Looking for tips on how to cultivate the habit of daily Bible reading? Here’s 5 ways to increase your love for God and his Word.
1. Decide what time of day is best for you.
Are you a morning person, or is later in the day better? We’re all different. Some folks love to wake up in the morning and dive into the Word before doing anything else. But that may not be what’s good for you, your schedule and your family – especially if you are a parent with young children who need you from the moment you wake up.
So you’ll need to figure this out. If you’re married, this may require a conversation with your spouse. But be encouraged – this is not rocket science. It can be done. And you’re smart enough to make it happen.
2. Find a place where you can be alone.
Depending on your living situation, this can be a challenge. If you have a room at home where you can close the door and be left all alone, go for it! But in many families, this can be literally impossible, at least when everyone is awake.
You may need to leave the house to be alone with God. Going to a nearby coffee shop or public library might work for you, or just take a drive and find a place to park.
3. Make a commitment to meet with God at the designated time and place.
We all make appointments. Doctor, dentist, insurance agent, whoever. Well, don’t you think it makes sense to make an appointment with God? Doesn’t he deserve the same respect you give your tax preparer?
I urge you to cultivate an attitude that takes your daily Bible time seriously, because you want to take God seriously. Sure, life will get in the way of your plans, and the unexpected will inevitably occur and you’ll have days when your appointment with God gets cancelled for any number of valid reasons.
But if you are hungry for God and his truth, you will have the desire to keep this commitment.
4. Do it whether you feel like it or not.
There will be days when you are tempted by a lack of desire to read the Bible. That’s OK. It’s normal for our hunger for the Word to vary from day to day.
But think about this – if you only went to work on the days you felt like it, how often would you go to work? You know how it is – once you get there and get going, you usually get over those feelings.
If you start reading the Word even when you don’t feel like it, and just give it 5 minutes, I know what will happen – God will honor your persistence and before long those fickle feelings will be long gone.
5. Pray about this.
Ask God to help you to cultivate an increasing desire for him and his Word. Ask God to give you the self-discipline to put this plan into action every day (remembering that self-control is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – see Galatians 5:22-23).
Do you think that God wants to answer such a prayer? Of course he does! And may he bless you greatly for spending quality time with him in the Word, and may your love for King Jesus increase as a result.
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