In June 2015, Sarah wrote a blog post (https://blog.titus2.com/2015/06/20/reading-through-the-bible/) on reading through the Bible and how she realized she wanted to keep track of doing that through her life, even though she hadn’t started the first time she read through the Bible. Her blog post motivated me, that while I was almost 60 and had read through the Bible many times, I would like to know how many more times I read through it until the end of my life. I used an app to direct several Bible read throughs just prior to that decision, so I can tell you that in the past 12 years, I have read through the Bible 17 times.

It isn’t about tallying up Bible read throughs, though. As a matter of fact, I often haven’t used my Bible reading time for a read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year but to focus on or study something specific to my current needs.

“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3). I want to grow spiritually. Don’t you?

I remember when I was a young, homeschooling mom with lots of children and still having babies. Sometimes I heard a speaker or read an article that assured me in that season of life, God understood how busy I was. Because of that, it was okay to just send up flare prayers through the day and know that “real” Bible time would be for another season of my life. That just wasn’t true. I needed Christ, through His Word and all that it had for me, more during those over-the-top time-crunched days than I ever have. So I purposed to set aside time in my life for my relationship with Christ, just like I made time for Steve, my children, preparing meals, and homeschooling. 

Not only do I want to grow spiritually, I also want to know Christ more and better. I desire His grace and peace and all things that pertain to life and godliness. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue” (2 Peter 1:2-3). How is that going to happen without spending time in the Word? That is God’s communication with us and His teaching tool.

“All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16-17). That seems to sum it up – what Scripture is good for and what the outcome of it is to be. 

I plead with you to do whatever you have to do to make time in your day to read your Bible and pray. Maybe you have started a read through the Bible and didn’t finish it. First of all, it doesn’t have to be done in a year. I used to go at the pace I could with the time I had for Bible reading, and it if took me 2 years to get through the Bible, fine. It could be that you do better with a plan that incorporates Old Testament and New Testament passages each day. There are many plans to choose from. Perhaps for this time in your life, you would do better reading in the New Testament where you find Christ’s words and instructions for believers.

Sisters, desire the sincere milk of the Word!

Also, I don’t normally do this, but I encourage you to think of other sister’s in Christ who need to hear this month’s encouragement as well and forward it to them.