I’m changing and doing something different in my quiet times
this year. It doesn’t come easy for me. Partially, it’s because I love reading
the whole Bible through each year. (Sometimes, it takes me a year and two
months, but this year, I got through right on schedule. Yay! I’ve been reading
the Bible through for so many years I couldn’t count them, using The One Year Bible. I love this, because
I know I’m reading all the Word every
year. Every time through, I find more wonderful nuggets of truth. I’m always
saying to myself, “Why didn’t I see that before?” Now, I understand it’s the
ministry of the Holy Spirit, to me personally, to my soul.)
I love Bible study. This year, I plan to use some Bible
study books that have been waiting on my shelf for me. (I’ll review them as I
finish these studies during this year.) The cool thing about letting someone
lead you through a Bible study is that you always learn something new,
something you might not have gotten on your own, learning through someone
else’s point of view. I’m eager to get started!
I’ve decided to start with Made for Fellowship by Reba Bowman. The blurb describes this Bible
study as “A Journey Through the Tabernacle and Feasts.” I’ve only done cursory
studies on the Tabernacle before, and I’m excited about learning more. I also
love the idea that God invented the feast days—days of vacation from work,
eating what God prescribes, and celebrating His goodness with others. (God isn’t
against parties at all! He ordained parties that honor Him.) I’m excited about
studying them further. In the past, I only really looked at the feast days as
an overview and not in detail. So, I’m ready to dig in!
Of course, I will also start reading through the Bible, but
it may take me two years instead of one. I’ll let you know what happens at the
end of this year.
What are you doing
for your personal devotions this year? Care to share?
God bless!
I love to read through the Bible, too: it keeps me balanced and keep things in context. But I stopped doing it in a year because I felt I couldn't stop and really contemplate a passage because I had to go one and get my portion for the day completed if I was going to get through. I still read it through but take my time -- some days just a chapter, some days more. I have no idea how long it takes me. Sometimes I'll stop inbetween books and do a word study or Bible study book.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you. It's more important to get something out of the Word than to rush through just to get it done. It is a blessing to meditate on a passage. Sometimes, just a few verses speak to your heart and you need to read them over and over to get all the blessing out--like squeezing out all the juice!
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