Welcome back to Wilderness to Wisdom.
Today's episode is about the first of the four most powerful ways we grow in our relationship with God,
Reading God's Word.
I had planned to discuss reading God's Word and talking with God in one episode,
But I realized I needed to split it up into two.
And this is a great example of how you may have your own plans,
But the Holy Spirit may lead you to do things differently.
And we'll touch on that when we talk about obedience.
If you have ever struggled with consistency in reading the Bible,
You're not alone.
I have been there too,
But reading God's Word along with talking,
Listening,
And obedience are lifelines for us as believers.
These are not just spiritual to-do items that you check off on your list.
This is how we stay connected to our home government,
The Kingdom of Heaven.
Hebrews 4.
12 says,
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.
The Bible isn't just words on a page.
It's alive,
And when we read it,
It speaks to our hearts and shapes our thinking.
Remember,
As Kingdom citizens,
This book is also our Constitution.
It not only teaches us our responsibility as followers of Christ,
But it tells us what rights and benefits we have,
What authority we've been given,
And how to walk in that authority as children of God,
As co-heirs with Christ,
And as ambassadors of the Kingdom.
We don't read the Word just to check off a box.
We read it to know God's heart,
To understand His Kingdom,
And to learn how to live the way He calls us to live.
If you're wondering,
Where do you begin,
Or how do I improve if you're already one who reads the Bible?
First and foremost,
We must make the Word of God a priority.
That means we have to eliminate the excuses and be brutally honest with ourselves.
I don't know about you,
But I tend to visualize things before I do them.
So,
For example,
If I decide I want to study the Bible,
I may picture myself waking up early in the morning,
Making coffee or tea,
And then sitting in a comfortable,
Quiet setting,
Reading my Bible.
That sounds really good,
But it is not always realistic.
And if this is the picture you have in your mind,
Let it go,
Unless you can actually do it.
For those with a busy schedule,
You may think you don't have time.
That is an excuse.
Remember,
We're being brutally honest with ourselves.
We have the option on multiple platforms for listening to the Bible.
Even if you listen passively while doing something else,
You can still benefit.
You don't always have to sit down and read.
I do recommend that if you don't have at least one,
Please get a physical copy of the Bible.
Do not rely solely on the internet or apps.
If you have time to listen to music,
Watch a show,
Scroll on social media,
Shower,
Brush your teeth,
You get the point.
You have time to read or listen to the Bible.
While consistency is key,
Day-to-day,
Our time spent reading or listening to the Bible may look very different.
You don't have to follow a plan to read the Bible in a year,
A chapter a day,
Or use anyone else's template.
Don't fall into the trap of trying to follow something,
Falling short,
Then giving up altogether,
Especially if you have an all-or-nothing mindset.
Also,
Don't allow yourself to be controlled by a religious spirit and turn it into a ritual that only satisfies your flesh.
Be led by the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes you may read an entire book of the Bible,
A chapter,
Or even just a verse.
The Holy Spirit may want you to pause and just reflect on that.
Do what works for you,
But do it consistently.
If you're just starting out and wondering where to begin and what books to read first,
I normally suggest starting with the New Testament,
And I'll explain why.
Sometimes people hear this and think you're saying to disregard the Old Testament,
But this is not true.
The Old Testament is extremely important.
I suggest the New Testament initially because we should first understand our identity in Christ.
Now,
This is just my opinion and not a rule.
What's most important is that you pick up the Bible and read or listen.
If you think the Bible is hard to understand,
That too is an excuse.
You have the Holy Spirit who is your helper and guide who leads you to all truth.
When you seek with your entire heart,
Trust and believe that God will reveal what you need to know.
It may take willpower and real effort at first to commit to being consistent,
But as you continue,
You'll notice a shift where you desire more of God's Word and it'll become a natural part of your daily life.
Reading the Bible isn't a chore.
God isn't standing over you with a clipboard checking to see how much time you're spending with Him.
I would go as far as saying that ten sincere minutes of seeking with your entire heart is much more valuable than putting in an hour or following a plan out of perceived obligation and the need to check off a box.
Reading God's Word is an invitation into a deeper,
More fulfilling relationship.
A relationship that will give you peace that surpasses understanding.
Yes,
That's a real thing and you can have it consistently.
God wants you to truly know Him and the best way to do so is through His Word.
I want to leave you with some questions to reflect on.
Ask yourself,
Am I approaching God's Word out of relationship or routine?
When you read or listen to the Word,
Take a moment to ask yourself why you're doing so.
Is it to connect with God's heart or to meet an expectation you've set for yourself?
If consistency is difficult for you,
Consider what excuses you've been making that have been keeping you from consistently being in the Word and be honest with yourself here.
What practical changes could you make right now to prioritize time with God,
Even if it looks different than your ideal picture?
And how does the truth that the Word is alive change the way you see Scripture?
When you read,
Do you expect God to speak?
Do you approach His Word as something living that can transform you?
And finally,
Ask yourself,
If the Bible is my kingdom constitution,
What rights or promises in God's Word do I need to start walking in more boldly?
Let this question move from information to application,
From reading the Word to living it.
Thank you so much for joining me for this episode of Wilderness to Wisdom.
I'll look forward to the next episode where we'll discuss talking with God.
