I didn’t read my Bible yesterday.
That definitely wasn’t an intentional choice. My kids are home on winter break. I overslept. I had an 8 a.m. doctor’s appointment. It was one of those “perfect storm” situations that doesn’t happen often to someone like me who lives and dies by a schedule. But it did happen yesterday.
It wasn’t a day completely divorced from Scripture, though. I worked on Scripture memorization while getting ready in the morning. I did some journaling later in the day, thinking through a few verses I’ve not had time to focus in on in my regular Bible reading time. After dinner, my husband led our family in devotions at the table. We talked through Luke 1 and continued our memory work on Romans 8 that we began over the summer as a family.
There were moments in my day that turned my heart to God’s Word, even though I missed that hour of reading and prayer I usually enjoy first thing in the morning. I treasure that hour, so it was annoying to me to find that I’d overslept. I typically guard that time closely. But I don’t feel guilty about missing it because Bible reading is not about checking a box. It’s not about meeting a challenge or accomplishing a goal. We use utilize challenges and goals to read our Bibles, of course. But the tools aren’t the purpose. The purpose of reading the Bible regularly is not to keep your resolution. The purpose is to know the Lord God. The more you know Him, the more you love Him. Knowing Him changes you from the inside out.
Late December is a time for goal-setting for many of us. I love nothing more than opening the ridiculously bougie yearly-weekly planner I splurge on every year and filling the pages with appointments, deadlines, and reminders. I am not a big goal-setter (perpetual fear of failure), but I am a planner. I love the freshness of a new year. I like the idea of getting a second chance at the things I didn’t exactly get to the previous year. This could be the year I finally clear out the little closet under the stairs, freeing it from all the Amazon boxes and giftwrapping detritus that have accumulated within. This could be the year we actually use the closet as our appointed area to ride out the spring storms that will spin through southern Missouri and trigger the tornado sirens. This could be the year I find that roll of wrapping paper I know is back there somewhere. New year, new me—right?
It’s all in my head, of course, because I probably won’t ever organize the closet under the stairs. Do you know how many years I’ve put that closet on my resolution list?
Sometimes we approach our Bible reading like I approach the closet under the stairs. It’s a job to be tackled, but one we wait to feel inspired to do. And, if we don’t get to it this year, there’s always next year! But if you’re weak with resolutions like I am, I’d like to challenge you to skip that one this year. Don’t resolve to read your Bible daily. Don’t create a checklist. Don’t put down a goal on a planner. Don’t make 2023 the year you finally read your Bible. No.
Rather, reframe the way you think about reading the Bible. While habits can both lay the path to faithful Bible reading and sustain us when we don’t feel like reading the Bible, the goal isn’t to maintain a habit. The goal is to know God. And Bible reading is the path to knowing Him. Rather than resolving every January to do better, go beyond a resolution this year. Build your life around knowing the Lord through His Word. Saturate your days with Scripture so that if you oversleep, there are still touchpoints throughout the day to connect you to the Bible. Work on memorization so that if your Bible is out of physical reach, you can still meditate on God’s Word. Focus on the purpose of Bible reading rather than a resolution to get through a Bible-in-a-year plan. “Getting through it” isn’t the goal. You can read your Bible for fifteen minutes every day and totally miss the Lord if you’re in it to just get through a plan. So while I always encourage building your days around spiritual disciplines, go beyond the simple resolution to read your Bible more. Restructure your life around God’s Word. There is a strange and beautiful freedom in tethering yourself to Scripture in a multitude of ways throughout your day.
God’s Word isn’t like a horoscope or good luck charm we scan for the day so we’ll have a good day or be in good spirits. No, God’s Word is “your very life” (Deut. 32:47). And when you keep it before your eyes and in your mouth and in your heart, you will find your thoughts, habits, and actions changing. Reading the Bible doesn’t have to be a resolution. It doesn’t have to be a goal you feel doomed to accomplish. Think of it as life. As food. Drink. Sustenance. Hope. Comfort. Correction. Instruction. Freedom. Joy.
Because God’s Word is all of those things.
Don’t make a resolution you know you’ll cast aside in February. Rather, build your life around soaking up God’s Word in as many ways possible. That early morning hour, that commute to work, those family devotions, that shower time memorization, that morning walk or afternoon at the gym, that half hour before bed. Capture all the moments. Give them to the Lord. His Word is your very life. And His Word will change your life.
Don’t make a resolution you know you’ll cast aside in February. Rather, build your life around soaking up God’s Word in as many ways possible. Share on X
Photo by Alexandra Fuller on Unsplash
Glenna Marshall is married to her pastor, William, and lives in rural Southeast Missouri where she tries and fails to keep up with her two energetic sons. She is the author of The Promise is His Presence (P&R) and Everyday Faithfulness (Crossway), and Memorizing Scripture (Moody). Connect with her on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.