By Lilly Kramar
We’re only one month into a new year, and life is already taking its toll. Our schedules are busy. We are anxious as we try to keep up with everything. We begin our day with a blaring alarm on our phone, forcing us out of bed and then heading into our day jam-packed with meetings, activities, and people. But remembering the importance of beginning our day in prayer and reading the Bible can be challenging. After all, spending around thirty minutes in the Word is inconvenient and takes time away from an extra half-hour of sleep, right?
But as Christians, we must remember the importance of devoting time to the Lord and being in His Word daily. How can we expect to grow spiritually and produce abundant fruit if we are not in communion with the Lord and listening as He speaks to us through Scripture?
Thus, I want you to consider the three most impactful components of reading the Bible daily.
Recognize the power of the Word.
For the word of God is living and effective and sharper than any double-edged sword, penetrating as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12 CSB
God is literally speaking to us through the Word. While He remains unchanging, we can depend on His Word to speak to our present circumstances. We can see the Word’s power to comfort, convict, and sanctify us through the Holy Spirit and continued meditation on Scripture. The Bible is not a book meant to sit on our bedside tables, remaining unopened. The Word is powerful in that it cuts through to our hearts, revealing the hidden things and motivations in us. It can circumcise, literally meaning to “cut off” the desires and impurities of our hearts. I assure you that reading the Bible is not done in vain. It is living and active and able to transform our lives.
Recognize the applicability of the Word.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for rebuking, for correcting, for training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 CSB
Too often, we assume that the Bible does not apply to our lives. However, there are countless avenues for the Word to seep into our lives! It is profitable for Christians to glean morals and truths, for pastors to teach their congregations, and as brothers and sisters, to hold each other accountable. Ultimately, the Bible exists for us to grow in the likeness of Christ and to complete our calling of glorifying God’s name. The Word makes possible the ability to run the race well with the proper shoes, a ribbon to run through, others to run alongside, and a prize to hope for. It is not something to dismiss but rather to cling to and soak up every aspect.
Recognize the need for gratitude for the Word and being united in community.
Let the word of Christ dwell richly among you, in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Colossians 3:16 CSB
Finally, the Christian walk is not a solo walk. Reading and studying the Word is essential for us as individuals and together with a community of believers! If you find it hard to be in the Word daily, I encourage you to lean upon your brothers and sisters in the Lord and hear how He is working in their lives. Join a home or group Bible study where you can grow with fellow brothers and sisters. While it is not a substitute for our faith, sometimes hearing testimonies and encountering God in these places can alleviate the stress of not being in the Word and encourage a desire to have communion with God daily. Ultimately, reading the Bible brings about storing it in our hearts, which can make you a good example for other believers or a good witness to those who do not know Christ. In doing so, ultimately, you will be glorifying God to the utmost.
So these are three important reminders of why we should be in the Word daily. I hope that we, as believers, truly understand the privilege it is to have such freedoms of owning Bibles in our homes, to have God speaking so near to us within our grasp, and ultimately a concrete way to cling to hope for our futures. The Word is active, God-breathed, and meant to be in our hearts.
All Scripture quotes from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).
Photo by Rachel Strong on Unsplash.
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