Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)
Huldra Forsvant (Theodor Kittelsen)

Monday, December 15, 2008

Bible Reading

How's your bible reading going?

I've recently changed my habits, as it wasn't working out very well. I had been reading the bible on the bus every morning on the way to work, but found it pretty difficult to properly concentrate and not get distracted. I also stated to resent it a bit, as what I really wanted to do on the bus ride was read a novel. So, it was kind of getting a bit unhealthy.

What I've been doing for the past few days is getting up 45 minutes earlier than usual, and doing my reading before I get ready for work (after a shower and coffee to wake up). Getting up earlier sucks, and it's really hard to do, but once it's underway, it's been great. I am concentrating far better, and getting through a lot more. I'm reading Genesis, Acts and Psalms- not necessarily a whole chapter of each, sometimes just a little chunk.

But it's had such a positive impact on my days, and has made reading feel like less of a chore, something I should be doing.

How's yours going? When's the best time for you?

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm a morning girl too, I mean naturally I hate the morning, but as part of my ritual now, I just get up an hour before I need to leave, and get ready then have breaky over my Bible reading. Am all over the shop though, with an Every Day with Jesus - it has pros and cons, I like reading along with commentary..
jen

Ben McLaughlin said...

that's good that you have a routine, it just makes it all a lot easier. I like those all over the shop things, I've find them helpful. One good thing about them is they stop you getting discouraged by thoughts like 'oh man I'm up to ch 3 of genesis-- only a bazillion chapters left before i can say I've completed a book'.

kristina said...

I am terribly undisciplined and I have never liked getting up in the morning so I am still working on it. Seems to be a constant battle.

My church goes straight through the bible a few verses a week, so if I keep up with that and read a psalm and /or proverb daily I am doing well. Slow but steady.

Ben McLaughlin said...

yeah, it's a battele for me too. I think what I realised though is that even though I hate being up early, I find it much easier to read then than at night. At night I fall asleep after one sentence. Cool that your church goes right through the Bible.

Giraffe Pen said...

I've spent he best part of the last three years not reading the Bible AT ALL. I'm not kidding... I stopped praying altogether and didn't even notice it. The best time for me to read the Bible is on the bus because everyone's speaking Korean and I can't understand them, but the early morning rise is really working out for me too. The cool fresh air really wakes me up. I read 2 chapters of the Old and 1 of the New every day :)

Ben McLaughlin said...

That's cool that your reading is back on track Hayden-- it's scary how quickly you can lose touch with it, and suddenly six months has past.

Tracy said...

The only times of my life I have ever been consistent with Bible reading were when I prioritized doing it in the morning. Since I got married, it's been difficult for me to figure out how to manage this as sometimes my husband is asleep, sometimes up moving about. I can't concentrate very well if he's in the room. But lately, he's been getting up a bit earlier than me, so he's out eating breakfast while I'm in bed reading. Seems to be working better.

Giraffe Pen said...

Absolutely. God and I have lost a lot of good time together. I would also say the good think about the morning Bible reading is that having yourself listen to God's voice as the very FIRST thing in the day is awesome. It helps set the pattern for everything else.

Giraffe Pen said...

I just put up some photos on my blog of where I like to pray when I wake up early in the morning.