Leadership Thought: So, You Don't Think Reading Your Bible Has Any Impact on Your Life!

Dear Friends,

This past week I was asked by a friend who wanted to know why I thought it was important to read your bible daily.  

A year ago, she had been encouraged to do this, and while she got off to a good start, she said her reading gradually became more and more inconsistent until she finally stopped altogether.

I had recently read a report from the Center of Bible Engagement which was based on a 40,000 people study, and the statistics of that report were eye opening.

The study revealed that if you read your bible two to three times a week, there was little noticeable change in your life, but if you read it four or more times a week, all of a sudden there was a dramatic change in the impact that your reading had upon your life.

The research revealed that loneliness dropped 30%. anger issues dropped 32%, bitterness in relationships dropped 40%, alcohol consumption dropped 57%, feeling spiritually stagnant dropped 60%, viewing pornography dropped 60%, and on a positive side sharing your faith increased 20%, and your commitment to discipling other believers jumped 200%.

I shared this study with my friend, and I hope it encourages her to get back to the discipline of daily bible reading she once had started and now had now given up.

I told her that length is not always strength, and I encouraged her to be reasonable in her goals. You don’t have to commit to reading through the bible in a year, although this is a wonderful discipline if you choose to it, and I reminded her that “slow and steady wins the race.”

Often,  we start off wanting to read the bible, and we set unreasonable goals for ourselves, and we become quickly discouraged and  give up when we fail to meet our goal.

Those who enjoy a consistent daily reading time, have found that the more time you consistently spend reading your bible daily, the more you will want to read your bible, and the time you spend  reading it will normally and naturally increase. Start with a smaller goal and soon you will want to see that goal increase.

For those beginning, I encourage you to read a Proverb, and or a Psalm, and then pick a biblical book,(one of the gospels like Mark) and read a chapter or just a part of a chapter.

And always keep a pen and notebook beside you and when you finish your reading, write down the date and one thought that impressed or impacted you from your reading, something you want to share and  take with you for the day.

If you have started and failed to develop a consistent reading of the bible, I encourage you to give it another try.

I close with the words of the prophet Isaiah who writes,” As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but  will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. (Isaiah  55:10- 11)

Yours in faith and friendship,

Tom

(Information and statistics from The Center of Bible Engagement derived from a recent sermon by Lloyd Pulley, Calvary Chapel,  Old Bridge, N.J.)