God Is at Work

If you’ve been following along with the Bible Reading Guide, you’ve probably noticed that we’re close to the end of “Part One.” That means we’re almost through 25% of the entire Bible, including double-reads through the Psalms. 

If you’re behind on the reading plan (like I currently am in Luke), no worries. You can catch up (try listening). Either way, you can always jump in with Part Two, and however you adapt the reading plan, the daily prompts and weekly reviews are useful.

A few years ago I had a conversation with an out-of-state friend about Bible reading. He had sent me a few questions that I replied to in writing. When I find myself in a little rut, I come back to these basics. The questions might resonate with you. See what you think …

What’s your #1 obstacle to Bible reading, and how do you overcome it? 

My greatest obstacle is mental distraction, even when it’s before the sun rises, before anyone else in my house is awake. One of the reasons I have stuck with early mornings for so long is because the early morning is when my mind is most clear. However, some mornings I have carry-over from the night before. That’s typically a sure sign that I need to pray sooner than later, and when it’s especially thick I might get right into journaling and prayer, casting my anxieties on the Lord (see 1 Peter 5:7). Often I’ll say something like: “Father, I’d like to meditate on your word right now, but I can’t stop thinking about blank. Here, would you take this?” And then I just tell it all.

And I can do that because I’m mainly there, in that moment, to meet with God. I’m not trying to check a box and complete a plan. I want to know God, and if he doesn’t take the mental distraction away, then I pursue it with humility.

What is something about Bible reading that you wish you knew sooner? 

It’s important to know that God is always doing more than we can see. Early on in my Bible reading, I was probably more busy seeking an experience with God than I was seeking God himself. What made that especially difficult is that I really would have great experiences. Some days I felt like the Spirit met me powerfully and my head and heart were in sync. But on other days that didn’t go as well, I would quickly assume something was wrong with me. And sometimes it is, just to be clear. If you’re hitting a brick wall every time you open the Bible, don’t be slow to ask God to search your heart. Don’t let your sin keep you from meaningful meditation on God’s word. But then there are times, oftentimes, when there is no sin at all, and you feel like you’re just reading. Nothing stands out. Nothing grips you. It’s just reading. And that’s okay. I wish I knew that when I started. Even in the “just reading,” God is at work. 

That is because the word of God is living and active. And that’s the sermon this Sunday — Hebrews 4:12–13.