Daily Dilemma
I haven’t touched by Bible yet today.
Not because I don’t want to. My intentions were clear and it was even written in my planner. Yet, as the morning unfolded, the schedule flew out the window and once again I found myself winging it, jumping from task to task. Add in an appointment and errands, and here we are, in the afternoon, neglecting focused time in the Word.
I bet I’m not alone.
Thankfully, our Bible study discipline is not a measure of our love for God. Nor is it criteria for His love for us!
Our hearts long for the peace of His presence and we strive for spiritual discipline. However, we are also pulled in so many directions by beckoning responsibilities and daily distractions. Much of these are good and necessary. But, at the end of the day, it all still leaves us with our head finally resting upon our soft, welcoming pillow, closing our eyes and realizing that we missed it yet again. Perhaps we’ll have better results tomorrow.
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23
What will we do differently tomorrow as we awaken to fresh, new compassion from the Lord? I have a few ideas.
1. GRACE
First, give guilt the boot and accept God’s good gift of grace. He’s not keeping score and applying blessings based on how many days we keep structured quiet time. His presence is with us everywhere all the time. That means the conversation of prayer is ongoing all day, no matter what we’re doing. We can continue to pursue Him without allowing condemnation to sneak in and discourage us.
2. Reminders
We live in a wondrous time with an abundance of tools to help grow our faith. There are various apps that provide a short daily reading plan (I recommend starting with this one!), apps that feature a daily verse, and others that focus on scripture memory. We can choose how simple or deep we’d like to go. Another approach is to set an alarm or two on our phones to help us pause and connect with the Lord. We can include Him in our routine with praise music as we work or drive, posting Scripture notecards around our home or office, or making a point to pray for something different at every red light. A little creativity will help us truly pray without ceasing.
3. Strategy
Sure, there are benefits to starting the day with God. But we’re not all morning people. Feel free to choose the best time to feasibly focus. Lunch break? Before bed? 3pm? When we find an ideal time, we stick to it more frequently.
4. Appointments
Those of us who thrive on organized calendars can set an appointment to spend time with the Lord in prayer and study. Block it off, add a reminder, and set it as “Busy” or “Do not disturb.” We can take this as seriously as every other scheduled meeting.
5. Resources
When we do finally sit down, we pick up our Bible and open it to…. where? It’s tough to maintain regular study time without guidance. When we utilize a reading plan or a Bible study, it helps us know where to go, like a road map.
6. Accountability
Solo study is easier to skip. Whether we share a reading plan with a friend or participate in a small group that meets weekly, we’ll find encouragement and motivation in community.
7. Pre-habit
Automatic behaviors fill our days, so why not employ them for bigger, better purposes? Early morning social media checks can wait until we reflect on a short scripture and pray (another good use for a Bible-based app). We can reflect on prayer requests and scripture on the bathroom mirror as we get ready for the day. A podcast sermon maximizes time on the road. The possibilities are endless.
8. Little by Little
There is value in being able to sit down for thirty minutes or an hour with a Bible, journal, and cup of coffee. That’s a dream for some of us. However, frequent smaller God breaks in the day add up! Five or ten minutes in the morning, afternoon, and evening not only make a big difference, but can help us stay connected with the Lord for longer periods of time.
9. Engage and Interact
When we do pause from the busyness, take a deep breath, and sit in God’s presence, it can be easy for our minds to wander with distractions. Taking notes, journaling, highlighting passages, noting dates we read something significant or hear from God, or even doodling can help us focus and be involved. It will also help us remember what we read that day.
10. Visibility
Keeping our Bibles (and any journal, highlighter, study book, etc.) handy and visible combats forgetfulness on busy days. We can be intentional about placement: on the desk or table where we will sit, in the car when we are waiting, or next to the bed for morning or nighttime study.
I’ve practiced these things in various seasons. Some are more effective at times; others come in handy when life’s rhythm changes. I offer them in hopes that they might encourage you in your own study, especially if you also find yourself distracted despite the best of intentions. This isn’t about checking a box off the to-do list to maintain our “good Christian” status. What truly matters is our motivation as our hearts pursue closeness with God.
Come near to God and he will come near to you. – James 4:8
Many blessings to you this week as the Lord walks beside you with every step.
Such grace-filled ideas. No guilt! Thank you.
I pray they are helpful! God bless your study as you draw near to Him.