If you started reading with us on January 1st, you should be congratulated for completing 21-days of establishing a rewarding habit of Bible Reading. Many successful self-help programs teach that if you perform any activity consecutively for 21 days, you are well on your way in making it a habit that will stick.
If you are only beginning today to start, then be encouraged that you have taken the important first step of beginning. Now hold fast to your goal, stay committed and you will achieve it. Here are some valuable steps in making Daily Bible Reading a lifetime habit.
Be Committed
You must be committed and passionate about wanting to read the Bible. Realize that God’s Word has a lot to say to you. You have to be clear about the compelling reasons to do this! Reading God’s Word will change your life for the better. Believe it and remind yourself! Pray about it each day.
Have A Plan
Think ahead of what you will need – which translation appeals to you? You should choose a quiet place and set aside a specific time, the same time each day. It should only take 15 to 20 minutes to go thru the reading plan. Integrate it in your regular routine so that one activity leads to the next. Have a strategy for dealing with “friendly” sabotage (those ‘friends’ who don’t quite get what you’re doing and why) and challenging situations – which will appear in the form of moods, needs, emotions, “bad” days and frustrations…What’s your plan of action for handling these situations? Keep the commitment you have made to yourself and God.
Be Organized
Possibly keep a journal daily and record your thoughts of what you read. May be log into the One Year Bible Forum and post a comment on what you read or a question that you may have. Check off on the calendar the passages you have read. Marking your progress will definitely motivate you more as you finish book after book.
Apply What You Read
As God gives you insight into his Word and how it can apply to you life, do it. Don’t just be a hearer of God’s Word, but be a Doer. This will make the Bible an active part of your life and God will bless you for it. Old bad habits will be removed like weights from your life. New perspectives will lighten your burdens and help you become active in God’s Kingdom.
Share What You Read
Maybe you start with a close friend. Have them also read along with you. Both of you can be accountability partners to regularly motivate one another and help each other remain on task. Discuss what you read with others, especially other believers for their insight and support. You will eventually begin to share the light you have gained thru your study with others.
Get Your Heart Right
Reading the Bible daily will give you valuable information to apply to your life. To gain the full benefit of the Holy Scriptures, you must be a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. By being Born Again, God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, will Aid and Guide you in Understanding and Applying the truths you read. Take this vital step and God will open up his Word to you.
Follow these guidelines and I promise you, you will be successful! Every successful undertaking requires a systematic strategy and commitment to the action steps required. Many of you have read the Bible through and can testify to the positive changes in your lives. This is why the Bible still stands after centuries of attacks and efforts to burn it out of existence. It still stands because it is God’s Word, his message for us. It prevails according to God’s purpose.
Isaiah 55:11 (New International Version)
11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Fearful To Fearless | Fear Not - Don't Worry - Fear God brings together almost 400 passages of scripture to demonstrate or direct us to not be afraid, to not worry or be anxious, to look to Christ for strength and comfort, and be transformed to have a worshipful fear and awe of God.
