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Basic Principles
1. THE BIBLE IS THE INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
Why should we read the Bible consistently in the first place? Because all scripture is God-breathed or breathed out by God. God cares for the Scriptures and protects them from corruption. Old Testament scriptures were preserved and passed down so reliably that His argument could rest on the tense of one verb.
2. WE BECOME MORE LIKE CHRIST BY BEHOLDING HIS GLORY
a. The Gospel is a mirror that reflects to us the glory of Christ.
b. We are changed into that same image by beholding or contemplating that glory.
c. Change happens progressively over time.
d. This progressive change is effected by the power of the Holy Spirit.
3. WE BEHOLD CHRIST'S GLORY THROUGH BIBLICAL MEDICATION
The forgetfulness occurs mostly because people spend two or three seconds reading one verse, then two or three seconds with the next verse, and so on until they are finished. How much does anyone remember of thoughts they consider for just two seconds? People are seldom changed by what they immediately forget.
4. THE MORNING AND THE EVENING
We should love God supremely - that is, above everything and everyone else - every single day. We should also love our neighbor as ourselves every single day. We do this by putting God first in our day and spending intentional time with Him at the end of our day.
Start a Reading Plan
Not knowing where to start reading or what to read is one of the main reasons we don't read our Bibles. That's why a reading plan is helpful. They do the strategy planning for you so all you have to do is follow the plan. Choose a plan wisely by selecting one that works for you: nothing too overwhelming but not so casual that it doesn't spark change. Click the images or the app links below to check out a few:
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Study Strategically
Romans 10:17 declares, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God." When we study God's Word, our faith is not built up in general, our faith is built up specifically in what we study. It's important for us to seek the Biblical Truth to build our faith and provide clarity in times of confusion, produce character from Godly correction, and satisfy the spiritual cravings God gives us. Click the links for topical studies:
Bible Study Routine
MORNING ROUTINE
SCRIPTURE - Write down the Bible passage you are studying. Select whichever verse or verses out of your reading you would like to dig into further that you find relevant to your current situation.
OBSERVATION & INTERPRETATION - Write down what you observe in the text. Then write down what it means. The goal of all Bible study is to get an understanding of the original meaning of the text. We do this by first determining what the passage is actually saying (observation) then determining what it means (interpretation).
APPLICATION - Write down how this Scripture applies to your life. One of the goals of Bible study is to apply whatever we learn to our own situation. Develop some specific ways to put the biblical teaching into practice. Write down S.M.A.R.T. actions you can take today to apply today's devotion.
PRAYER - Write out a prayer to God. Praise God for who He is, confess any sins that have been brought to light while studying and applying the text to your life, Pray the Lord would help you embrace His Word that He will help you love His precepts and commandments, and pray for the Holy Spirit to not only give you a love for His Word but also that He'll transform your heart and cause you to walk it out.
EVENING ROUTINE
MEMORY VERSE - Write down one passage or verse to memorize each day for a week. Repetition of God's Word and the value it holds leads us to become secure in His promises and prepares us for His will.
GRATITUDE - Every night before you sleep, you have the opportunity to think about your day and write down one thing you're thankful to God for. Make gratitude a habit. This is the simplest thing you can do to become a happier and more thankful person.
PLAN - "If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail." - Benjamin Franklin. Take some time to write down what you plan on reading tomorrow. Those who write their goals achieve 18% more than those who don't and 33% more when they share their goals with a friend.