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Read and Hear My Word! (Pt.1)

 

Part 2 of 2

The LORD says,

“Sup with Me daily, as much and as often as I ask.

My Table is always open to you.

My Stores are always open to you.

Take freely as you require for you are My children and My delight is to fill you with good things.

The more you eat of My word, the more you will receive.

I AM the Bread of Heaven and My Word is your sustenance.”

In the nineteenth century, Robert Murray M’Cheyne gave this advice that still holds true in the twenty-first:

“You read your Bible regularly, of course; but do try and understand it, and still more to feel it. Read more parts than one at a time.

For example, if you are reading Genesis, read a Psalm also; or if you are reading Matthew, read a small bit of an Epistle also.

Turn the Bible into prayer. Thus, if you were reading the First Psalm, spread the Bible on the chair before you, and kneel and pray, “O Lord, give me the blessedness of the man”; “let me not stand in the counsel of the ungodly.”

This is the best way of knowing the meaning of the Bible, and of learning to pray.”

Following the previous Word from The LORD saying to read more, here are some more pointers.

When you are about to read the Word, there are a few things you can do to help. Write down anything on your mind that you’re worried you’ll forget.

Go somewhere quiet and undisturbed if you can. Shut down as many distractions as you reasonably can.

I know how difficult that can be with everyday demands. For some, this is the hardest part.

Next ask The LORD to prepare your heart. Remind Him that His Word is a light to your path and a lamp to your feet, but you cannot understand unless He explains it to you.

Ask Him to open up your heart and your mind to the scriptures and open up the scriptures to you as He did for the disciples.

Invite His Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you might know Him better, love Him more and be made more like Jesus.

Read or listen slowly. Make notes or highlights if you need to. If you’re reading on phone or tablet remember you can make voice recordings to listen to later.

If you have time, re-read it more than once. If you need a dictionary, biblical encyclopedia or commentary to explain it, please use do!

Take pauses as you need to, to pray and reflect. Give The LORD time to speak to you. Follow where He leads.

You do not have to be a follower of Martin Luther’s beliefs to find his “garland of four strands” method of praying helpful (there is an example of how to apply it to all of your Bible reading here.)

If this is the point where you often find yourself dozing off or being distracted, then humbly and without desperation (!) ask The LORD to help you stay awake, alert and concentrate. He will do it!

Pace yourself. Be led by The Spirit in your reading. A consistent daily reading plan is best, rather than starving for Word one day and feasting the next.

There are many plans available and in many formats.

• Tyndale and Zondervan publish ‘The One Year Bible’ in several versions. This has a reading from the Old Testament, the New Testament, the Psalms and Proverbs for every day.
• Robert Murray M’Cheyne created a plan that goes through the whole Bible in one year as well as the New Testament and Psalms twice. It is easily available online for free or a modestly priced booklet from Banner of Truth publishing. D. A. Carson also wrote “For the Love of God”, two volumes based on this plan that gives commentary on the readings.
• The Bible with Nicky and Pippa Gumbel is another plan that goes through the whole Bible in a year with readings from the Old and New Testaments, with commentary by Nicky and Pippa Gumbel.
• You can buy this and the One Year Bible in print, but they are also available as plans on Youversion and stand-alone apps. That is so useful if you’re pressed for time and more likely to read the Bible on your phone while on the bus or waiting to collect your children from school.

There are less intensive reading plans online that require less reading and less commitment. There are also various ways to receive a daily verse or chapter online.

If that is all you can manage, please do that. Don’t feel condemned.

One verse humbly received with revelation by The Holy Spirit is more powerful than whole books committed to memory but unenlightened by His presence. The LORD knows your heart.

If you have trouble reading, why not try an audio version?

There is no shame in this! David Suchet recorded an extraordinary version of the NIV in English that you can play on CD or in an app. There are many other recordings by different people and many languages available too.

Personally, in using any plans or devotional, I recommend choosing one that prints out the readings in full and in clear and legible type.

Not everyone is able to easily manage switching constantly between the Bible and another book. Using gothic type or faintly-printed italics for Scripture may be respectful too, but not everyone can read it.

If you’re struggling with reading, you need all the help you can get! Be kind to yourself, make it easy and give yourself as few reasons as possible to want to slack off!

Finally, have the right mindset. This isn’t God finger wagging or accusing you. He loves time spent with you in His Word.

God wants you to love it as much as He does. Don’t think of it as a chore. Think of it as spending time with The One you love best and getting to know Him better.

 

~ Iris Maud, UK.

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Iris Maud, UK.

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