Starting a daily Bible Study pt. 4
This is the last in a series of posts with ideas on how to implement the GPS Bible reading guide. So far, I’ve written about the need to find a specific time each day to spend in daily devotion, the importance of establishing a “sacred space” for you to focus, and spending time reflecting over the scripture that you have read. Today I want to talk about creating an “archive” of our devotional life.
About four years ago, the fruit that I was experiencing in my life as a result of my daily disciplines increased dramatically. Key to that change for me was that I started journaling. In fact, I started carrying a small black journal with me almost everywhere I went. I now have a stack of about 10 of these black journals in my office which represent the ups and downs of the last four years of my life.
I had never been serious about keeping a journal prior to this, and I frankly did not understand how it could be of benefit. Today, I would describe the benefit in this way.
We often assume that the benefit of our daily devotion time is that we will get a chance to hear from God every day and receive direction from God for that day. Now, that does certainly happen. This time for me usually happens in the mornings, and the days when I have a dedicated time with God, my day goes smoother.
But there is something much larger going on here than investing in that particular day.
To engage in a daily time with God is to invest in every day for the rest of your life. In other words, the fruit that we receive from this discipline is often “slow developing” but at the same time, “long lasting.” Understanding how God is speaking into our lives and directing us by God’s grace over the course of time is just as important as receiving something for that particular day.
Journaling facilitates this more subtle process, and I truly believe that staying committed to this daily discipline is fueled by the fruit that grows slow. If you miss this fruit because you are not paying attention to it’s growth, I think that increases the chances that this new discipline will fade.
Buy a journal.
Share your thoughts.
Archive where God is leading you in your life.
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