Cultivating the "Want To"

Source: pinterest.com

"Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation—if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good." -- 1 Peter 2:2-3

Scripture tells us that as Christians, we are to crave God's word like a newborn infant craves milk. If you are a parent, you have personally been effected by this reality!  Even now, years later, I can still vividly recall the relentless cries of my three newborn babies when they were hungry, and the resulting sleep deprivation that ensued after multiple wake-ups to feed them.  Likewise, for the Christian, God's word is to be our food, our nourishment, our very life, and we are to crave it and accept no substitutions for it.

Source: theguardian.com

Okay, so here we are.  We know that reading our Bibles is good for us--it helps us to grow in godliness and it is the primary means through which God speaks to us in our day. But the reality is that, we might not want to.  Like with any good habit, such as eating well and exercising, our problem is not really an informational problem. Instead, it is a desire problem.

But perhaps that does not describe you.  Instead, you might truly want to read God's word, but just haven't been successful (yet) at laying down the ground work in your life to make it a daily habit.

Well, in today's post, I am going to address both of these challenges.

I am here to tell you that there are *three* things we can start doing today that will markedly increase our desire and, therefore, our likelihood, of reading the Bible faithfully this year.

Here they are, right out of the gate: make it easy, make it special, and make it beautiful.

Let's break that down a bit, shall we?

• Make it easy

Let's face it: we mortals are more apt to do the things that are just plain easy for us to do.  But we can make this work in our favor for Bible reading time!  Let's endeavor to make it so easy and mindless to reach out and read our Bibles that it takes as little effort as possible.  One easy way to do this is to place a Bible in multiple rooms of your house. When I had infants and toddlers, I would keep different Bibles open to the passage I was reading in many locations throughout the house--one in my bathroom on the vanity, another on the kitchen counter--so that if I was interrupted during my reading time, I could easily pick back up reading in another location in the house at a later time.  Place a Bible within reach of your favorite spot on the sofa.   Place a Bible in your car to read when you are stuck in traffic, or listen to the Bible on audio while you commute or walk the neighborhood.  Keeping a Bible within reach and readily available to read throughout your day will go a long ways to help you reach your Bible reading goals this year.  (Note: although smart phones have Bible apps and are often within reach, I recommend separating your Bible time from your digital time to reduce distractions!).

• Make it special

Reading your Bible can be a highlight in your hectic day with a few simple tweaks.  Reserve a scrumptious snack, a favorite warm beverage, or a cozy heated throw to enjoy only during your Bible reading time.  I like to have dark chocolate near my Bible, so I can nibble on it while I read it for a special treat.  Do you often associate Bible reading with being too bookish or schoolish?  If so, throw your Bible in a back pack, along with some simple art supplies, grab a picnic blanket, and venture outdoors to enjoy art journaling in your Bible (check out this post to learn more about this practice!).

Source: theprayingwoman.com

Perhaps you might enjoy lighting some candles and snuggling up with your Bible after your children are in bed in a cozy spot.  Whatever it may be for you, associate Bible reading time with something extra special that will make this time truly satisfying for you, one that you genuinely look forward to each day!

Source: shutterstock.com

•  Make it beautiful

Okay, I want you to be absolutely giddy about the Bible you choose to read this year.  If the feel and smell of genuine leather are your thing, by all means, splurge a bit on a gorgeous Bible like this one.  Or if pretty and cute are your thing, then snag a Bible like the She Reads Truth Bible pictured here.

She Reads Truth Bible

I want you to feel like this is the most special book you own!  There are scads of different Bibles out there, like the Illuminated Bible, art journaling Bibles, multi-volume Bibles, and more.  If you need more information about all the various ones out there, check out this previous post here.  Think of the money you might spend on your hobby or clothing this month.  Shouldn't investing in a beautiful copy of God's word be waaaay more gratifying than that?  I trust that you won't be sorry when you have a drop-dead-gorgeous Bible in your hands everyday to pour over and enjoy.

So there you have it, friend!  

Make it easy.

Make it special.

Make it beautiful.

BOOM! 

Let's jump into the riches of God's word today, and everyday, and make it the *highlight* of our day, dear friend!

Source: pinterest.com