It amazes me how often we say “God, I just want to know your will for my life!” And we act as though we’re waiting for a burning bush, or a voice from Heaven, or Elvis to come back and tell us what God wants for our lives. And yet we’ll spend no time in the Word where God has already revealed His will to us.
The problem with many Christ followers and creating the spiritual habit of getting into the Word, is that most don’t know where to begin, or how to read it.
When it comes to where to begin, most go for “the beginning,” Genesis. They usually get to chapter 10, hit a long line of genealogies and ask, “Why am I doing this?!?” If you are a newer believer, or if you are still on the fringe with God, church, and faith – there’s probably no better place to get started than the Gospel of John. Out of the 4 Gospels (accounts of Jesus life) , John is the most unique. If you have been in church for awhile, or if you just finished reading John, I would strongly suggest that your next reading be James, then Philippians, then Romans.
If you don’t have a Bible, read online at either biblegateway.com or youversion.com, or get one at a local Christian bookstore. Everyone asks about translations, and not all translations are made equal. You need one that is easily readable, and yet accurate and close as possible to the original languages. Without getting into that conversation, I suggest a New English Translation (NET) available online everywhere, New King James Version (NKJV), New American Standard (NASB), New Living Translation (NLT), or English Standard Version (ESV).
As far as how to read it, start with 1-3 chapters, 3 to 6 times a week and try to develop into reading 5-10 chapters daily. While reading, look for, and ask, the following questions:
- What command is there to obey?
- What example is there to follow?
- What sin is there to avoid?
- What character is there to develop?
- What promise is there to claim?
- What good is there to praise God for?
Pray before and ask God to speak to you through His word. Take one thought away to remind yourself of the rest of the day. And pray again afterward and thank God for opportunity to know His will.
May God richly bless you, and may the resurrected power of Christ fall on you as you read and obey His Word.
Blessings,
John
i was reading the word today John and i started to read the chapter JOHN and i liked it because at first it said there always was the word of God its like saying where ever the word is thats where God is and now i really understand how important the word is to God and to us Gods children because it say in the word that when jesus was born it means the word of God was born and it became human that so made everything different for me and it makes sence kind of . Thanks for everything that you and your family do for me and everyone in the church and the Ingiters Singles i am blessed to have you as a pastor and more than that a brother in Christ i am excited to see what God has instore for us at edgewood, Thanks John love ya man