Why You Need To Read Your Bible
And it’s not because you are supposed to do it
The Bible is an invitation to an experience with God. — Kris Vallotton
I write about the Bible a lot. I write devotional-style posts and books. I share things I’m learning. And I encourage people to read their Bible. I do all this not because I think it's more important or that it is to be set upon a pedestal as the best religious practice or discipline.
I share these things because it opens the door for God in our lives.
You see, the Bible isn’t just a book. It’s not simply history. It is the word of God. It was created so that we could know God. Not so we would have a bunch of rules to follow. Or a place to cherry-pick ways to love or hate each other. It was created so we could experience God.
And in these experiences with God, would change our lives. This is the whole idea of renewing our minds. The older I get, the longer I walk with Jesus, I understand the immense importance of connecting with God through the Bible.
So, I wanted to give you three benefits of reading your Bible today and three drawbacks when we neglect our time in the Word of God. Lastly, I will share with you a few ways you can start making this a regular part of your life.
3 Benefits of Reading the Bible
While we already know that the Bible is a way to renew our minds. There are a few other important benefits to reading the Bible. In fact, connect us with the deep importance of how the Word of God can change our lives. So, here they are:
- It marks our lives. In Hebrews 8:10, we learn that it marks us as God’s people. Not only does it changes us, but it leaves something about God’s Kingdom and who he is in our lives for others to see. When we read the Bible and take what we read to heart, we begin to share Jesus even in the little things we do.
- It awakens and strengthens our faith. We find in Romans 10:17 that reading the Bible awakens and strengthens our faith. It gives life to us and to how we believe in God. This awakening of faith draws us closer to God and gives us the confidence to believe and trust God when times are hard or there is a great need.
- It helps us to know the Author, God. We know from John 1:1 that the Word was God and was with God, and the Word became flesh. If the true word of God was Jesus, then reading the Bible helps connect us to Jesus. Most of all, it helps connect us with the author of creation, God. The more we read the Bible, the more we will know Him.
Now, these are only three benefits to reading your Bible. Yet, they are strong ones that have been encouraging to me over the years in different ways. In this particular season of life, I think it is important for all of us.
3 Drawbacks to Neglecting Reading the Bible
While there are a lot of reasons to read the Bible, what about the consequences or results of neglecting our time in the Bible? After all, there must be some downfalls to leaving it sitting on a shelf and collecting dust. In my life, these are the things I have found.
- Slipping back into old behaviors. So often when I neglect my Bible reading, I start to slip back into old behaviors and patterns. Sometimes these are sin-specific, other times they are simply things I did or didn’t do before I knew Jesus. The reality is, our old way of living is dead, and we are a new creation. But, the Bible helps strengthen who we are, when we don’t work that muscle, we start losing it.
- Rely on other sources of information as our foundation in life. If we aren’t reading the Bible, we begin to rely on other things for information. This can be the news, social media, other books. Whatever it is, these things begin to shape our worldview which begins to renew our minds and hearts away from God. Now, this doesn’t always happen, but it is something to be aware of because it makes a difference for many of us.
- We start to miss out on what God is telling us. The more we know the Bible, the more likely we will experience and hear from God. The less we read the Bible and know the Bible, the less likely it is for us to experience Him and hear from Him. When we neglect reading the Bible we start creating soundproof barriers around us and miss out on what God is trying to share with us.
These three things all come from my personal experience and the experiences of those I have known over the years. What I have found when I talk with others is how often these are key themes.
They neglect reading their Bible, they feel disconnected from God, they start doing things they don’t want to do, and then they look for answers elsewhere. More often than not, the answers people need to reconnect with God are either in the Bible or just on the other side with connecting with God.
Final Thought on Reading the Bible
There you have it. The benefits of reading the Bible and the downsides to neglecting that time. Yet, there is one more thing to remember when it comes to reading the Bible: it’s up to you.
God isn’t going to force you to read the Bible. Your spouse, friends, family, or pastor aren’t going to make you read the Bible. You are the one who is going to have to make the decision and set yourself up for Bible reading success.
But, how do we do it?
Well, the first way that makes it easy to read the Bible is to find something that takes away the decision-making. So often, people don’t know where to start or don’t have a plan. This can make it difficult to get started.
Well, I have a plan for you. And all you will have to do with it is set a time and a space. By setting a time every day, you remove the guesswork. And, by creating a space where you will read every day, you set yourself up for the desire to do it.
Pick a time and a place and guard it.
I have a plan for you.
Once you set that time and space for yourself, try out my meditation and prayer guides that give you scripture from books of the Bible to read and pray through every day.
These prayer and mediation guides are completely free. They give you a few books of the Bible to start with and they are easy ways to jumpstart your bible reading.
Download these free prayer and mediation guides today!