I believe that the "Christian life" transcends just "doing" the right things and not doing the wrong things. I am convinced that at its core it is a matter of the heart--a relationship with God in which I respond to his love and presence with faith, love, hope, charity, devotion and worship. There is a part of me that wants my faith to be spontaneous and not dependent upon rituals. So when I first consider going on a regimented bible reading plan, it seems artificial, fabricated, canned. I should just read as I am "moved by the Spirit". Instead of relying on a reading plan, my heart should spontaneously lead me to read.
Here is the reality, though. I've been through this a number of years and the truth is I flourish in my faith when I have a bible reading plan and languish when I do not. My ideals always give way to my shortcommings. The bible reading plan gets me into a routine and because of that routine I am reading God's Word regularly and that is impacting me. Without it, I get undisciplined and neglect it.
I tend to vascillate. One year I use a bible reading plan and end up reading through the Bible, then the next year I decide to do ad hoc reading and I don't end up reading regularly. In 2007, I used a plan and read through the Bible. 2008, I did not. So for 2009 I am back on the plan. Part of the fun of it is I come up with my own reading plan, type it in the computer, then check it off as I read. I've probably done this around a dozen times over the years and each time I like to taylor it a little differently.
This year, I organized my reading into 4 tracks: Old Testament history, Psalms and Proverbs, Old Testament prophets and New Testament. Each track is organized into sections of about 10 chapters, which is a couple days of reading. Once I read a section of one track, I write in the date I completed it on my log sheet. Then I go to the next track and do the same.
For instance, I first read Genesis 1-10 in the Old Testament history track. And I just finished Psalms 1-10 in the Psalms/Proverbs track. Next I read Isaiah 1-10, then Matthew 1-10. After that I go back to Genesis to read chapters 11-20. That way I regularly get exposed to different parts of the Bible.
So I guess I am resigned to the fact that I do need "rituals" and "routines" in my spiritual life to keep me disciplined in seeking the Lord. And I know that he promises that those who seek him will find him!
Here is the reality, though. I've been through this a number of years and the truth is I flourish in my faith when I have a bible reading plan and languish when I do not. My ideals always give way to my shortcommings. The bible reading plan gets me into a routine and because of that routine I am reading God's Word regularly and that is impacting me. Without it, I get undisciplined and neglect it.
I tend to vascillate. One year I use a bible reading plan and end up reading through the Bible, then the next year I decide to do ad hoc reading and I don't end up reading regularly. In 2007, I used a plan and read through the Bible. 2008, I did not. So for 2009 I am back on the plan. Part of the fun of it is I come up with my own reading plan, type it in the computer, then check it off as I read. I've probably done this around a dozen times over the years and each time I like to taylor it a little differently.
This year, I organized my reading into 4 tracks: Old Testament history, Psalms and Proverbs, Old Testament prophets and New Testament. Each track is organized into sections of about 10 chapters, which is a couple days of reading. Once I read a section of one track, I write in the date I completed it on my log sheet. Then I go to the next track and do the same.
For instance, I first read Genesis 1-10 in the Old Testament history track. And I just finished Psalms 1-10 in the Psalms/Proverbs track. Next I read Isaiah 1-10, then Matthew 1-10. After that I go back to Genesis to read chapters 11-20. That way I regularly get exposed to different parts of the Bible.
So I guess I am resigned to the fact that I do need "rituals" and "routines" in my spiritual life to keep me disciplined in seeking the Lord. And I know that he promises that those who seek him will find him!
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