Ever have a song constantly running through your mind, you absentmindedly sing it not realizing? It’s a tune you’ve heard often that stays with you.
How does that relate to the discipline of study, having the Word of God constantly then running through our minds?
God expects His people to be in His Word. Deut. 6:5-9; 17:18-19; Josh. 1:7-8. Moses said to write the commandments of God on their doors, post them on their gates, so that whenever they walked in or out they would read them. Not dissimilar to verses some of us post in our homes. The king should write the law with his own hand and read it daily, 17:18-19. Joshua – meditate on it day and night and you will prosper.
The importance of study:
1. Jesus filled His mind with scripture, Matt. 4:4-10. The people were amazed with Jesus understanding at the age of 12. “It is written…” was Jesus reply when He was tempted. “Have you not read…” Jesus said when He was being tested by His detractors. Sometimes He would say, how do you read it?
2. Study shapes behavior, Heb. 4:12. Study is probably the most significant form of engagement, (prayer and abstinence other forms) in terms of transforming our minds. Rom. 12:1-2. There is no way to avoid facing the truth in connection to who I am. There will be times when scripture says one thing and I am doing something else. I’ve been convicted. Im confronted with the realities of who I am. “Discerning the thought and intentions of the heart” Heb. 4:12.
4 steps to study:
– Repetition
– Concentration
– Comprehension
– Reflection
Repetition alone can change behavior so imagine if that progresses to concentration, comprehension and reflection. It’s one of the reasons we do memory verses with our kids. It keeps the Word implanted in their minds.
How do I add regular study to my life? Discipline is the notion of intentionality.
⁃ you already do this as you worship weekly and go to Bible study weekly. That’s a good start. Hopefully it leads us to deeper, personal study. It’s the process that matters, to speed.
Plan personal study:
Simple reading – 10 minutes – An OT Chapter and a NT Chapter, then a Psalm or Proverb.
Deep reading – 10 minutes – Mark your Bible , journaling, make connections
Book reading – 5 minutes (or more) – any good book
Overwhelmed? ONLY do 10 minute Bible reading.
Example:
Simple reading – Luke for 10 minutes
Deep reading – mark one chapter in Genesis
Book reading – three pages of Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster
A Slow reader can read about 150 words per minute. A slow reader can read 1/2 of the Bible if they read for 10 minutes, 5 days per week. They can read six books during the year reading 5 minutes per day. It is about consistency.
Anyone can do this. Work out a plan that takes into account your particular reading speed. The goal is transformation, not speed. Example – simple reading 10 minutes a day you can read half the Bible in a year. With just a little bit of effort, amazing things can happen to our comprehension. We need to slow things down. Our lives are so busy, it’ll take a concerted effort, a plan.
What is shaping your behavior?
