and reflection. By enlisting a partner, we sharpen one another by challenging each other to think about God and, as A. W. Tozer writes, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us" (Knowledge of the Holy). When our minds are given to thoughts of God, there is no greater place our minds can go; there is nothing greater our minds could do. 
    

By engaging in these simple disciplines, my prayer is that you would "be transformed by the renewing of your mind" (Rom 12:2) by staying engaged in the Word of God.

Share This

Do you have a story about how God has changed your life, please Share it with us.