Renewing Your Mind by Reading the Bible

Renewing Your Mind by Reading the Bible

Reading the BibleHow do you renew your mind? How are you becoming more Christ-like day in, day out? There’s no shortcuts here. We can only grow in faith by abiding in God. How do we do that? By practicing ancient Christian disciplines like prayer and reading the Bible.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2, NRSV)

Reading the Bible is not old-fashioned or out of date. It’s still the best way to be saturated with the mind of Christ. The more I read the Bible, the more in love with God I am. I’ve been reading through the Bible again and again. I just finished reading the last of my NRSV study Bible. Today I am starting with a new translation. This time I will be trying to read it through in six months like Martin Luther used to do. I don’t know if I can make it but I would love to have company on the way. It means reading 6,5 half chapters per day. Why don’t you join me?

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, NRSV)

If you can’t read through the Bible in six months…how about in a year or in two years? It doesn’t matter how long it will take you. What matters is that you are reading it everyday. Do it prayerfully, asking the Holy Spirit to speak to you. And I guarantee that you will be blessed beyond your imagination.

Michael Horton has said “Once we truly grasp the message of the New Testament, it is impossible to read the Old Testament again without seeing Christ on every page, in every story, foreshadowed or anticipated in every event and narrative. The Bible must be read as a whole, beginning with Genesis and ending with Revelation, letting promise and fulfillment guide or expectations for what we will find there.”

Reading through the Bible is a spiritual adventure. All those possibilities for God to read your heart and change your heart. All those possibilities for Jesus to come along side you and guide you. All those possibilities for the Holy Spirit to teach you and renew you. Seize them. Seize God.

If you want to be conformed to God, don’t let the devil keep you away from the Bible. The work of the Holy Spirit is subtle but it does happen when you stick to the Word of God. The more you read it, the more you are drawn to read it. And, without you even noticing it, the process of becoming more Christ-like is in full swing.

 

Dear God,
Thank you for the Living Word you’ve given us.
Inspire and empower  each and everyone of us
to read voraciously the Bible.
Feed us, renew us, guide us,
most of all, speak to us.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: What are you Bible-reading habits? What does reading the Bible mean to you?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you get to know God through Bible-reading!

Image courtesy of Mari-Anna Stålnacke.  Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.

4 thoughts on “Renewing Your Mind by Reading the Bible

  1. Love u, sis<3 ty & blessings!
    i received a lay off notice on Monday, my assignment complete @ my workplace :))) God effectually has His hand in it ALL~ty 4 ur prayers, hubby is okay, my focused prayer's on my youngest son, Brian, who is on his own in a recently moved to place, (Kansas City) he's lonely, not going to church, isolating himself (besides work), needs a fresh awakening in the LORD~i know i may count on u 4 agreement in prayer, that those riches in Christ will be received in a greater desire 4 GOD than ever bfr<3
    let's stay focused on our LORD thru His WORD, AMEN.

    1. Hello, Crystal! Good to hear from you. I will pray with you for your son. May he encounter the loving Christ in a new and wonderful way! It is hard to move to a new place and it does take some time to get new friends etc. May God take care of his needs in sweet ways. And may God bless you, my friend, according to His perfect plan for you. Blessings upon blessings!

      1. Amen, 2 ALL of that, & thank u, dearly, 4 the support<3
        i thank God 4 ur friendship In Christ<333
        yes, may it be so 4 Brian, in the sweetest of ways~His will done in the breaking down of strongholds, & in His perfect plans 4 him, & 4 us ALL~In Jesus Name.
        Thank U, heavenly Father, 4 Ur heavenly blessings!!!

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