Choosing His Words - Part 7

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration. 

When I was a teenager, I often only skimmed or skipped sermons in books and the Bible verses in articles or stories. Church signs with Bible verses were more boring than church signs with jaunty little sayings. As life becomes more crowded, though, I value those bits of Scripture more.

It is something I rarely confess—that I face a constant struggle to have my personal devotions every day as a mom. (My teenage self would be appalled.) Yet I can say honestly that I pray without ceasing, all day long. And I find myself “reading without ceasing,” too.

Now the Bible verses in the stories are the bits I reread. A nearby church sign says “Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,” and the verse invites me into it every time we pass—I’ve yet to reach the outer edges of those words.

It’s also important for me to place scripture around me to read as I “run.” I like the flip calendar on the kitchen sink to have Bible verses on it. I put a verse on the chalkboard. Verses on the walls. I read my preschooler’s memory verses for the quarter, which hang on the fridge. I remember, often guiltily, that bits of scripture such as these can never take the place of daily Bible reading, but in this season, they feed me without ceasing.

As a reader, I always, always find time to read—something. For other moms who are readers, they might find it helpful to do as I have done in some seasons—I set aside a day a week in which I read nothing but the Bible.

I was inspired by these words by a grandmother recently: The more we do something, the more we will desire to do it. Perhaps if I am not desiring the Word, I am not reading it enough.

Among other things I have done to make Bible reading more real to me is to hand write it. I also like to paraphrase it, putting sentence by sentence into my own words. - Sheila P.

Are you looking for Biblical inspiration for young women in your life? I've enjoyed The King Daughter magazine which Sheila edits.

The King's Daughter, a quarterly publication, containing stories, inspiration, and discussion for young women ages 13-18. Rates are $12 for one year or $23 for two years. Send subscriptions to The King’s Daughter at P.O. Box 127, Mercersburg, PA 17236. Send a 6x9 SASE and $3 for a sample copy.

Choosing His Words - Part 6

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration.

Since I have been married, my husband signed up to receive Beside the Still Waters devotional. I have not found them to be outstanding in inspiration, but I like the small scripture portions that do not confine me to my favorite books that I tended to stick to when I choose a chapter to read each a day. 

Personal devotions are more special when I am facing tough situations, and I have marveled at how a random Scripture can meet my exact need during these times.  When a special verse/promise blesses me, I like to write (or paraphrase the verse or idea) in my plan book so that I can review it throughout the day.  

The virtuous woman who rises early while it is yet night to look well to her household has been my meditation lately.  I confess that I do not rise very early, but the best time for devotions for me is first thing in the morning after I am dressed and combed for the day.  At times, my youngest joins me before I have finished (or started) my devotions.  She always asks for her Bible, and I give her an old Beside the Still Waters to keep her quiet.  

I try to make prayer a way of life.  Any mother knows that it is a necessity to call on God all day long.  When I read about a prayer request, I breathe a prayer immediately.  When I wake up in the morning, I pray before I crawl out of bed.  I pray until I fall asleep at night.  Some days my prayers are shorter than others, but I try to stay in tune with God all the time. - Stephanie A. L.

Choosing His Words - Part 5

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration.

Setting a boundary has been the single most helpful thing in achieving a more consistent Bible-reading time. It’s easy for me to grab my phone as soon as I wake up and scroll through a number of distractions. But if I miss my quiet time in the morning, I hate myself for choosing social media over time with God.

At the beginning of 2018, I set a goal that I would not open email or any social media until I had read my Bible. I am not perfect and this self-imposed boundary has not magically solved the struggle of right priorities. But it has helped me deal with my strongest temptation, and my Bible-reading this year was more consistent than any other. I plan to continue this self-imposed boundary in 2019. - Flo F.

Choosing His Words - Part 4

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration.

I can certainly identify with feeling guilty! I remember being upset at feeling guilty when I knew I was doing the best I could with taking/finding time for Bible reading. But eventually I understood that there was some good coming from feeling guilt; feeling guilty kept me alert to be sure I really was doing what I could and that I was making a conscious effort to take enough time, and to keep updating my methods and length of time I spent. 

So some things that have helped me...I have an app, YouVersion, that sends me a verse a day. I have it set to come early morning so it is there when I wake up. And it comes again in the evening, so I can again meditate on it at the end of the day.

BibleGateway is also a website that emails a verse of the day.

Our Daily Bread emails out a devotional if you sign up for it.

When I had young children and babies, my nights often interrupted, and being told to get up earlier to find time for Bible reading, was not what I wanted to hear...not when I felt like more sleep was what I really needed! In that season of life, I simply fit Bible reading into a quiet slot in the middle of the day whenever it fit.

