How I read my bible

This past year, I was desiring to get into the Word more often.  What I found is that the more I'm in it, the more I crave it.  I have often heard it said how the Bible is alive and I have been shown time and time again that this is true.

"For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword..."

~Hebrews 4:12

It is unlike any other book.  I can read the same passage at different times and God can use His words to speak to me about the current circumstances that I am going through.

This past year I wanted to simplify things.  There are so many good devotion books out there for kids and adults, (and I own many!) but I wanted to just strip the extras away and just read directly from the Bible.

So for the kids, our devotion time usually comes during breakfast or right after, when they're still sitting around the table.  One thing I have learned is that although I enjoyed when we would gather in the living room to read our bible, most of the time was spent trying to get Ellis (and sometimes Davis), to either sit quietly, or play quietly, or keep their hands to themselves.  I found it was easier to have a less distracted time of bible reading when the boys were in their seats and Ellis was in her high chair. : )

So this year we picked a Gospel and began to read through it.  My bible, like many others, divides chapters into smaller sections with a title.  For example, we have been reading Luke and the other day we read Luke 8:16-18 and it was titled "The Parable of the Lamp".  We read it and then discussed it.  

I'm sure there will come a time when we use a devotional again, or a kid's bible.  I think those are wonderful tools to help teach the kid's more about Jesus in a fun way.

I guess I just wanted a chance to model for the kids that the Bible is enough.  It's been pretty neat to see how there have been moments when they thought a story was really cool, so they ran to their rooms to grab their bibles so that they could read it for themselves.  Even Davis and Ellis would want their picture bibles to look at a story.

Several months ago I took a month to read through Proverbs and Psalms.  I really enjoyed reading the entire books, and began keeping a journal with me so that when a particular verse or passage struck me I could write it down.  I found that doing this would slow me down to really mediate on those verses and then they would come to the forefront of my mind more often.  Also, I enjoy looking back and reading through these treasure of verses.

Since finishing those books I decided I wanted to begin reading in Acts, and since then I have just continued reading straight through.

As I have my quiet time I will begin with a simple prayer asking the Lord to speak to me through His Word.  I will usually continue reading until something grabs me.  I don't worry about whether I am understanding everything.  I know that the Lord will help me with that and that He will use the "living word" to speak to my heart the things that He wants to reveal to me.

Sometimes if a particular passage strikes me and I want to learn more I will get out my favorite commentary by Jon Courson and see what he shares about it.

This year, I have mentioned a lot about not wanting to be distracted, and in my bible time I have discovered that there is great joy in the simplicity of opening my Bible and that there is excitement as I wonder what it is the Lord will speak to me each day.

I pray that you will find excitement in His Word and that you will discover the great treasure we have been given.  Open the bible and see what the Lord reveals to your heart and then share that with others!