My favorite time of day is reading God’s Word. I used to hear people say these words, and I’d wonder:
- Are you genuinely serious?
- Are you attempting to seem like a super Christian?
Over the years, I’ve grown in my reading of God’s Word. Today, I’d tell my younger self that I am serious. And, I am also very aware of my sin nature and deceitful heart. And yet, I absolutely love and cherish my time reading God’s Word.
The thing about reading God’s Word is that the more I read it, the more I fall in love with it. In this Proverbs3Three space, my desire for you is that you would say, “My favorite time of day is reading God’s Word.”
How do we arrive here?
Glad you asked!
Reading God’s Word
First, we get here by opening our Bibles and reading them.
Over the years, I’ve fixated on discovering the right translation, following the right reading plan, or studying the best book for my current season in life. But here’s the thing: God’s Word is active and living. Every book of the Bible is active and living. Regardless of the season, God can use every part of his Word to grow me and teach me something about himself.
For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12, NIV
While some translations, reading plans, and books of the Bible may be more helpful than others in some seasons, spending too much time searching for the perfect resources may prevent us from reaping the benefits of the living, active Word of God.
Dive in. Open the pages. Read the words.
Feasting on God’s Word
Second, reading the Bible is like feasting on a healthy diet. Eating one salad per week won’t sufficiently fuel your body. We must nourish our bodies multiple times per day with a diverse array of nutritious foods.
A single verse of scripture may usher in a quick emotional response, but a thorough understanding of God’s Word will have a more lasting impact. Long term relationship building with the Lord requires us to devour his Word more completely.
I get it. Books like Revelation or Isaiah are challenging to read initially, but the more Bible narrative I understand, the more those difficult books make sense.
The Bible is not 66 isolated books, but a complete narrative that requires reading and studying all of God’s Word.
Let me try to illustrate this point with a quick trip down memory lane. Have you seen the 1999 movie The Sixth Sense with Bruce Willis and Haley Joel Osment? I remember watching it and feeling confused until the final scenes. After seeing the end, I wanted to watch it again (#IFYKYK)! The Bible is similar. The more we put the pieces together, the more we want to read it again. The more we see those incredible connections. We develop a complete understanding of the story.
Let’s consider the Psalms. Without context, you might interpret the expressed emotion of the Psalm incorrectly. Take Psalm 57 for example. In verse 4, David says, “I am in the midst of lions; I am forced to dwell among ravenous beasts.” Those words hit differently when we understand that David is fleeing from Saul, whom he loved. He is running from Saul, who is his best friend’s father. The brokenness in David is felt differently when he is not merely running from an immediate danger. He is running from the King, who used to be like family. This context is found in 1 Samuel. The full context and understanding requires that we read beyond one Psalm.
(If you are interested in diving more deeply into the Psalms, we are most likely going to do just that in our online Bible study for 2025! Come join us!)
This happens when we read our Bibles daily. We must nourish our minds with the word consistently, not just on Sundays.
By truly feasting on scripture, the richness of God’s Word will come alive. It will build our faith, and it will give us that solid foundation for our hope.
Understanding Scripture in Community
Finally, reading in community is essential for understanding. It fosters accountability, aids in navigating complex passages, and cultivates opportunities for critical thinking. Without community, we may surrender to frustration or depend solely on our own understanding (instead of the Truth of scripture).
Community is where we grow by gaining new perspectives and insights. It challenges us to think differently. We each maintain a unique relationship with our Creator. While scripture might have a definitive interpretation, its application can be influenced by our experiences. Exploring application in community enhances the conversation and potential for profound understanding and connection.
Come open your Bibles, feast on scripture, and discover your community! If you want to get started, join our study group on Facebook. This is why Proverbs3Three exists. Learn scripture and grow your relationship with your Creator. This journey of reading God’s Word will be deeply impactful. Will you join us?
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