You can get more from your Bible time, even without getting up before the sun. Here’s the simple way I get more from my Bible Time.
I always thought the people who really spend time in God’s Word have to get up before the sun, sit in a special chair and read the Word for at least an hour.
But here’s the thing: I don’t like getting up early, I don’t have a special Bible reading chair, and I am unlikely to spend a full hour reading the Word in one sitting. I could make these things happen, but right now, that’s not my reality.
Instead, I’m finding what works for me. I mean, what really works for me. Not the thing that works for everyone on Instagram or the thing I think all the “good” Christians do. This relationship is between me and God. That’s special and unique, so it should look special and unique. Just like yours should look special and unique.
To help you, I’m sharing some of my favorite things and what I’m learning right now. Try them and see what works for you!
Shift Your Mindset
This was what I had to start with. Looking at my time with God as unique to me and as something I can explore has given me great freedom.
Recently, I read Abby McDonald’s book, Shift: Changing our Focus to See the Presence of God. Her stories and encouragement reminded me that I had to actively shift my mindset in order for things to change. I needed to seek Him more than have the perfect answers or system.
Start Simple & Go Deep
Making things simple is the best way for me to stick to something. There have been times I’ve felt what I was doing was too simple. Is a verse of the day really enough? Can I really just open to a page in the Bible and get something meaningful?
First of all, yes and yes. Every minute I spend in God’s Word has the ability to draw me closer to knowing Him and His heart. One verse read simply, humbly and honestly with God has endless potential in us. Why? Because the Word is living and active, it’s part of who God is.
Simple doesn’t, however, mean a quick skim and move on. That’s where we need to go deep.
- Ask God to reveal something new to you in that verse.
- Read it multiple times.
- Write it down.
- Be quiet and think about the words.
There are so many ways you can go deep, even with a single verse.
Every minute I spend in God's Word has the ability to draw me closer to knowing Him and His heart. Share on XTry Something New
Sometimes we just get stuck in a rut. We get bored with the way we’re doing things, but don’t quite know what to change.
God’s Word doesn’t change, but the way I connect with and interact with it can grow and change over time.
Something new I’m trying is Verse Mapping. The new NIV Verse Mapping Bible developed by Kristy Cambron is an easy for me to explore the Word in a way I am comfortable with, while stretching me to do something new.
The basic idea of verse mapping involves taking a verse and going deeper with it in these five steps:
- Verse: Choose a verse and write it down.
- Design: Record the verse in other translations & notice key words.
- Develop: Look for the Hebrew or Greek meanings to those key words.
- Actions: Ask questions, imagine being there, explore before and after the verse.
- Outcome: How does the verse impact your life? Is God revealing something to you?
These five steps are new to me, but the Verse Mapping Bible has some that are partially done and other aids to make it easier for you started. You can find out more here.
Last year, I did something new by following The Bible Recap and discovering The Bible Project, two incredible resources that made the Bible easier for me to understand.
No matter what you are doing today, you can interact with God’s Word on a deeper level. Start by shifting your mindset to find what works for you, keep it simple, go deep and try something new.
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Connecting with great writers at the following linkups: Hello Monday, Inspire Me Monday, The Happy Now Blog Linkup, Tell His Story, Recharge Wednesday, InstaEncouragements, Tune In Thursday, Heart Encouragement, Friendship Friday, Grace & Truth, Grace at Home, Anything Goes.
great post! this is my heart too! right now I am spending time in just 1 verse per day of Psalm 37 for Lent and it has been so restful and refreshingly focused. God is good to meet us where we are not where we “should be”. I will have to check out her book! Tweeted to share this with others!
That sounds so peaceful and beautiful, Mariel! (And thanks for sharing!)
What a great way to connect with your bible. Thank you for the recommendations.
I’m so glad you’re here, Danielle!
I’ve heard of verse mapping before, but hadn’t delved into what it meant! I’m glad I stopped by today!
It’s interesting, right? I’m excited to try something new!
I loved this: “This relationship is between me and God. That’s special and unique, so it should look special and unique.” It’s so easy to get caught up in an idea of what we should be doing or even never feel like we’re doing enough—not measuring up. I love your advice. And I like that layout in verse mapping Bible; I’ll be keeping that in mind.
It’s so freeing to remember that God has a unique relationship with each of us!
You like the Mapping technique? Interesting.
I’m trying something new! We’ll see!
Rebecca, I always enjoy reading about how others dig into God’s word. I’ve heard of Kristy Cambron’s verse mapping. I love the simplicity of it. It reminds me a little bit of inductive Bible study, which I LOVE. Thanks for sharing about the bible with her verse mapping techniques. I hadn’t heard about that, but I entered to win. 🙂
Have you ever read her fiction?
I’m just starting to try it out. It’s exciting to try something new!
I haven’t read her fiction yet! Looks like I have some new books to check out! Do you have one you’d recommend?
I agree with you, I too find out what works for me, and then grow and develop the ” what really works for me.” As you said not the thing that works for everyone on Instagram or the thing I think all the “good” Christians do. Our walks are individual and unique just between us and Him, so will our quiet learning time be spent with him. Verse mapping has been on my mind lately, however, I have not attempted it yet. Blessings to you.
I never realized how much I kept trying to make my faith look like everyone else’s! Let me know what you think of Verse mapping. And I hope you entered the giveaway!
I love ways to really engage with the Scripture rather than just reading and running.
It’s fun to try new things!
I got the resources for verse mapping to, but have not yet had time to crack them open. Hoping later today or this wkend.
It seems really interesting! Hope you have some time, and let me know what you think!
This is good! I love how you remind us our personal time with the Lord is unique to us, it doesn’t have to look like what other people do. Such a needed message for believers and the church!
I keep trying to make it fit in someone else’s mold, but each of us has that unique, special relationship with God.