We all need encouragement to press on in anything that is of value.
And daily partaking of the living and active Word of God is one of our greatest privileges. So let’s put to use all the help we can get to encourage that consistent pursuit. In my last post, I shared 5 needs we have that are met in the Word. If you missed it, please check that out here for even more encouragement to press on.
But for now, here are 5 suggestions that I have found helpful to persevere in diligence (2 Tim. 2:15).
1) Have a plan.
Plan how and when. Decide and stick to a reading plan and decide where is will fit into your daily schedule. And just keep showing up.
On a busy day or if you need to catch up, there are great resources online that enable you to listen to the Word. Biblegateway.com has many versions to choose from.
2) Pray.
Before you begin reading, ask God to open your eyes to see the truth and treasure that He has for you for that day.
Pray to love it, for the discipline to stick with it, and for a daily longing for that time with your Heavenly Father.
3) Engage the battle.
Having a reading plan to mark off and a goal to daily be in His Word may seem very straightforward and like a simple and even benign plan. Therefore, it is easy to start the year off with a “just do it every day” attitude.
But in regards to daily exposing yourself to the living and active word of God and its power (Hebrews 4:12), along with the reminders of the authority you have and the instructions on how to walk in that authority over the enemy and in this present evil age (Gal. 1:4), it is an understatement to say that you will experience some spiritual resistance. (If you missed this post on the battle, click here.)
We are in a battle. And it is against the rulers, authorities, powers, world forces of darkness, spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).
The enemy is happy to keep us ignorant of this and therefore inept to handle it. Unfortunately he understands the power of the Word of God even more than God’s children do at times, so he fights to keep us from it and
we oblige in our busyness with lesser things.
Resolve today that this will no longer be true of you. Be aware and refuse to give into any “I don’t want to”s. Just keep moving forward in faith and as a result, be built up in the truth to stand. Put on the full armor of God (Eph. 6) and stand firm.
Do not obey your feelings. Battle them. Do not allow this treasure to be stolen away from you.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ,..” 2 Cor. 10:3-5
Be intolerant of your thoughts that do not line up with His truth, and take them captive. Know the truth of His Word so that you are able to quickly recognize them.
4) Write it down.
-Write down your plan, put it on your calendar, and make it non-negotiable. We are not going to make it victoriously in these difficult times without standing on the truth and contending earnestly for the faith (Jude 1:3,4). We all need to know how to stand and to actually stand on truth. We need each other.
-Write/journal what God is showing you.
Invite the Holy Spirit to unpack truth for your life out of the text and listen and get it down in writing, that you may be reminded to put it into action and live it out.
–Write in your bible (check out this helpful bible study tool). Mark instructions, lists, and what you learn about God and what that truth means for your life.
–Write your own cross-references as you read and the Holy Spirit links it back to another truth.
–Write out verses that stand out to you in your time in the Word, that you may go back and meditate on them and use them to pray scripture in your prayer time.
All of this will help you incorporate the Word into your daily life, which will always encourage you to press on as you see change happen in and through you.
5) Worship God.
When you come up against the resistance to continue on, put on some worship music and press through it. Thank Him for Who He is, what He has done, and what He will do. Tell Him you want to know Him more.
Take what you have written down from your daily time with Him, turn it into worship, and allow it to make you hunger and thirst for more.
And just do it. Keep showing up.
Present your body as “a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:1,2).
A short recap:
- Have a plan.
- Pray.
- Engage the battle.
- Write.
- Worship.
“This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.” Joshua 1:8
Meditating on the Word and doing what it says has promises for success already built into it.
Go succeed. Keep showing up.
And allow Him to fill your hunger and thirst and create an even deeper hunger.
Go deeper, and deeper still.
“Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” Matt. 4:4
If you still need a plan, check out my favorite bible reading plan here.
