Monday, May 14, 2012

How To: Start Reading Your Bible

Getting a daily dose of God's Word is an incredible habit to get yourself into. For anyone who is struggling to read their Bible or hasn't picked up a Bible in days, months, years, here's a simple way to pick it up again. 
  • Take today's date, for example: May 14. 
  • Turn to Proverbs (located in the middle) and go to the chapter of today's date. 
  • Proverbs 14. 
  • Read It. 
It's that simple. However, reading the Bible should not be a chore or something for you to simply check off your list for the day. Really take your time reading and understanding what you are reading. Find a version of the Bible that really speaks to you. Personally I love reading The Message version. It puts it in plain English, and how we are currently speaking. You won't find any LOL's of OMGoodnesses in there though. Also find a quiet spot to read, turn your phone on silent and give this set apart time to God. No distractions. 
Try this for a month solid. You will read thru all of Proverbs in 1 month. After you are done with Proverbs start another book of the Bible or go through Proverbs again. (There is so much truth in Proverbs, you are always finding something to challenge you in your walk with Him). 
Give it a try. Start with today! Here's Proverbs 14 (the message version).
A Way That Leads to Hell
 1 Lady Wisdom builds a lovely home; Sir Fool comes along and tears it down brick by brick.
 2 An honest life shows respect for God;
   a degenerate life is a slap in his face.
 3 Frivolous talk provokes a derisive smile;
   wise speech evokes nothing but respect.
 4 No cattle, no crops;
   a good harvest requires a strong ox for the plow.
 5 A true witness never lies;
   a false witness makes a business of it.
 6 Cynics look high and low for wisdom—and never find it;
   the open-minded find it right on their doorstep!
 7 Escape quickly from the company of fools;
   they're a waste of your time, a waste of your words.
 8 The wisdom of the wise keeps life on track;
   the foolishness of fools lands them in the ditch.
 9 The stupid ridicule right and wrong,
   but a moral life is a favored life.
 10 The person who shuns the bitter moments of friends
   will be an outsider at their celebrations.
 11 Lives of careless wrongdoing are tumbledown shacks;
   holy living builds soaring cathedrals.
 12-13 There's a way of life that looks harmless enough;
   look again—it leads straight to hell.
Sure, those people appear to be having a good time,
   but all that laughter will end in heartbreak.
Sift and Weigh Every Word
 14 A mean person gets paid back in meanness, a gracious person in grace.
 15 The gullible believe anything they're told;
   the prudent sift and weigh every word.
 16 The wise watch their steps and avoid evil;
   fools are headstrong and reckless.
 17 The hotheaded do things they'll later regret;
   the coldhearted get the cold shoulder.
 18 Foolish dreamers live in a world of illusion;
   wise realists plant their feet on the ground.
 19 Eventually, evil will pay tribute to good;
   the wicked will respect God-loyal people.
 20 An unlucky loser is shunned by all,
   but everyone loves a winner.
 21 It's criminal to ignore a neighbor in need,
   but compassion for the poor—what a blessing!
 22 Isn't it obvious that conspirators lose out,
   while the thoughtful win love and trust?
 23 Hard work always pays off;
   mere talk puts no bread on the table.
 24 The wise accumulate wisdom;
   fools get stupider by the day.
 25 Souls are saved by truthful witness
   and betrayed by the spread of lies.
 26 The Fear-of-God builds up confidence,
   and makes a world safe for your children.
 27 The Fear-of-God is a spring of living water
   so you won't go off drinking from poisoned wells.
 28 The mark of a good leader is loyal followers;
   leadership is nothing without a following.
 29 Slowness to anger makes for deep understanding;
   a quick-tempered person stockpiles stupidity.
 30 A sound mind makes for a robust body,
   but runaway emotions corrode the bones.
 31 You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless;
   when you're kind to the poor, you honor God.
 32 The evil of bad people leaves them out in the cold;
   the integrity of good people creates a safe place for living.
 33 Lady Wisdom is at home in an understanding heart—
   fools never even get to say hello.
 34 God-devotion makes a country strong;
   God-avoidance leaves people weak.
 35 Diligent work gets a warm commendation;
   shiftless work earns an angry rebuke.

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