Quiet Time Element Two: The Word

Reading the Bible can be both encouraging and frustrating, uplifting and depressing. Christians talk about reading the Bible all the time. As a kid I felt like every time I went to church the topic of reading the Bible came up. It was practically bashed into my head. Yet out of the probably thousands of times I heard others mention reading the Bible, I wasn't every really taught how to read the Bible. I wasn't really taught where to start, wasn't taught what to look for, wasn't taught what to do with what I read. I read over the words because I was supposed to. I didn't understand what I was reading, didn't care about what I was reading, and certainly didn't take away anything from what I was reading.

Reading the Bible is an important part of quiet time, but it's useless if you're not getting anything out of what you're reading. When you don't understand the context, the writer, the time, the location, etc., it's difficult to appreciate what you're reading. Instead, it starts to look like a bunch of crazy stories linked together with rules. Yuck.

Why you should read the Bible regularly
I've heard the argument that the Bible is an awesome reference tool, and a lot of people use it only as that. Having a bad day? Google verses about encouragement. Or better yet, look some up on Pinterest. (I'm guilty of pinning more than one of those links.) But using the Bible as a reference and using the Bible as a foundation are two totally different things.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that God's word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. It is an awesome reference to how we should live according to God's purpose. But 2 Timothy 3:16 also says that God's word is God breathed. It is inspired by Him. It is what He wants us to know.

Hebrews 4:12 says that God's word is alive and active. For years I thought this verse was personification. I thought it was a metaphor for what it can do in our lives. But I now believe that God's word is actually alive. Now everyone thinks I'm weird, but stay with me. Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and gotten nothing out of it, only to come back to the same passage later and feel like God is talking directly to you? Has a passage in Scripture ever brought you to tears? Or opened your eyes to something you needed to see? God's Word is alive because it knows our heart. God's Word can feel constantly new because our hearts are constantly changing.

If the Bible is both God breathed and alive and active, constantly fitting what your heart desires, why would you only use that as a reference? If God wants to constantly pour His love into you, why would you listen only when you feel like it?

What the Bible has to offer you
The Bible has so much more than rules to offer. In fact, there are many verses explaining that the rules of Judaism and Christianity weren't meant to define those religions (Gal. 3:11, Gal. 5:4, Hebrews 10:1). Here's just a taste of what God's word can offer:

The Truth - John 8:32
Parenting Instruction - Proverbs 13:24
Eternal Life - John 5:24-25
Endurance - Romans 5:3-4
Encouragement - 1 Corinthians 15:58
Marriage Advice - Malachi 2:15-16
Guidance - Isaiah 55:8-11
Forgiveness - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Where to start
The entire Christian faith is built upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of this, I always recommend reading the New Testament before reading the Old Testament. Specifically, I recommend starting with the Gospels. The Gospels have the direct words and actions of Jesus. They may repeat one another, but they are overflowing with God's love for us. Nothing is more applicable to us than the Gospels. If we cannot fully grasp the sacrifice of forgiveness that was given for us, we cannot fully grasp anything else that we read.

If you'd like to start reading the Bible but have no idea where to start, start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). I then suggest reading straight through the New Testament, since it all directly relates to the Gospels. After that, read the Old Testament. Personally, I recommend starting with Genesis and Exodus, then Psalms and Proverbs.

Understand the context
I eluded to this earlier, but understanding the history of the book is super important. When you understand who the writer is, you might understand his point of view better. (For example, when Paul talks about being a sinner, you know he's really being honest.) When you understand who a prophet is talking to or why the Israelites are begging for a king, you might understand the bigger picture better. Some Bibles provide this information before each chapter. Personally, I use an old textbook of mine. I wouldn't recommend it though, because there's a ton of information and it's a lot to sort through. The easiest way I know to find out the context of a book in the Bible is to simply Google it.

What to look for
In my last post I wrote about the importance of an open heart. If you come to God's Word with an open heart, you are prepared for what He wants you to know, not just what you think will make you feel better. Pray ahead of time, asking God to reveal what is important for you to read. Keep an eye out for God's promises, anything in red letters (Jesus's words), and anything that speaks of forgiveness and freedom. Also, keep in mind what your identity is in Christ. Don't let weird names (like Nebuchadnezzar) or places mix you up. Think big picture.

Take Notes
Finally, taking notes might be one of the most important parts of reading the Bible. When you take notes, underline or highlight, you are helping yourself when you read that passage later. I'll focus on taking notes and journaling in my next blog post.