Main Title: Reading the Bible

By Pastor Michael Magbag

Scripture :

Psalm 119:33-35
New Living Translation (NLT)

He

33 Teach me your decrees, O Lord; I will keep them to the end. 34 Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions; I will put them into practice with all my heart. 35 Make me walk along the path of your commands, for that is where my happiness is found.

Do you read the Bible? 

According to USA Today Magazine, about 42% of adults say Bible reading is very important to them and say they have a favorite verse or story. There are several other reasons why adults read the Bible.
Here is a list:

For spiritual guidance - 81%
To feel closer to God - 73%
To use as guidelines for life - 71%
It is interesting - 66%
It is enjoyable - 59% 
Christians are supposed to read it -  39%.

I have learned that when it comes to spiritual matters, we   often tell people we are doing more than we actually are. 

If asked, “Do you read the Bible?” we would reply, “Yes.” 

“How often?” 

“Almost every day!” 

However…if you actually kept a record, you might find that your impression of what you do is greater than what you actually do. You may think you are reading it every day, but you forget the days you skip because you woke up late, or you were tired, or you got interrupted.

The point I would like to make is that reading the Word of God, the Bible, is vital to our spiritual growth. 

David wrote in the Psalms that he meditated on it, he read it, he placed it in his heart, he spoke it and he confessed it.

The reading of the Bible is not to impress anyone regarding our spirituality. But it is to be the strength and source of our faith.

I encourage you to set aside some regular, irrevocable time every day for the single purpose of reading your Bible. It may be just a few minutes in the morning with a cup of coffee. (This is the best time, because your mind is fresh.) 

Or in the evening when the day’s work is done and you are quietly settling down for rest. 

Or at lunchtime, when you have had a pressured morning and need to re-calibrate your day. 

It is better to do a little every day than to “binge” and cram a lot of reading once a week. You will be a better and stronger person. The Word is life and food to our souls. 

READ IT REGULARLY!!!