They say that failing to plan means planning to fail – and it’s usually true. Especially in the area of spiritual growth. So as we are all starting to look toward 2021, I’d like to encourage you to reflect on your spiritual plan. And if you don’t have one, to get one!
Do you have a good plan for Bible reading? Do you think having one is important? Do you read the Word daily, or at least regularly?
For a few years, I followed a genres Bible reading plan which is quite good. Based on Scripture’s different literature types, I find it gives a more complete picture of the Word because of reading several portions every day. Yet for me it lacked continuity. It seemed that on some I days I was snacking, and on others feasting.
But then after discovering Professor Grant Horner’s plan, I found the plan that works for me! And I’ve been using it for years now.
From snacks to meal!
When I first read about this 10 chapter a day plan, I thought, “No way, that’s just too much!” But you know, I soon became addicted. For I discovered that the more we eat, the more we want to eat – and that goes for spiritual food too!
So it wasn’t long before I started wondering how I had survived so long on the “Bible snacks” I’d had before. And I’ve been using it ever since!
We need a plan
But the main thing I’ve learned is that we need a plan! We plan so many areas of our lives – yet we sometimes approach our spiritual growth in a haphazard or careless way. Which is why we often fail to experience real growth.
The more we eat, the more we want to eat – and that goes for spiritual food too!
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God’s Word is life, and without it our spiritual life will fade and wane. It can create hope when hope is dying. Peace when war threatens our hearts and souls. Joy when sorrow overtakes. And new life within us, making us like our Lord and Savior.
So if you don’t already have one, develop a plan for spending time with God. It’s the only way to really know him, and become like him. No one else can do it for you. And it won’t happen through osmosis – by just sitting in church or being around other believers.
The spiritual growth plan is simple
- First, fully realize that need you a plan.
And hold yourself accountable to sticking to it. - Then set aside a time for daily Bible reading and prayer.
A fixed appointment will help you be consistent in your relationship with God. - Choose a spot free from distractions and interruptions.
Distraction free because you want communion to be a priority. - Choose a Bible reading plan.
Reading the whole Bible will bring riches to your life that you never imagined! - Spend time in conversaton with God, listening for his guidance.
Nothing will create intimacy with him like time spent with him. - And then find during your day to dig deeper into God’s word because that’s where you’ll find the meaty stuff! Start out by doing Bible study 1-2 times per week – and then as your hunger grows, add to it!
Just as fire needs air, our spirits need light. Without it, our spiritual light will go out. But the more we feed it, the stronger our light will become. We need the light of God’s word come in, feed us, and change our lives.
But this can only happen by feeding on his word and spending time with him.
As newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the Word, that you may grow thereby.
1 Peter 2:2 WEB
Images: Snacks by hamomdomingues | Milk by StockSnap | Bible by mnplatypus.
Signora Sheila 
Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word proceeding from the mouth of God.
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Yes, indeed!!
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Great post-thank you very much. I totally agree with you. We absolutely need a plan for spiritual growth. We plan for most other things, but just expect our spiritual lives to happen on their own. Unless we do it on purpose, it just won’t happen! Thanks for your encouragement here.
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So true Andy. I sometimes think it’s because we think the Holy Spirit will tend to the spiritual side of our lives.Yet the epistles in particular, are full of instruction for adding to our faith and spiritual growth. So happy growing to you!!
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Great post, thank you!
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You’re welcome. I’m glad it spoke to you!
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Great help on engaging with the Bible
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Great, I’m glad you liked it!
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Sheila, I love this! I take 5 chapters a day and have been so blessed plus Bible studies. Yes, the more we let the Word dwell richly in us, the hungrier we become. In the Word is Life! May your appetite for the Word become even more voracious. God bless you and keep you in His love and Word. Karen
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That’s great Karen! And you hit the nail on the head – it’s really about letting the Word dwell richly in us. That will draw us closer to Christ and help us become more like him!
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I love your analogy, Sheila! Bible snacks don’t do it for me either. Like you, I’ve discovered that the more I eat, the more I want to eat. I usually use a Bible study workbook with questions to help me delve into the text more deeply than I might on my own. Even after 50 years, there’s still more to learn!
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So true, Nancy, that there is still more to learn – and will be even after another 100 years! I love the idea of a study workbook, but I usually delve into commentaries to glean more. I especially love Matthew Henry’s!
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Are you familiar with http://www.biblehub.com? They have a number of commentaries (although they’re all scholars of long ago like Matthew Henry!). If you are researching a particular verse, all of the commentary on that passage is presented altogether, one commentator after the other. No clicking from one commentary to another. I really appreciate their format! Do you have a favorite website for Bible study?
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This is excellent! Sharing on my FB feed!
Thank you.
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Thank you, Kathie! I’m blessed that it encouraged you!
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I love how you refer to Bible snacks! It’s so easy for people to just grab a verse here or there or listen to a podcast. I found for me it’s been holy ground to just enter a time with Him each morning, seeking to really experience His presence as I read His Word. I make it special–I have a three-wick candle I use to remind me of the presence of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and it becomes an experience of connecting with his heart, I find I depend on this time because it’s what begins my day and my attitude. I really enjoyed this insight, my friend.
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That’s beautiful, Dayle! I’ve never heartd of a 3 wick candle, but I love the analogy. And I would imagine that it lets off more light – which is really insightful. The presence of the trinity in our lives can turn any moment into a holy time – super full of his light and presence!! Love it, my friend!
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Sheila, I started working on the Bible Study Plan you suggested…and doing it the …Integrative (?) way..Where you really study it deeply. Totally loving this and getting so much out of it. So much of a better and deeper understanding of the Bible and it sticks with me! That said, I do not get to it every day…although I try very hard but I’m trying not to beat myself up over it. I’ve been reading a couple of fabulous books in the last couple of months on Sabbath and Benedictine Spirituality – hope to get a blog out shortly. And I am hoping that this very practical knowledge I’ve acquired will help me spend more time with God each day.
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Oh I’m so glad, Heather! The inductive Bible study method is great! It’s so necessary to delve into the Scriptures, and not just give them a quick reading. Hope you continue to learn much from your time with the Father!
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I rotate how I do my Bible reading every other year or two. For one year I will read five chapters a day to read the entire Bible in one year. Another year to two years, I will slow down on the reading. I will take one book and slowly go through it verse by verse over a month or two. Going at this rate I will usually get through only a few books in a year. This is the time I use to really get deeper into reading the Bible and really hearing more of what God is saying to me.
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That’s a good plan Tom. What really counts is having a plan/plans that work for us – and sticking to them!! I usually also have a study time later in the day, though I don’t manage it every day. But as I work from home, I do have more time at my disposal than many people do. I’m glad I can manage both. But I have learned that I can’t survive on “Bible snacks”, which for me were just a quick reading of a chapter. Thanks for sharing your ideas too!
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I am like you, in that I don’t always do my plan everyday as planned. But since I have a plan, it helps me stay with it much better, than without one.
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Definitely!!
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Definitely!
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