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| Source: crosswalk.com |
I was talking with my sister this afternoon, hearing all about her experience teaching at her church's women's retreat this past weekend.
I am sooo stinkin' proud of her! It was wonderful to hear about the fellowship she shared with these ladies, and all the things they discussed in their four teaching sessions together.
One of the topics they explored on their retreat was how to fall in love with your Bible. The teaching was based on this book, which I hope to read someday soon!
Our conversation got me thinking about a few ways that I have grown to love my Bible over the years, so I thought I'd discuss a few things that have helped me to fall in love with the Word from my own experiences.
As I've already discussed here on the blog, I definately have a Bible collecting problem! I love many different Bibles, and I use them all in different ways.
I read some Bibles cover-to-cover, like my Chronological NIV Bible.
I study specific passages in other Bibles, like my ESV Study Bible.
I journal prayers in some of them, like my Crossway Journaling Bibles.
I artistically illustrate and embellish some Bibles, like my leather interleaved Bible. (This is the perfect time of year to mention an amazing Advent Bible journaling experience, if you are interested! Check out this resource to dive in for December!)
But ultimately, there are three ways I have fallen in love with my Bible over the years:
1. Write in it!
Highlight, underline, make notes in the margin, illustrate using creative lettering, use stickers, stamps and ink, bookmarks, pen personal prayers, date passages--totally make your Bible your OWN! Over time, whenever you see it and spend time with it, it will be like visiting with an old friend who totally GETS you.
2. Use a translation that suits YOU in THIS season of your life
When I first became a Christian, I LOVED the Living translation. It is a very loose translation of Scripture, but it spoke to me as a young tween. Many of my friends love The Message translation for this very reason. Feel the freedom to use various translations for different things--one to read, another to memorize, another to bring to church and follow along with the pastor (my church uses the ESV translation). You will begin to fall in love with the various ways the Scriptures speak to you through all these various translations.
3. Read it
We have Bibles to read them, right? Find a Bible reading plan that works with your schedule. I have read through the Bible in a year, and I've also read it through in 90 days. Both plans have worked beautifully during different seasons in my life. The three month plan is PERFECT for summer break. The year-long version only amounts to a 5-10 minute commitment per day. I promise you--when you read God's Word, it will only make you thirsty for MORE! You will fall more in love with God Himself, and His perfect Word, and it will CHANGE you from the inside out!
I hope this post will inspire and encourage YOU, dear friend, to endeavor to fall more in love with God's Word! Don't settle for LESS! May it be a source of strength, comfort, and power for you, in every season of your life.
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