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Tuesday, March 15, 2005
My days at Dallas Theological Seminary were coming to a close. I graduated in the fall semester and much of my classwork was completed before the Thanksgiving break, but I still had some chapel attendance requirements to meet as well as some classroom lectures I wanted to attend so I was on campus for a few days with very little to do.
I wasn't the only one, either. Several of my fellow students were in the same boat, so we spent a lot of time in the student lounge hanging out & having coffee.
One afternoon, somebody at our table asked the question, "What are ya'll looking forward to most without the demands of seminary studies over your head?" Lots of answers were thrown out there:
"I'm going to start giving my youth ministry the attention it deserves."
"I'm going to spend more time with my children."
"My wife and I are going to start going on dates again."
"I'm actually going to start exercising consistently."
And then there was one that stopped the conversation: "I'm going to read WHAT I want, WHEN I want."
We all nodded thoughtfully. Seminary students are readers by nature, and this was the first time we had thought of that. We were no longer under the deadlines. No longer under the requirements. No longer under the burden of tests.
For some reason, it was oddly exciting. We would probably have chosen to read some of those books and enjoyed them, but the fact that it was told to us that we had to read them, and by a certain time, with the extra burden of being tested (or writing a paper) that took all the fun out of it.
And the same can be true of our time in God's Word. There are two ways to read the Bible, one is to enjoy it, and the other is to study it in depth. Tomorrow, I'll focus on how to actually enjoy some detailed study, but today I want to show you some things I've learned about just learning how to spend time in the Word for the purpose of "abiding" in the Word.
First of all, make sure your environment is good for just reading. You know, that it's quiet and comfortable, with good light, and a time when your mind is most alert. For me, it's in the early morning, in my well-worn but comfy recliner with my light right above it and a warm cup of coffee. For you it might be night or right after school or sports to unwind. Just know your "peak" time.
Secondly, pray that God would help you block out all the crud in your brain that would hinder you from just enjoying what you read. Those pressures of the day ahead (or behind) or the stresses of your life or whatever mind garbage that could creep into it.
Next, have a "reading plan." It's difficult to dive into random sections of Scripture without direction, so choose a book and read through it, usually a chapter at a time. If you're looking for good book starting points, I'd go with Mark, Psalms and/or James. Once you get in the habit, you can get a little more diverse, but those are good starting points.
Have a readable version of the Bible you enjoy reading. I very much enjoy The Message, by Eugene Peterson, because it puts a new spin on verses I'm very familiar with. It puts things in very contemporary English (and sometimes goes a bit too far, but I can overlook that) and is easy to read.
For example, let's look at Psalm 23, something we're generally familiar with, in the New American Standard Version:
"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for Thou art with me; Thy rod and Thy staff, they comfort me. Thou dost prepare a table before me int he presence of my enemies; Thou has anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows. Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."
Now, let's look at the same verses from The Message:
"God, my shepherd! I don't need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows, you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction. Even when they way goes through Death Valley, I'm not afraid when you walk at my side. Your trusty shepherd's crook makes me feel secure. You serve me a six-course dinner right in front of my enemies. You revive my drooping head; my cup brims with blessing. Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life. I'm back home in the house of God for the rest of my life."
And then when I've read the passage in such a devotional way, I ask two questions: What does it say about me? What does it say about God? And then I spend some time thinking those two questions through...like, how am I like a sheep? How many blessings do I have?
Or, God gives me security and protection. Why do I fear? Things like this. I give my mind the freedom to be led by Him and try to "listen" to Him.
It's really that simple to read devotionally, and I try to do that every day...just to grow closer to Him by being still and quiet before Him.
The question today is obvious: Do you read devotionally? What practical steps can I take to be more consistent? What has worked well for me that I could share with others in the comments?
Brent 4:03 AM
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