The following is from Twinkle Mom of Sunflower Faith who has enthusiastically joined the Bible in 90 Days challenge which begins January 1.
Why take on the “Bible in 90 Days” challenge?
“He must always keep this copy of the law with him and read it daily as long
as he lives. That way he will learn to fear the Lord his God…” – Deut.
17:19
Why take a challenge to read the bible in 90 days? Why not just take my time
or read here or there?
I felt laid upon my heart to pursue a richer, more active and real
relationship with our Heavenly Father and part of that was realizing that I
needed to really know what He did and didn’t have to say in the bible.
Trouble is that I had tried several times, and failed, to really read
through His word and for me, gain a better understanding of following
Christ.
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any
two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of
joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the
heart. (Hebrews 4:12, King James Version)
It was through Mom’s Toolbox, that I had learned about using a Life Journal
to help develop a better reading habit that I didn’t have before and use the
“S.O.A.P.” method to break down what I was reading and understand what I was
reading, but as I followed each day with the Life Journal reading plan, I
found myself thinking, how have I really approached the bible?
Have I approached it as a source to be inspired, to learn discernment and to
feed my growth as a Christian or was it just something I brought with me to
church every Sunday and maybe I knew a verse here or there, but did I really
knew enough of a strong foundation, that I knew where to go to in times of
need or encouragement?
The answer was that I had developed several habits that needed changing:
1. After Sunday, I placed it on my nightstand and sure I would refer to
it here or there, but I found that I was going to the same “safe” books that
I knew, that we all knew, but there was a wealth of other reading that I
never really have touched on.
2. I knew the “popular” verses that we all know or see emblazoned on
signs or buttons, but not really more than that. The most “out of the
ordinary” was Habbukak, that placed such an impact on me and I have read Job
several times.
Then there was looking at why I had failed reading through the bible; I
asked myself, what were some of the underlying causes?
Biggest thing, like many I think, I would hit Numbers or Leviticus and
allowed it to give myself a reason to go…”I can’t do this; I’ll just put
it off for later” and use it as a way to stop trying to read through the
bible and find myself drifting from finish any reading.
Second, was I completely doing this for our Heavenly Father, or was I doing
this as a badge? I think it was more for the lately, thinking, in a
semi-legastic way, that I was “required” to do so to be a good Christian.
As my growth mature and God convicted my heart, I realized, I wanted to do
this, not for me, or as a badge of “look see”, but to get that initial
grounding foundation of really exploring His word and hearing what He has to
share for all of us.
I wanted to learn the foundation of the history and the makeup of our faith
and why we are who we are and what we are.
By reading His word, and not just picking and choosing, but really taking
the time to read His word through, from beginning and end, I knew, it would
help me, do what I would like to do for my journey, and to take my growth
and relationship with our Heavenly Father, to the next level.
32 “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace,
which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those
who are sanctified. (Acts 20:32, King James Version)
Bibleplan.org has an article called “Why Read the Bible” and it said,
“God’s Word is alive! The more you expose yourself to it, the more it will
expose itself to you.
To know God better you must spend time hearing what He has to say. The Bible
is His message to you. If you want Him to listen to what you have to say,
you should also listen to what He has to say.
Although God can also speak directly to your heart, you need to know His
written Word so you can judge whether God is speaking to you, or the enemy
is trying to deceive you.
God will not love you more because you read the Bible. It’s for your benefit
— not required to make God love you. However, without reading the Bible,
you will not grow spiritually, and you will be more easily deceived.
Prayerfully reading the Scriptures yourself is the only real defense against
being misled. ”
31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word,
you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” (John 8:31-32, NewKing James Version)
That is so true. We strive to get to know our friends better, our spouses
better, ourselves better, and we are involved in getting to know the world,
so why not take that time and place in our lives, to get to know our
Heavenly Father, our Eternal Father and Saviour better?
Participating in the “Read the Bible in 90 Days” is a personal desire and
goal to plant His word in my heart and to start the New Year on a firm
foundation, based on His Word, not the world.The world changes, but He never
does.
What better time to start than in a new year and more than anything,
starting the new year really reading the bible with prayer and faith in and
through our Heavenly Father. It’s my prayers and hopes that, you will join
in taking the “Bible in 90 Days” challenge.
“……whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” 1 Corinthians 10:31
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