Welcome! We’ve created a Special Series for you this month! We’ll
take 4 weeks and focus on 4 elements to ‘Reset’ our lives for Him.
We’re calling it ’4×4 Reset’. If you missed the introduction, you
can find more details here. Each post will feature a READ IT
(scripture verse), a SEE IT (motivation), & a DO IT (challenge/
call to action). Our 4×4 Reset Toolbox is available and has links
to all the posts and to our resources, including our Build a Firm
Foundation Printable tracking page. Be sure to subscribe to not
miss a day, & join us on Twitter & Instagram using our hashtag
#4x4Reset!

I Don’t Know How to Read the Bible

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I feel the newness of the cool breeze and my spirit begins to
yearn for a fresh word. Do you sense the stir? Do you long to
know your Savior more intimately?

Reading God’s word daily always topped my new years goal
list. But somewhere along the journey, I even began to feel
guilty adding that to my goal list because I felt I didn’t know
how to read the Bible. I never followed through, because
reading the Bible never felt right.

I tried every which way to read the Bible:

1. I’d challenge myself to begin in Genesis and read
through Revelation. But somewhere in the book of
Leviticus nothing would be making sense and I’d give
up on my goal to read God’s word. I’d beat myself up
thinking I’ve known Jesus most of my life how can this not
make sense, I’m not a good enough Christian or this would
resonate with my heart.
2. I tried waking up each morning, praying God
would give me a word, then opening up my Bible
to wherever it would land. I wanted God to speak to
me through the randomness of scripture as He does to
others. But invariably I’d get passages such as “You will
be smashed like a piece of pottery . . . “ (Is. 30:14) I gave
up and hopped back on the guilt trip of not being able to
read the word of God.

After years of such frustration, I was beginning to doubt if I
could really read, understand, and hear a word from God on
my own. I had no trouble sitting under someone else’s teaching
or at church on Sunday, but I wanted more. I wanted my own
word – my own intimate relationship with God.

Christmas was approaching and I was beginning to write down
those big goals for the year ahead. I had decided I wasn’t going
to put reading the word of God on there because it carried too
much guilt when I didn’t follow through. That guilt made it
hard to enjoy the word when I was able to absorb it.

The Gift that Changed My Life

Little did I know that my life was about to change by a perfect
gift under the Christmas tree. My hubby handed me the
perfectly wrapped package and I opened it with delight. It was
the One Year Bible.

It was perfect. It was spelled out just the way I needed it
– Jan. 1, Jan. 2, March 31, etc. And on each day there was a
snippet from the Old Testament, New Testament, a Psalm and
a Proverb. It was a pure match made in heaven as I began to
devour these precious words.

If I missed a day, there was no need to hop on the guilt trip –
no; I could just pick up on the day’s date. There was no need
to feel bogged down in the Old Testament, because I knew I
would get a Jesus story from the New Testament before my
reading time was over.

Read It:

See it:

Set a fire down in my soul… Click here to watch this song’s video on YouTube.  Listen to the lyrics.  Let God set a fire down in your soul for more of His Word.  We want more of You, God…. We want more of You, God…

Do it:

Don’t forget to check out our 4x4Toolbox tab up at the top of every page.  Links to previous posts and to our printable tracking journal can be found there.  Make sure to connect with us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram with the #4x4Reset hashtag too!