Guest post by Bible in 90 Days grad and mentor, Daenel.
For me, it was a journey of self discovery, spiritual growth and connecting to God. I grew up in the church (both my parents are preachers), so I thought I knew the Bible. I’d read it during church services, I’d even read it as a requirement for a couple of courses I took in college, but the one thing I hadn’t done was absorbed what I was reading.
“Thy word have I laid up in my heart, That I might not sin against thee.” –Psalm 119:11 (American Standard Version)
Reading the Bible in 90 days helped me to realize that contrary to how I sometimes feel, I’m never alone. Over the years, I’ve struggled with remaining connected to God. I know He never left me but there were times when I felt more alone than at others. Reading His word at a dedicated time every morning gave me a space to hear and feel Him.
Sharing this experience with an online community has also made this experience much more social. Reading and feeling the joy in a #B90Days tweet is something that I cannot express. Connecting with my sisters in Christ and sharing the truth of God’s word has blessed me beyond words. And I firmly believe that reading in this supportive environment is an extension of the physical church.
As you begin this reading challenge, let me offer this advice: make sure you are led by the Spirit to do it.
Reading the Bible in 90 days is a serious undertaking that requires discipline and hard work. During the next 90 days there will be times when you may fall behind and want to quit or something, anything, will catch your attention and try to distract you from your intended goal. It’s amazing how anything shiny will captivate you during the next 90 days. Be prepared to pray. Every day. Pray for guidance, focus, clarity and patience.
Actually, I have a few more pieces of advice to help guide you through this challenge:
- Be consistent ~ set aside a time that is dedicated to God and God only (this may be hard, especially if you have small children but if you set aside time, it makes it easier to be dedicated)
- Keep a notebook ~ don’t stop to study while you’re reading, write down your questions and go back and find the answers when you have time to do the research
- Stay connected ~ rely on your mentor and ask your Twitter family to support you
I finished reading the Bible in 90 days in Spring 2011 and I look forward to being a mentor during this #B90Days session. The lessons I learned from reading the Bible in 90 days can be read here.
Daenel writes about navigating through life away from the library at Living Outside the Stacks. You can follow her on Twitter and “like” her on Facebook.
If you would like to join in on the next session of the Bible in 90 Days with MomsToolbox, don’t delay… we begin reading Monday, July 11. Find out the details and sign up at the Bible in 90 Days sign up post.
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