Happy New Year, everyone! Our household said goodbye to 2020 and welcomed the new year by playing video games, snacking on finger foods and homemade cookies, and drinking sparkling grape juice. It was a rainy night, but some of our neighbors still attempted to set off some fireworks.
One common tradition is coming up with New Year's resolutions. I have pretty much given up on that tradition because I am like so many others who don't really do anything to achieve those goals. Instead, I try to slowly integrate new habits into my life. I read Scripture daily (that was not always the case), I do not drink soda pop everyday, and I now write a blog (this one) once a week.
Going back to reading Scriptures, I used to want to do that often, but really didn't know where to start. Several times I would pick up my Bible and get through all of Genesis (lots of exciting stuff there) and maybe Exodus. But, I would lose my commitment after that. Sometimes I would start in the New Testament, but would also stop after the first few Gospels. A few years ago, I decided to read the whole Bible in a year, alongside my husband. We did it! I am pretty sure he had read the whole bible, but I know I had not ever done it. I felt really accomplished when we had finished.
I have taken on the challenge again of reading the whole Bible in one year, but this time with my husband and a group of others. We are holding each other accountable in a Facebook group. What helped me read the first time was having someone holding me accountable. Since we were supposed to be in the same chapters everyday, it was much easier to talk about what we had read. I have an awesome resource in my husband, but he would actually listen to what I had to say too. Now that we are reading as a group, although everyone is reading on their own time (and Time Zone), we are still able to ask questions and have discussions.
If you are feeling the need to start reading the Bible (the Holy Spirit in you does not lie), then I really suggest you find someone else who will commit to the same thing. You can write out a plan to read a few chapters a day, or do like many of us and use a phone app that will set reminders and lay out the whole plan for you. You can even listen to the Scriptures if you are not comfortable reading it yourself. Reading Scripture and discussing it can truly change your life. If you are not a Believer that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, then maybe you will believe it when you read the whole of the Bible. Asking others questions about what you have read can help both you and the ones answering you. You might just become more than what you are now.
New year, new you?
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17, English Standard Version)
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