For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come.

(1Ti 4:8 NKJV)

Most of us want to change … that’s why we make New Year’s resolutions! It’s our fixation on making ourselves better that fuels the multi-billion dollar diet and fitness industries, zillions of self-help courses, way too many get-rich-quick schemes, the proliferation of easy and convenient ways to get a degree – and just about every other self-improvement plan we can think of. Intuitively, we want to improve. We know we can be better … we can be. Heck – we probably should be! However, these are all dead ends. Unless the inside gets better, the outside will never really change.

That’s the good thing about having a personal relationship with Jesus: He changes us from the inside out. As we work out our salvation in the fear of God, He works inside to will and to do His good pleasure! He performs this transformation by His Spirit and by His Word. They work hand in hand, making us into the person God meant us to be – to reflect His image.

God’s Word is the spiritual food that causes us to grow and mature in the Lord – but we may need to step up our game. If we are still on milk, when we need to eat meat, our growth will be stunted. Milk is just pre-digested food. Someone else has eaten it, digested it, and made it into a form that is appropriate for babies. Is this what you are eating? Is your knowledge of the Word mostly second-hand? Do you listen to teachers and preachers rather than reading and studying for yourself? If so, you’re on a milk diet. Is it time for you to add meat to your diet? Do you want to cut your teeth on something more substantial?

There is nothing more important than knowing God’s Word for ourselves, becoming personally accountable to Him for what we believe – and obeying it! It is the action of the Word on our lives that separates us from the world, changes our thinking, and transforms our life. So, we need to make sure we are in it – and that it gets in us – daily. The One who taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread,” desires to provide our physical and spiritual food. It is true: We do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

When Jesus was leaving the earth, He told his disciples that He had many more things to tell them, but they weren’t ready to hear them. So, He would send His Spirit to pick up where He left off, take what is His and give it to them. And so, the Holy Spirit is still revealing Jesus to us, today – primarily through the Word. When this happens, we become like the men He walked with on the road to Emmaus. Their heart burned within them, as He revealed Himself to them through the Scriptures! True disciples continue in His Word, know the Truth, and experience real freedom. Isn’t that what we all want? If so, we need to abide in His Word to experience all He has for us. We need to walk with Him in the Scriptures to see Him revealed in them.

So, at this time of the year, many of us will resolve to become more serious about God’s Word. Good. That’s a good thing – even a necessary thing! That is the best way to grow closer to Jesus; it’s the right thing to do. That is why many of us will, yet again, vow to read the Bible this year. It sounds simple enough – just three chapters, fifteen minutes a day. However, we all know what happens when we get bogged down in Leviticus…

We need to know the whole Word (even Leviticus) – not just the parts that interest us or mean something to us. The whole thing is the Word of God not just the parts that jump off the page. The whole thing, every verse is God-breathed and valuable. God uses His Word to communicate divine truth to us, to stop us from going our own way, to right our course, and help us live godly lives. It’s His Word that equips us for the good works He has prepared for us, and it’s His Word that will keep us from deception, as this world gets darker and darker. His Word is truly a lamp that lights our path.

So, what do we do? How do we interact with the Word – the whole Word of God – with everything He has to say to us? Here are a few suggestions that may help, along with some resources…

Don’t (necessarily) read the whole Bible in a year, if it means you’re just going to wind up “checking the box.” God wants us to be disciplined in seeking Him daily in the Word and prayer and worship – but not mechanically. Our time with Him needs to be just that: Time with HIM, not time spent doing a religious task. So, maybe go slower? It might be wise to read just one chapter a day, or two, so you can think about it, really absorb what you are reading. Or, if you want to read more, divide your reading into the morning and evening.

Thinking about what you are reading is important. If you like, you can use an approach to the Word that has been practiced for over a thousand years, lectio divina. Basically, it incorporates four steps: reading, meditation, contemplation, and prayer. The NRSV Daily Bible incorporates this strategy, selecting key verses for meditation and  including devotional material for contemplation. (You can get it HERE.) If you are trying to cut your own meat, it may be best to let the Holy Spirit lead you through the process. If you want some help, check it out. Regardless of how you do it, slowing down and getting God’s Word into your heart is a good thing – as well as adding prayer to the mix!  That’s why many people say that using lectio divina helps them to engage with the Word and connect personally with God. (For more information, click HERE.)

If you like the idea of combining devotional material with your daily reading, here are some excellent resources:

• Our Daily Bread is tried and true. They can be found online HERE and the app HERE. Different authors contribute short devotionals for the day, and you can follow links to the Scripture portion at Bible Gateway. You can read and/or listen to both the devotional and the Scripture reading.
• Tom Dooley, Billy Graham’s favorite reader, gives a short devotional and goes through the entire Scriptures at One Year Bible Online. You can find the plan that has daily readings from both the Old Testament and New HERE. If you want the chronological plan, click HERE. (NOTE: There is no app, but the site is mobile-friendly by clicking the three bars on top at the right.)
• Brian Hardin does a great job of reading and commenting on the Scriptures at the Daily Audio Bible. Actually, he has built a far-reaching ministry out of simply reading the Bible out loud, making comments, and forming a virtual community around it! (You can connect with DAB online HERE and get the app HERE.)

At any rate, to make sure you are getting the whole counsel of God’s Word, a good reading plan can help.

• “YouVersion” includes many excellent Bible reading plans that will take you through the Bible in a variety of ways. (You can find the app HERE and read online HERE.)
• Francis Chan has put together a wonderful program, with the help of the Bible Project. It’s simply called “READ SCRIPTURE” – and comes in the form of an app for your smartphone. Basically, it’s a chronological reading plan that divides the story of the Bible into sixteen chapters. It also relates the story of each book to the whole narrative – and does an excellent job of tying it all together. The app includes engaging animations that detail each book, plus various themed videos sprinkled throughout. These really help! (Click HERE for a brief overview, and you can find the READ SCRIPTURE app HERE.)
• If you are on FaceBook, want to use the READ SCRIPTURE app – and are an early bird – you can listen to the selection (without commentary) from 5:00am to 5:30am on a conference call. This is tied to the interactive FaceBook group, “Simply READ the Bible.” (Join the group for instructions.)

Regardless of how you approach the Word, it may be helpful to gather with others – in person, in cyberspace, or on the phone – to fellowship. If you can agree on a reading plan, God can use this type of group to extend your individual experience in the Word. It can provide support and accountability, as well as a forum for discussion and prayer. See if there are others who also want to grow in the Word, and invite them join you on the journey!