Have you ever tried on a piece of clothing with a tag proclaiming “One Size Fits All,” only to find that you look absolutely ridiculous in it? I usually look like a short and squatty 50-something woman who is nine months pregnant. Not a good look! Just as “One Size Fits All” doesn’t work with clothing, it doesn’t work with connecting with God either.
Sure, the Bible says we should all read and study and meditate on God’s Word (Joshua 1:8) but how we read and best connect with God is as individual as the way God wired us.
Let me illustrate…
My husband and I are equally convicted about reading God’s Word regularly, but we prefer to read it very differently. Not because one of us is more spiritual than the other, but because God created us differently.
HOW MUCH
Brian, my husband, has read through the entire Bible by following many yearly Bible reading plans. They help him faithfully stay in God’s Word and give him a good overview of the Bible. That’s awesome, but trying to keep up with those plans about made me crazy. The amount of reading required daily was too much for me to soak it up the way I wanted to. I was getting the facts and the stories, but I often didn’t feel like I had really connected with God. I need more time to think for God’s Word to get personal, so I usually prefer to read no more than a chapter and then talk or write to God to help me process it. Sometimes I illustrate a verse in my journal or write out a prayer; other times I write or just pray about my impressions of the passage and how God is convicting me through it.
WHEN
Some people prefer to start their day reading God’s Word while others can’t focus that early and prefer to read at night. Some love to read through one of the short or long-term reading plans via the YouVersion phone app, yet others get too sidetracked by text messages and social media.
HOW
Listening to the Bible being read has become popular through things like YouVersion’s voice option. Lots of people love to listen while they walk, run or lay down at the end of the day. This doesn’t work well for me as my main form of Bible “reading” since my mind wanders if I’m only listening. The act of holding the text, looking at it, reading and easily re-reading portions is critical in corralling my busy brain. If you focus better while doing something (like my son), you may have noticed you get more out of your Bible study if you’re illustrating, doodling or doing some repetitive motion.
The Bottom Line:
God created us individually on purpose and He wants us to come to Him that way.
Sure, most of us could use more discipline in our daily Bible reading and meditation to better connect with God. But sometimes, we just need to shake off our expectations of how we should be reading and instead try something different. Whether that’s utilizing a Bible reading plan, getting an accountability partner, accessing a cell phone app while breastfeeding, sitting somewhere that you can’t see dirty dishes in your sink that need to be dealt with, or drinking in God’s Word in a place where you can see (and feel) God’s creation…. shake things up this year!
One size does not fit all, but all of us do need God’s Word. Let’s commit to using our wiring to help us better connect with God in 2018.
I’m curious… how have you best connected with God through Bible reading? What plans, places and options have worked well for you?
Meet the Author!
Bible teacher, author, inspirational speaker and disciple-maker, Vickey Banks is passionate about helping women connect the dots between God’s Word and their everyday lives. She loves serving as Women’s Ministry Director at Council Road, celebrating her people, playing with her puppy and getting lost in a good story.