Can You Read Your Bible and Enjoy It?
By Jonathan Togonon

In a world awash with so many forms of entertainment vying for our attention, there seems to be less and less time to read the Bible, the Word of God. Although it remains the bestselling book of all times, its importance in our lives is gradually slipping down the list of our priorities. Can we get back the passion for Bible reading?

I believe that Bible reading can be as enjoyable as anything we do under the sun. It should anyway because after all, it is the Bread of Life for our soul. But it takes a little extra effort, and perhaps investments, to grab the attention of say, the children, and make them see the importance of the Bible.

The Bible of course is not just any ordinary book. It is a rich resource of spiritual insights and wisdom that can only be understood with the help of th Holy Spirit. Paul argued this effectively when he said:

For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. (1 Corinthians 2.11)

Even then, the Bible should not be misunderstood as a puzzling book that only smart men can decipher. Indeed, God has revealed His plans, not to the wise, but to babes in heart. (Matthew 11.25) The Bible is simple enough for even the least educated to understand.

Here are my simple ideas that can help anyone get back their passion for Bible reading.

Decide to read the Bible for your own spiritual benefits. What do eating, working, playing, and watching TV have in common? They are actions that we decide to do every day. Why not reading the Bible? Why not read the Bible when you can learn so many things from God from its very ages? I’m convinced that unless we make a decision to step into a spiritual journey with the Book. (If you want to know what the Bible means to you and your faith, read this article.)

Set a time and a place for you to read your Bible. There is a saying that goes, “a place for everything, and everything in its place.” In a world that’s getting more crowded and noisy, God’s Word requires that we set aside a place and time if we want to gain the wisdom It offers freely. Find your self a corner where you can focus on your reading. It can be any place in your house, in a park, or a coffee shop. In my younger days I used to bring my reading materials outdoors, usually under the shade of a tree, where I read for hours with nothing to disturb me (except the chicken in our back yard). When I moved to the city, my favorite reading hangout was any coffee shop that is cozy and quiet. (Starbucks!)

Now, one reason we cannot stand reading the Bible is because we usually reserve the time when we are most tired, stressed and totally spent. Why not give the most active time of your day to Bible reading? The early morning is also a good time to spend with your Bible.

Bring your tools with you. Consider Bible reading as a task as well as an adventure. Why? Because when you go on an adventure trip, you will want to bring tools with you to help you along the way. That’s why. Read your Bible with a pen and a notebook and probably a dictionary and other reference materials that can help you discover and understand the meaning of words and things. You will also want to write down your questions, the ideas you discovered, the wisdom you learned, and things to do later. Now that’s an adventure!

Decide which we to take the trip. There are a number of ways you can begin your Bible journey. Basically, the Bible as a book consists of biographies, historical accounts of places and records of ideas and cultures of the ancient days. The Bible is also a book of wise sayings, love stories, doctrinal expositions and prophetic utterances. Whichever way you start the path will surely lead you great adventures with God and His people, and will unravel spiritual riches that are definitely out of this world.

Write as you read. As I’ve mentioned earlier, write all your discoveries because it is one of the surest way of not losing them. Don’t trust your mind.

Don’t end your reading session without giving yourself an assignment. Having an assignment that you will work on helps you look forward to your next Bible reading session. You can take not of things that you might do to supplement your Bible reading. Is there anything you will need to ask to your Pastor or parents? You can use your friends, the library or the Internet to supplement and expand your learning.

Treat yourself afterwards. Better yet, bring your things to your favorite coffee shop so you can read and enjoy your favorite blend.

Also, you can try reading with a group of friends. This is very interesting when you have friends who want to read and share at the same time. This is exciting, I tell you.

Jonathan Togonon is a pastor of a small flock in Antipolo Philippines and enjoys sharing the word of God and leading people to the feet of Jesus Christ. You can read more of his articles at www.pastorjo.com and www.believerscommunity.ning.com

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How would I be able to raise our children alone? What would I do without my wife? What would our children do without their mother?The next few days were like a bad dream. I would have gladly traded places with Althea. I knew she was with the Lord in heaven and I envied the fact that she was free from all problems and worries. I asked God why she died and not me. He had to know that our kids really needed their Mom. I had some other questions too. Was there anything else I could have done to change things? Did I pray enough or exercise faith enough for my wife’s healing? What did I do wrong?

I began to cry out to God like a drowning man gasping for air. If we were to survive as a family we needed His help. The circumstances we faced did not allow me the luxury of going through the motions of prayer – I needed to know how to really pray and make contact with the Lord. All the questions of why things happened gradually gave way to more pressing needs. Everyday seemed to bring new challenges. Lives were hanging in the balance and I needed God’s help.

I know you have heard this before but — God is faithful. He helped us. He has proven His faithfulness time and time again since those tragic days. During the process of writing this book I found it very difficult to dwell upon some of the painful experiences of the past. But each time I remembered the pain or sorrow I also thought about how the Lord brought us through. In the process, He has shown me some of His truths that have revolutionized my life. ..

Some of the questions I had when my first wife died were never answered but that is not a problem for me. I know God is in control. I know that he never once stopped loving my children and me during that time of overwhelming tragedy and change. I realize now that some of my questions were motivated more by some wrong ideas I had concerning God and the process of faith. Many things are becoming clearer as the Lord continues to bring me into a place of knowing Him…

My desire is that God will touch you through the reading of this book so that you come to realize and appropriate the wonderful power of prayer. Just relax – there is no pressure for us to perform. God will stir us into action but first let us come to Him and learn.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me – watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30 – The Message)

Here is a link to the free e-book click here