READING THE BIBLE DEVOTIONALLY
There are many ways to approach the Bible, but the richest and most life-giving way is to read it devotionally. This is the reading that does not rush past the words or treat Scripture as a mere textbook. It opens the heart as much as the mind. It is the reading of someone who wants to walk with God like Enoch did (Genesis 5:22) and who longs to be near Him as Asaph confessed (Psalm 73:28). Devotional reading is not simply about gathering information; it is about cultivating communion with the living God.
Devotional reading means opening the Scriptures with a spirit of prayer. It is lingering over a passage until its truth warms the heart. It is listening—truly listening—for the voice of the Lord. The goal is not to master the text but to let the text master you. The aim is not merely to understand the words but to meet the God who breathed them. This kind of reading draws the believer into the nearness of God, slowing the pace, quieting the noise, and inviting the soul to breathe again.
When you read the Bible devotionally, you read with expectancy. You come to the Word believing that God is near and that He speaks. Every phrase becomes a doorway to prayer. Every promise becomes a reason to hope. Every command becomes an invitation to trust. Over time, Scripture begins to shape your thinking, soften your attitudes, and strengthen your resolve. You find yourself walking more closely with God, sensing His presence in ordinary moments, and hearing His wisdom guide the choices of daily life.
This kind of reading creates devotion because it is itself an act of devotion. It is the giving of attention, the lifting of the heart, the deliberate turning toward the One who loves you with an everlasting love. The more we read devotionally, the more Scripture becomes not just a book in our hands but a lamp to our path, a companion to our soul, and a steady whisper of God’s faithful nearness.
Reading the Bible devotionally is the way to read the Bible because it leads us to the God of the Bible. It teaches us to walk with Him, to delight in Him, and to live in the warmth of His presence. It is not merely a discipline but a delight—an ongoing conversation with the One who calls us His own.
Lord, draw my heart to Your Word with a spirit of love and expectation. Let every reading be an encounter with Your presence. Quiet my distractions, warm my affections, and guide my thoughts. Teach me to walk with You, to stay near You, and to hear Your voice in the Scriptures. Make devotional reading not just a practice but a joy, and let Your Word shape my life from the inside out. Amen.
BDD
