Chronicles of a Believer

We often view the Bible through the lens of this big book that doesn’t make any sense because it’s full of history and dead people and, if we’re being honest, can be quite a boring read. I mean, sitting down to read this 1,000+ page book can be daunting. Where do you start? 

But what if I told you that if you change your perspective on what the Bible is, it could transform how you approach reading it and why you read it?

The Bible is comprised of 66 books that are halved into the Old Testament and the New Testament. 

It tells many stories of God’s involvement in our lives from the beginning to the end. It also tells us His plan to rescue and restore us and provides written testimony of who He is and what He can do.

A lot, huh? I know. 

The Bible can literally look like words on a page at times. But what if I told you that the Bible is God inviting us in to have a conversation with Him?

What if I told you that these conversations tell of how much He loves you, cares for you, and what He desires to do for you? 

What if I told you that these conversations contain answers to some of your deepest questions? Purpose; identity; who God is and what He is like; the existence of Jesus; the end of the world; afterlife; and why God wants us to live a certain way. 

God also reveals how to navigate this life and the challenges we may face. 

In need of comfort? God’s got you covered. In need of direction? God’s got you covered on that too. God invites us to listen to what He has to say. 

If He didn’t care about us, why would He go through the trouble of writing to us and revealing Himself?

Think of the Bible as a series of poems that a loved one writes about you, detailing how much they care for you and sharing with you what they have learned in their lifetime to prevent you from experiencing more heartache than you should. 

You can also approach the Bible in this way. 

Each time you sit down to have a conversation with someone, it will look different based on where you are at in life. Some exchanges require comfort, while others require advice.

And the same goes for the conversations God desires to have with us. One scripture that you read may translate differently one year later. 

How beautiful is that? That these conversations with God are ongoing, which is why you have probably heard people call the Bible “living and breathing” because God never wants to stop talking to us. 

And the more you have these conversations, the more you will get to know God and what He is like… you’ll grow familiar with how He speaks because you speak with Him often.

But as you know, conversations require engaging and listening, meaning understanding scripture requires intentionally setting aside time to hear what God has to say. 

Not sure where to start? Here are three of my recommended tips to get you started! 

1. Utilize the S.O.A.P method 

2. Start with the Gospels in the New Testament, which are: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John

– The Gospels will give you a solid understanding of who Jesus is.

3. Try a devotional 

– Devotionals can be anywhere from a few days to one year and are intended to guide you through scripture under a particular theme. You can purchase physical devotionals or utilize the free Bible app created by Life Church.

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