**Post contains affiliate links. All thoughts are 100% my own.
I've always been a bookworm. From the time I was a very little girl, if I wasn't writing my own stories I was curled up with a book reading them. I was perhaps the only kid in the second grade who got excited about the new collection of the classics I got for Christmas that year. The other kids were going crazy for their Barbies and Hot Wheels, but for me it was all about the books.
It would stand to reason that reading the Bible would be something that would come very naturally to me as well, but if I were to be entirely honest, that hasn't always been the case. When I looked at the Bible I didn't see the next great adventure to be taken on... rather I saw it as a history textbook. And as much as I loved reading--- history, eh. It took a lot of time, and even some work to get to a point that I fell in love with the Bible.
But how do you get to that point?
How do you become a Bible bookworm?
- DON'T see it as a history book. When you think of the Bible as a textbook, it becomes more of a burden...a have to, not a want to. Yes, there is history. Yes, it can be great to study if that's your thing... but it is so much more than that. It is a way to connect with God and strengthen our relationships with him.
- DON'T Start at the Beginning. When I first started reading the Bible I found myself thinking, 'I'll start at the beginning and just read it straight on through'. That made sense right? And you know, Genesis in and of itself isn't a bad place- full of excitement and familiar stories. But hit about Leviticus and Numbers... and it starts to wear on you fast. Ease yourself in. Read through Psalms or Proverbs... or start in The New Testament with some of the letters. Find what works for you, when it works for you. You don't have to read in order, jump around. Choose a book and focus on that book, no matter where it happens to fall.
- DO Find a Great Translation. Some people prefer the good ol' NKJV and if that's what you prefer- awesome. I prefer something a little more readable such as NIV or NLT... even The Message (though I would not recommend this as you ONLY option). I like having several different translations so that I can read the little differences throughout.
- DO Give Yourself Grace. Miss a day... even a week? Forgive yourself. Don't give up, just start again. I'm a perfectionist and I so often find myself thinking if I cannot do it RIGHT, then why do it at all? I don't want this to be true of my time reading the Bible.
- DON'T Play the Comparison Game. Sometimes I find myself falling guilty of this. There are days I don't have time... I don't have the discipline that I would like or the time to set aside a block just for reading before I start my day. I would love that, but it's not me. Do what works for you... there is no perfect way to read the Bible.
- DON'T Feel Like You Have To Know It All. I'll be honest- in a Bible trivia challenge against my 10 year old... he'd win. Even against my husband who reads it a whole lot less than me--- yep, I'd lose. My son has a great memory. My husband a knack for history and knowledge of people and places. Me? I have a horrible memory and can't recall what I had for breakfast today. I used to worry about this and found myself trying to just memorize all those facts and trivia--- to just be Bible smart. But in doing so I wasn't enjoying it, I was losing the messages in all those facts. That kind of just defeats the purpose, doesn't it? Reading the Bible doesn't necessarily mean that you have to know every last detail, more importantly it is about spending that time with God and discovering his plan for you.
- DO Study With A Friend. Start or join a Bible study or Sunday school class where you can read the Bible with others. So often when we read the Bible- or anything really- we have our own interpretations- often based on our own experiences. When someone else reads it, they see something different. I love being able to share ideas and hear what others have picked up from these verses that I might now have seen.
- DO Journal It. Next month marks two years since I started Bible journaling and I have never been more in love with my Bible than I am now. I am connecting with it on a different level than I ever had before. I have talked with others who have told me that they had never even read the Bible before they started journaling... and now they read it daily. There's something pretty amazing about that. Journaling in your Bible- whether it's artwork or scripture notes- allows you to interact with the Word, not just read it.
Whether you are already a Bible bookworm or just strive to be one, this month's new Illustrated Faith Devotional Kit- Word Nerd- is a great way to dig deeper into God's word. Take a look:
Confession: When I opened this kit, I might have squealed just a little bit. As if the bookish theme didn't appeal to my inner bookworm already, the glasses and the coffee certainly did me in. All my favorite things rolled into one beautiful kit and I absolutely loved it. It reminded me once again of the importance of spending time reading the Bible in strengthening our relationships with Christ.
Not only is this new kit gorgeous, but it comes with a great deal too! With every purchase of Word Nerd, you can choose 1 of 4 great Illustrated Faith freebies. PLUS you can still use the code IFSHIPSFREE for free shipping! Hurry over and grab this offer while it lasts!
Are you a Word Nerd? What tips would you share for falling in love with the Bible? How has Bible journaling helped YOU fall more in love with the Word?
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