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The struggle to spend time in God's Word is real to many of us, I'm not sure why we tend to think we are alone. A common reason given for the struggle is finding the time. We are busy people with many responsibilities; we are moms of littles, with scarcely a quiet moment. I am sure many of us identify with that problem!
If I'm honest, finding the time to read God's Word has not been my problem. Face it, I find time to do the things I like to do. I didn't like to read the Bible.
Reading the Bible was stale and boring for me. It was a chore. Doing it was almost totally for the purpose of being able to say "At least I did it". After all, I'd been told that just the discipline of doing it was a good thing, and if I just did it it would grow on me somehow... Or I got that idea somewhere.
Well, it didn't grow.
I would have said just forget the whole idea and be done with it, except I knew some people who genuinely loved reading their Bible. People who enjoyed it; looked forward to it; liked it. How did one get to that place? How?
One day a link my friend had shared on Facebook caught my eye, "Will you join us May 1st as we write and pray our way through Galatians?" It made me curious, so I checked it out.
What I found was the blog His Mercy Is New, written by Candace, a home schooling mother of three, who lives in Tenessee. Here was a woman who obviously loved to read God's Word! I was immediately intrigued.
The day I checked out her blog, she was introducing a new Write the Word schedule for Galatians. I didn't know what that meant but my interest grew as I read on....
"Take a quick moment and think about the things you write down throughout your day. Now, you may be more digital than I am, but I still WRITE in an actual paper planner, I write down my grocery list, notes to my kids, in my prayer journal…you get the idea.
But, why do we write things down?
We write things down that we want to remember.
Why wouldn’t we want to write down the most important Words there are?"
She went on to share her schedule for Galatians and I felt the first stirring of excitement in my heart. They were cautious stirrings, I'd tried new ideas way too many times before to be really excited but something clicked inside of me.
It should have come as no surprise, really. Writing has always been my go to -- I can't plan anything without a list, I get less done if I don't use my daily planner, I forget things unless I write them down, I untangle my thoughts best by writing them out..... Why would it not make sense that writing the Word would be the key for me??
I've used her schedule for Galatians for the past month and I have just been amazed! I want to read the Word; I look forward to reading it.
I used to read through a section of verses and when I got done I had no idea what I read. Writing it out makes me concentrate on every word and punctuation. It makes me pause and ponder. To be honest, I think partly it just works with my "writing wired" brain.
Some of you are not wired like me and I hope you aren't too disappointed. That's why I started with the disclaimer. I'm not trying to say that this is The Way and everyone should do it but maybe some of you are like me and will benefit from this idea like I have.
I haven't strictly done this daily. Some days are busier than others and if I don't get it done, I don't stress over it. Other days I have more time, and I might write out the verses for two or three days. I think God is more interested in my relationship with Him than a rigid schedule and, for me, enjoying my time in the Word is what I have longed for and what I've been finding in writing the Word.
I'm curious now if this idea resonates more with certain people and if part of enjoying Bible reading is finding what works for each type of person? What do you think?
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If you check out Candace's blog, you will find numerous other schedules for writing out the Word. I've considered sharing them here once a month if some of you would be interested?
To the last 2 paragraphs, likely,(those who'write'), yes, and I sure would like that!:) Thanks!
ReplyDeleteI've been writing the Psalms out. It's taking me awhile and that's okay, but I'm finding I absorb it much more by writing it than just reading it. Thank you for sharing. I think I'll print out that schedule to follow when I finish with Psalms.
ReplyDeleteBlessings,
Betsy
Thanks for the disclaimers. It seems some people are so excited about their method and don't think about it that it may not be the best for everyone else.
ReplyDeleteI have plodded through the Bible a chapter at a time. It's so hard for me to remember how it fits with the rest when I go at that pace. The method that I like the best is a chronological through the Bible in a year, O.T. first, then N.T., and not mixing them up, and choosing a phrase or verse from the portion and concentrating on that. I know that method is not best for everyone. It seems lots of people like some NT reading every day, and would not like the idea of being in the OT till October. But it works for me.
LRM
Yes, I think every person's experience in the Word will likely be as varied as the people themselves!
DeleteI REALLY like this idea! While I am rather techy, I still love to write! My lists, my checks, notes, letters, etc. I also have a hard time getting into loving to read the Word, so am enthused about trying this plan! Looks like a special journal will need to be put on my list. :-)
ReplyDeleteYes! Sounds like a good idea :)
DeleteI loved your cliffhanger! I think you're onto something with the writing. I've done some of it since the Advent season last fall and really enjoy it. I've been studying the book of James, who tells us rather strongly that we need to be doers of the Word and not just hearers. So another thing I've been trying to remember is to read and possibly write a passage and then to ask myself, "What is the Word telling me to do?" I make a note of that, too. God is changing me.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of asking that question!
DeleteIf you post the schedule, we could all do it together. :)
ReplyDeleteI think I just might do that!
DeleteLove this idea of writing it out!thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! :)
DeleteI usually read "Beside the Still Waters", but I haven't thought about writing about what I am reading before. Sounds like it would be worth a try.
ReplyDelete