More recently now, I find that my best time is right after the children have left for school in the morning. The rush is over, the preschooler relaxes and finds something quiet to do while I have my quiet time.

I continue to read about how to find time for Bible reading and different methods of Bible study, because fresh ideas keep my personal experience fresh too. - Leona H.

Choosing His Word - Part 3

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration.

My life has spiraled into survival mode as I fight the nausea and exhaustion that has accompanied the beginning of my fifth pregnancy. I love Bible journaling and Bible doodling, but even that has been a source of overwhelm recently.

For this season of my life, I’ve found some lower-key ways to stay in God’s word, and they’ve fed me.

Listening – The YouVersion Bible is a free app that has many translations (including other languages) read by professional narrators. Especially on Sunday morning when I have to prepare a meal before I get the children up, or when the Sunday school lesson scope covers several chapters, listening to the Bible read aloud is an easy way to be in the Word.Sometimes hearing someone else read will make a phrase stand out in a new way. 

Repeat reading – Picking a passage, a few chapters, or even a short book and reading it over and over for a week or even a month can help the truth sink through to my mommy brain. 

Defining new words – Tecarta Biblehas a Strong’s Concordanceapp. It’s not free but has been well worth the money we paid for it. Sometimes reading over a passage and looking up the words I don’t know can help me find that nugget to take through the day.

I desire to say with the psalmist, “Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.” (Psalm 119:97)  - Crystal S.

Choosing His Words - Part 2

For the first week or two of the new year I asked some friends to share on the topic of Bible reading. Often we women feel guilty and frustrated about our Bible reading habits and I hope this can bring inspiration.

I’ll be honest: when I read Gina’s request my initial reaction was not a calm joy but a horrified, “No way! I’m not __________enough for that!” I tried to think what modifier belonged in the blank – good enough? Dedicated enough? Holy enough? Old enough? (Maybe all the above.) I share this, not as humble-bragging but so you know I’m fully as human as you; flawed but forgiven; worshiping with – at times – a wandering heart.

Journaling the Word was an idea I first got from Bethany Eicher in this post. As someone who thinks best with a pen in my hand, I was still surprised what a difference it made. I’ve written out several books of the Bible since then, and now I have my own Journaling Bible with wide margins for sermon notes, cross references, quotes, and other jottings. I love it, love it.

We’re not all wired the same and this may not work for you. But if you enjoy writing, and typically write lists and other notes to yourself, it may be a tool you’ll enjoy too.

This year I’m hoping to read the Bible through in chronological order, following a plan I found online. So far I’ve never managed to read the entire Bible in a year, so if I state my goal publicly here you can all hold me accountable.

Remember that the power is not in the organized plan, the Power is in the Word. And if I stay there, the Word Himself can bind even my wandering heart to His. - Marlene B.

Choosing His Words - Part 1

It began accidentally several years ago, but today I choose to continue the tradition. 

Every January, I begin the blogging year with a discussion on Bible reading.

But there is a problem. Any time we women discussBible reading, most of us react with guilt and frustration.

We want to read the Bible; we know we need the truth of God's Word, but we fall short of our goals.

Sometime we imagine that we are the only ones who don’t readour Bible every day. When wefall asleep while reading or can't remember what we read ten minutes later, we are sure that every one else is having meaningful devotions.

To combat this feeling of guilt, comparison, and intimidation, I asked several friends to share about Bible reading. These women come from various seasons of life - married, single, mothers of toddlers, mothers of teens. For the next week or so, everyday one of these ladies will share. I hope that their honesty and practical tips can be an encouragement for you. 

And we’d love to hear your thoughts on the comments.

We'll start today with Darletta.

My husband and I regularly read a chapter aloud together before we go to bed at night.  If a particular thought stands out from that reading or from a sermon or Sunday school lesson, I like to make a note of it.  Later I can look up the verse or idea on my Power Bible CD (available from Christian Light Publications) and study it in-depth.  

Sometimes this leads to inspiration that results in an article or poem.  Afterward, the verse or chapter remains special to me as reminder of God's grace in that era of my life.  The Power Bible CD includes Bagster's Daily LightandMorning and Evening Readings, both of which provide bites of soul food tastefully arranged.                          --Darletta M.

Past blog posts on this topic...

One year ago: Bible or Email? 

Two years ago: Are Bible reading plans legalistic?

Three years ago: Realistic Bible reading planning - Beginner's Bible Reading plan

Four years ago: One Year Bible

Six years ago: The One Needful Thing - A friend's Bible reading challenge