I was reading a book this week on the different spiritual traditions. It covered many of the different ways in which people experience their Christianity. Every tradition was healthy, and biblical, but all were different. The author then gave some tips to practicing each of the traditions.
One of the tips specifically was about Bible reading. The author recommended that instead of reading for say 10 minutes a day every day, to take a time once a week and read for an hour. His assumption was that you could retain more, and learn more about the Bible this way. He used the analogy of reading every day to being like trying to take a shower one drop at a time.
What do you think? How do you balance reading the Bible every day (which I assume most people don't) vs. Reading it in larger chunks?
From experience, or just theory, which do you think is most effective for (1) understanding the Bible, (2) intimacy with God and (3) health for your life in general?
Saturday, November 11, 2006
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This may sound like a non-answer to some, but it's an honest response.
I find myself going in and out of both methods of reading. There are times I know for a fact that I am reading only for the sake of reading and cover only a few verses at a time. Though not ideal, I know, I find there is a certain awareness of God that comes with daily breaking open the book. At the same time it is difficult to incorporate what I have read into understanding where those verses fit in the context and what the writer is really trying to communicate.
There are also times that I intentionally will not read for a few days and spend that time more in journaling, meditation or other forms of "devotion." When I do sit down to read it is a focused and intentional time of reading longer portions and "studying" the overall message of the text.
All of that to say...yes. I do both and am fine with doing so. For me it works to, in a way, separate "study" times and "interpersonal" more intimate times. I guess it would be honest to say that reading the Bible is not an intimate thing for me. It is an educational form that enhances the more intimate understanding I have of God with conversational times.
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