What Is The Deal With A Reading Plan?

DMCD and The Reading Plan

There is this really healthy spiritual exercise that brothers and sisters in Christ apply through the calendar year and that is to go through the Bible in a year.

The scriptures are arranged in such a way so as to ensure all 66 books are covered in the 365 days. Some have a New Testament and an Old Testament reading apportioned for the day and some have different arrangements to make it through.

As a reader meself, you’d have thought I’d have been well up for these reading plans and have an outstanding record of making it from Genesis to Revelation successfully over the years. Well to disappoint your expectation I must confess I’ve never done it. Not once. I’ve been a member of church properly since I was about 15 and I’m 33, that means in 18 years there has not been a calendar year that has seen me make it through from the beginning to the end over the year.

There – that’s the confession.

DMCD and The Scriptures

Also behind that confession, there is also an admission to not really feeling an urge or a necessity to follow reading plans to be able to claim that I’ve made it through all 66 books. I have built over the years a devotion to scripture, which is more intense in recent years as I’ve had to address previous assumed doctrinal positions.

Over the last three years I’ve taken the month of March to go through the book of Proverbs and be serious about applying God’s wisdom to daily issues especially in the light of what those words of wisdom have displayed. There are seasons where I’ll diligently study a theme or a book through the Bible, but there’s something mechanical about a reading plan that doesn’t fit me. So I’m not saying it is wrong, I am saying it doesn’t make sense unless it is for the genuine intention of being immersed in what God says in His Word. That is what has guided me through my approach to understanding and taking in scripture.

I love reading the Bible – I love it on so many levels from getting to grips with the story and how it is told to exploring the cultural, historical and philosophical issues behind the different sections. As part of my planned growth in the intense pursuit of Christ, I hope to take the reading, studying, meditation and application of His Word even more seriously.

DMCD And A Reading Plan

Something I noticed over the Other Place is that I take the reading and reviewing of what I’ve read fairly seriously to the extent of reviewing 15 books over the year. For some bizarre I’ve not applied such diligence and dedication to reviewing what I’ve read on this site and I read some amazing books on spiritual development over 2010. So my heart’s desire is to amend that oversight and post more book reviews on this site where applicable.

For example I’m reading Dr. James Dobson’s book on Bringing Up Girls presently (what with having four girls in the house – three daughters and a wife who refuses to be aged!) and I look forward to sharing what I got from it, as well as how I’ve applied it/questioned it/challenged it.  (Big thanks to my sis and her offspring for the inspiration in getting me this book!)

I’m also reading Michael Eric Dyson’s ‘controversial’ book I May Not Get There with You reappraising Martin Luther King. I’m fascinated by the efforts to give an insight into race, religion and politics and how they mix or don’t and again I’m hoping to put a review of that book as well as the questions/applications/challenges that it leaves behind.

As much as I love reading for the beauty of the words, there is power in words that should stimulate thought that motivates action to the ends that the words have. That is why I’m making a concerted effort to share as much about the application as the stuff to make you think.

Even more than those helpful insightful tomes, however, I’m also dedicating four designated months over the year to focus on the four gospel accounts we have in scripture. It is a project that’s been on the back-burner for a while, but now with the renewed effort to focus on the One in the year where it’s all about the 1’s, it’s very fitting to have a look at him through those four unique lenses.

So Why The Sharing On The Reading Plans?

I share this with you for two reasons. One to let you know – it’s recorded now for posterity that others may know some of the intentions of me heart.

The second is for a longer reason in two parts.

The first part has to do with a pleasant email the good people at WordPress.com sent me reviewing how viewing figures have gone for me blogging efforts in 2010. It is apparent that people are reading this blog! That’s good to know. So with that in mind it reminded me of another word I had in a different format, which is the second part.

I was in a church service again today and the message being delivered was about dreams, which was interesting considering a subject I shared this week. The part of the message that lingered with me, though, was the aspect of God communicating with people and building their faith through confirmation of His communication and an underlying desire for those who love Him to be keen to hear Him as He communicates through whatever means and act on what He’s saying.

I am only too aware how God has spoken to me in the past and only pick up in hindsight how it was crucial to catch up and act on what He was saying for the sake of spiritual and physical health. With the focus on the One, I desperately desire to follow His example of only doing what He sees His Father doing and thus made a habit of being close to hear instructions.

God speaks in many different ways and ultimately through Jesus – hence the whole focus of the gospels this year. So I want to make the most of that and sharing it with you who reads this as the good folks at WordPress.com have pointed out, I hope to encourage you (as well as myself) likewise to be in on it – hearing Him speak in the books, magazines, newspapers, blogs and other stuff you read; in your dreams; in the movies and TV programmes you watch; in the corporate gatherings; in the friendly conversations, etc. Hearing attentively and acting on it.

That sounds like a constructive reading plan to me!

For His Name’s Sake

Shalom

dmcd