Read The Word Daily

 READ THE WORD DAILY

“But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” - Psalm 1:2

I eat at least three meals every day. What about you? Sure, I have missed a meal once in a while, but I rarely miss eating for an entire day. Eating is necessary to survive. But I also love to eat. I enjoy good food, especially home cooked food.

While I make it a point to eat daily, I also make it a point to feed my soul daily. Every morning, I begin my day by reading from the Bible. This is a holy habit I have practiced for several years.

Although I pastor a church, my daily Bible reading is not for sermon preparation. It is for my own edification.

Ray Comfort is noted for asking members of a church audience to raise their hand if they have read their Bible daily for the last seven days. Most of the time, the response is that less than half the congregation would raise their hand. I did this while visiting another church one time and got similar results. After receiving such a dismal response to his question, Ray Comfort was quick to remind his audience that they feed their stomachs daily without fail. How much more important it is to feed the soul! Many are starving spiritually while a Bible collects dust nearby.

While it is good to be spiritually fed at church on Sunday, there are six other days when you need soul food. Don't go hungry!

The reason many people do not practice the holy habit of daily Bible reading is that they “can't find the time for it.” We find time for the things that matter most to us. Time with the Lord in His Word is too important to leave for “spare time.” We must prioritize this habit so it becomes a critical part of our day.

With that being said, here are a few suggestions.

USE A GOOD BIBLE

First of all, get yourself a good, easy-to-read Bible. This is very important. The older I get, the more I need a large print Bible. I am using a extra-large print KJV Bible published by Thomas Nelson. I don't think it is being sold right now. It is a text Bible, not a study Bible. Most individuals rush to a store to purchase a study Bible from their favorite TV or internet minister. Personally, I own several study Bibles, but I have found that a plain text Bible is best for me. I have the study Bibles and commentaries to refer to when I need them, but for reading purposes, I don't want to be distracted by the notes that are provided additionally. I want to read just the words of the text. For those who stay with small print Bibles, be warned that the small print will eventually be an excuse not to read it at all.

Also, if you are going to purchase a Bible, make sure it has a lasting binding. Although it costs more than the cheap Bibles readily available in stores, get a genuine leather binding. Bonded leather tends to chip around the edges in just a few years. Most of the time, genuine leather last much longer and still looks good after age.

Last year, I purchased a premium Bible. It had an expensive leather binding. It is a good Bible, but the print was smaller than my old Bible and its overall size was larger. I am staying with my older Thomas Nelson Bible.

GET A PLAN

Next, get a reading plan. Reading plans are abundant online for free. Find one that fits your situation and use it daily. If you read just one chapter a day, you can read the entire New Testament in less than a year. If you read 3-4 chapters a day, you can finish the entire Bible in a year. Some Bibles actually have a reading plan in the back. It is better than to have some kind of plan rather than just opening the Bible at random and trying to read.

SET A TIME

Next, set a time each day to read. I often read from the Bible before I even get out of bed. Take your Bible to the restroom with you, if necessary. Make it a point to have a time set. In addition to the Bible I keep by my bed, I also keep a copy in my car and a copy in my desk at work. I don't want to go anywhere without my Sword nearby.

DON'T MAKE EXCEPTIONS

Make an appointment to meet with God every morning. We tend to keep the appointments we make. There is no greater appointment than meeting with the Lord.

DON'T GIVE UP

There will be times it will be tempting to give up, especially if you're trying to read the book of Leviticus! Yet press on. Don't quit. It will be worth it.

Spend time in the Word daily, beginning today!