No More Dusty Bibles

I’ll be the first one to say that reading the Bible isn’t always fun. Last year, I decided to start reading my Bible from beginning to end. Before that, I’d just pick a random book of Bible or one I was interested in reading at that time. However, to take the guess work out of what book I’d be reading next, I thought it would be good to simply start from Genesis and study my way to Revelation. Seems simple, right?

Anyone who has read the Bible, starting with the Old Testament, will tell you that there will be times where you get bored. There will be times where you say, “God, I really don’t feel like reading another genealogy today.”  Yet, when those moments come, it’s good to ask ourselves a very simple question: “Why am I reading the Bible?” Because we live in such a self-centered culture, we believe everything we do has to feel good. Everything must be entertaining. Everything must be exciting or feed our ego. This mindset, whether we want it to or not, has a sneaky way of creeping into our walk with Christ. We start thinking the Bible was written to appease us when the true purpose was to reveal the Father. So, if we’re reading the Bible in hopes it will be exciting every time we open it, we’ve already tried to place God’s Word into a finite box it was never meant to be in. To simply put it, the Word of God may not always be good to you, but it will always be good for you – despite your disposition while reading it.  Oftentimes, even though it doesn’t feel the greatest, the Word challenges us and confronts our hidden parts. Hebrews 4:12 tells us,

“For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

We don’t read our Bible for the quick dopamine fix we enjoy after doom-scrolling through Instagram and TikTok. We are meant to soak in the Word and let it change us. However, soaking in God’s Word takes discipline. Why? Because studying the Word isn’t something we naturally feel motivated to do. Our flesh and distractions often get in the way. So, diligently reading the Word is like building a muscle. The more we read, the more disciplined we get. To this day, I’m still growing in this area. Yet, I’ve learned my devotion to the Lord and desire to know Him should always be the driving factor behind studying His Word. The ability to be still and sit in God’s presence is something that I’ve had to cultivate. And like all good things, that takes time.  

Let me be super honest with you, there are plenty of days when I don’t feel like opening my Bible. Shocking, right? I am an advocate for being a Bible-aware Christian, but there are days when I struggle to open His Word. It isn’t because I don’t love the Lord, but my flesh always tries to get in the way of what I know needs to happen. My goal is to read my Bible every morning, so I can sit in the presence of the Lord before my day begins. Before I must have that hard conversation, teach another song, or serve in any capacity, I need my time with the Lord. However, if I stayed up super late the night before, my flesh tells me to sleep in and skip my quiet time before work. Or how about that special time of the month every woman goes through? Yeah, getting out of bed feels like running a marathon, let alone having the mental capacity to study the Word. Then, that simple yet piercing question comes back into play: “Why am I reading the Bible?”

For me, there is nothing I want more than to know God. Not to know of Him, but to know Him. That means there must be a relationship. What better way to know Him than to read the 1,189-chapter love letter He wrote to me? The invisible God has given me a tangible way to draw nearer to Him, but I’m letting my fleeting feelings get in the way? That’s the moment when I peel off my blanket, march myself to the bathroom, get ready for the day, and sit down with my Bible and a notebook. Transparently, it’s easier said than done and there are days when I miss the mark. There are days where I won’t read my Bible first thing, but I’ll lug my Bible, commentary, and writing materials to work, so I can study during my lunch break. Then, admittedly, there are days where I get so busy and overwhelmed and I realize I haven’t sat with God at all that day. Trust, the Holy Spirit doesn’t let me off the hook. I’ll feel convicted throughout the entire day. I’ll be so disappointed that, the morning after, there’s no way I’d miss reading my Bible. Honestly, that's what it’s all about – getting up again after you fall. As an “all or nothing” type of girl, I’ve had to learn that it’s necessary to get up after failure. Giving up simply because you made a mistake isn’t an option; especially when it comes to getting closer to the Lord. I remind myself of what 2 Corinthians 12:9 says,

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

The best part about this verse is that it shows me that I don’t have to do any of this in my own strength. Not only is God’s grace sufficient, but His power is made perfect in my own weakness. My weakness allows me to see just how powerful He is. Truthfully, if I were to try to live a life that pleases God without the Holy Spirit, it would be impossible. So, each day, I partner with the Holy Spirit and make the conscious choice to open my Bible. Whether I’m tired, sick, overwhelmed, or even angry, I will make the decision to seek God through His Word. Regardless of if that means an hour-long Bible study or just a 15-minute devotional, I choose to make space and draw near. And you know what? I always feel better after reading scripture.

So, if you’re going through a bit of “spiritual slump”, please let this be your encouragement to keep going. Keep drawing near. Keep seeking God’s face. Keep sitting in His presence. In a world full of noise and distractions, you can always find an anchor in the Word of God.