Reading God's Word?

A few months ago, I highlighted the importance of getting alone with God each day to help you strengthen your relationship with him and learn more about him through his word. Now one thing that keeps people from reading their Bible is that it doesn't make sense to them. Most people I have talked to about trying to read their Bible tell me the same thing. They picked it up like any other book in their library and started on page one, hoping it would paint a picture and take them on an adventure like their favorite novel. One young man said, "I was good until I got to Numbers, and then I was lost." I encouraged him to keep reading and not give up because he was going to get to the good stuff soon.

You see, my grandfather Ernest read through the Bible every year and could recite Scripture no matter what the situation was. He didn't just know a handful of verses that he used all the time. As he read, he memorized and did so until his mid-eighties. I tried many times to imitate my grandfather but failed each time. It wasn't until I was in the service and shared my struggle with a Navy Chaplain who introduced me to reading the Bible in chronological order. He said this would help me get through the Bible in a way where I could see the story laid out in a story format. It was an amazing way to study the Bible, and it helped me put the events in order and see the big picture. In the end, my faith was strengthened, and I felt a connection to the Word of God that I never thought was possible.

So how about you? Are you struggling to read your Bible? Does it feel overwhelming, or do you start with good intentions but get bogged down once you get to Numbers like the young man I mentioned earlier? Well, I want to challenge you to give it another try, but this time, use a guide. I found a great resource that I want to share with you. Ligonier Ministries has put together many Bible reading plans you can follow. Take a look at them and pick the one that works for you. They even offer a free printable PDF. Let us know if this has been helpful to you. May your biblical journey begin today.