Learning Directly from Reading God’s Word

Once upon a time, there was no way to learn about God other than by reading God’s Word.  No longer is this the case.  Currently there are so many good resources out there to teach you ABOUT God’s Word that often we find ourselves turning to resources, devotions, and podcasts instead of turning to the scriptures.

Resources Vs. God’s Word

It makes sense why we find ourselves more comfortable reading resources  rather than reading the Bible.  The resources break things down into shorter tidbits.  They tell us what to think and  explain how scriptural concepts relate to current life.  These resources are quicker and easier to digest at times.

And while these resources aren’t bad, they also train us NOT to sit still and learn how to listen to God’s voice.  It takes practice to learn how to let His Spirit illuminate His Words.  Resources have a tendency to take the hard work out of learning to walk with the Lord and replace it with a quick and easy mind shift towards heavenly things.

But wait.  Don’t we want our mind to to shift towards heavenly things?!

Absolutely!  But we ALSO want to learn to hear God’s voice, to discern His character, and to understand how the Spirit, when we let Him, will make the scriptures alive and active.  If we ONLY read additional resources and don’t lean in and force ourselves to learn to read and study God’s Word on our own, we miss out on so much that God has for us!

Here’s How I Battle the Temptation to Settle for an Easy Resource Instead of Chasing After God’s Word:

“To whom shall I go? You have the words of eternal life, and I believe and have come to know that you are the Lord“

Before stepping out of bed, I say this phrase aloud in order to remind me of truth. Life throws lies at us from the minute our eyes open telling us there are plenty of more important tasks to complete.  This simple phrase reminds me that none of those tasks or items will give me life or sustain me.  Only Jesus.

The phrase also reminds me to approach God’s Word with humility and dependence on Christ.  He alone has the words of eternal life.  My intelligence isn’t going to make my time in the scriptures worthwhile.  I am completely dependent on the Spirit of the Lord revealing truth and understanding to me. Reminding myself of that forces me to slow down and learn to sit in His presence.

Create a plan for when and what you are going to read

Random selection doesn’t often lead to a great overall understanding.  Not knowing what you will read ahead of time can also kill your motivation to even open the Bible.

I try to create my plan based around certain seasons of life.  For example, February in the Midwest is pretty dreary, long, and depressing.  With this in mind, I tend to read  books that teach me about great faith. I’ll leave Leviticus and Isaiah for the summer months where the sunshine makes me feel like I can conquer anything.

All that to say, evaluate the season of life you are in.  While reading the Bible in its entirety is important, making a plan based around your season of life will help you be successful as you get started.

Overall, easy resources or devotionals that tell you about God’s Word are not wrong or sinful.  They are a great way to quickly point your mind back to heaven.  BUT, they won’t necessarily give you the depth and maturity you desire.  If you want the spiritual maturity that comes from a deep and intimate walk with the Lord, don’t settle for someone else’s words about God.  Jump into God’s Word for yourself. Let His scriptures wash over you, transform you, and mature you into a man or woman who deeply knows and trusts God.

Want an easy plan for how to start reading? Check out this free resource to help!

photo credit: Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash