Creating New Normals
What is your new normal?
In the midst of a nationwide quarantine, there are gobs of suggestions to ride out the days till life returns to normal.
- Exercise
- Scroll Facebook or Instagram
- Watch television
- Organize closets
- Clean everything in sight.
One of the ways I’m coping with this crisis is by reading my Bible. It’s one of the best ways I know to connect with God, recall the myriad ways He rescued His people, redeemed dreadful situations, conquered enemies and multiplied miracles.
Why the Bible?
The Bible is engaging, historical, comforting, educational, transformational and entertaining but I haven’t always thought that way.
When I first started following Jesus in my 30’s, the ladies in my small group told me to read the Bible, but sheesh, such a big book. Where do you start?
My Study Bible has 2335 pages – not counting the maps or the concordance.
2335!
That is a lot of pages.
If the Bible intimidates you with its thees and thous and dosts or seems overwhelming just by virtue of its girth, take heart.
Here are the best ways I know to make the Bible fascinating.
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Get yourself a Bible in language you can understand.
Don’t worry about it not being the King James Version or a translation of the original Greek. Use the New Living Translation or The Message Bible or a Chronological Bible.
You’re not studying to pass a test, so get a version of the Bible you understand easily.
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Read the stories.
Books like Ruth, Esther, and Jonah. Read about Samson, David & Goliath or Gideon capture our interest and engage our imagination. They stick in our memories better than statistics and they are completely relatable to what you’re facing right now.
Even if you think you know these great stories, you’ll discover new truths every time you read them.
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Read a chapter a day.
Read a Proverb or a Psalm or a chapter a day to gain wisdom for life and continuity of the Bible.
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Not a reader?
Listen to the Bible instead. Search for BibleGateway in your app store. It’s free and offers lots of audio options.
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Ask God what you should remember about what you read.
Maybe it’s God’s faithfulness or His patience or His Redemption. Whatever it its will bless you, for sure.
When you read the Bible for the purpose of getting to know the Author of Everything, you will find the peace that’s been lacking and the wisdom to make great decisions for everyday life.
Whatever you are doing to normalize your life right now, I hope that one of the routines you’ll incorporate or continue is reading your Bible – just to get to know and be reminded of God’s character, love and power.
I’d love to hear what your Bible reading looks like and how it connects you to God more intimately. Leave me a comment below.
I love reading the Bible in the Passion Translation! It has opened hut eyes to new concepts, even though we have been believers for more than 40 years!
Oh Yeah! Great idea. Thanks for the reminder to have the eyes to see and ears to hear fresh manna from the Bible today.
Robyn, Meeting you, listening & watching as you delivered your messages gave me hope that maybe one day, “That COULD be me?” I never knew anyone like you existed? So honest! So real! Such a Beautiful Spirit & the way you loved people with a certain look, a smile or a touch! YOU were comforting to me, as one day, I pray to comfort others with my Message? I will keep you in my thoughts & prayers as you continue your Mission! Please remember me..With Heartfelt Love,???Georgeann
Georgeann, Thank you for that encouragement – especially now when everything seems to be shutting down. I know God can continue to use our words for his Glory. Praying for opportunities for you to share how God is working in your life in these unusual times. Maybe start a journal? Story illustrations are the heart of any good teacher. 🙂
AMEN!! AMEN!! AMEN!! Jesus is our ONLY Hope. I get up early to read my Bible the first activity of the day. Jesus is so faithful. Barb
Hey Barb,
Well done. Thanks for staying the course!
Hi Robyn,
Thank you for your light- hearted comments about your life right now, and the encouragement to read God’s Word.
I have been reading the Psalms daily and have also been journaling some of the verses in explanation. Our local Doctor’s clinic has a Prayer Ministry for patients and last week we as staff and prayer leaders read Psalm 91 out loud. What a blessing that was, since that particular Psalm is one of protection and care from our Heavenly Father.
We know God will bring us through this to the other side. Tonight, I will be zooming with my Bible Study Fellowship group as we go through this weeks lesson together. Ten years ago, or even later, we would not have had the technology to be able to reach our ladies in this direct way. God knew from the beginning that our world would go through this and has provided many ways for us to connect together as we wait for this to pass.
I praise God for His faithfulness and grace He has given to His people.
Stay well and we know our Almighty God is in control!
Thanks again for your encouraging words.
Karen
Amen to that, Karen. I miss the hugs and personal connections, but you are so right to celebrate what is good and available. Thanks for posting!
Very encouraging!
I lost my job just before all of what happening now and I have been using the extra time to be in Gods word to read and study and pray and I feel at peace at a time I would normally be freaking out.
Wow a double whammy! So glad you’re finding calm instead of reacting in chaos.
I appreciate you posting. Good for all of us to see how God works in lives.
Thanks Robin i have been reading my nkj bible for everyday but now that i am not working have more time to share in God’s word so helpful in times of anxiety in the world. Also on you tube following John MacArthur and grace to you messages . So uplifting
Thank you.