Choosing What to Read

After years of using various Bible reading plans, I have found it helpful to go through entire books or large sections of the Bible; at times alternating between the Old and New Testaments. For example, after I finish reading through Mark in the New Testament, I go through the account of Joseph in Genesis 37 – 50 in the Old Testament. After that, I go to 1 John in the New Testament. Sometimes I use daily devotionals alongside my Bible reading. At the end of this post is a list of some of the daily devotionals I would recommend. 

Things to Do as You Read

As I start spending time with the Lord and reflecting on Scripture, these are some of the things I do: 

• Ask the Spirit to Teach. Jesus tells us in John 14:26 that “…the Helper, the Holy Spirit…will teach you all things, and brings to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” The Spirit is the primary Teacher of our souls. You and I need him to help us understand the Bible and to show us the grace of God through Jesus in each passage. Say a brief simple prayer before you start reading, asking the Spirit to do what Jesus promised – to teach you through his Word. 
  
  
• Ask These Questions
   
• PRAISE: How do these verses encourage me to praise God?

Once you have read through a chapter or two, start by reflecting on what that portion of Scripture says about who God is, or what he has done or is doing that causes us to celebrate how he is at work. Too often our temptation is to start reflecting on the question, “What am I supposed to do?” That is a good question that should be asked at the right time. However, it should not be the first question. When we begin by focusing on who God is and what he is doing, it helps to remind us that everything we do is in response to our Father’s grace. Looking for our responsibility first and his grace second pulls us in the direction of a false gospel that says, “God gives grace to those who perform best.” 

• CONFESS: What sins do I need to admit in light of these verses?

The Holy Spirit uses his Word to help us grow in self-awareness regarding personal brokenness. It is important for us to see where we struggle and where we have blind spots. When we see our brokenness more clearly we are able to admit it to God, ourselves, and others in order to be healed. “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)

• PRAYER: What do I need to pray for today in light of these verses? 

As you reflect on how your Father is calling you to respond, act, speak, or think, pour out your heart to him. Ask the Spirit to give you the strength, discernment, support, courage, opportunity, etc. to respond and to put your faith into practice.

Daily Devotional Resources:

If you are looking for a daily devotional, here are some I recommend:

New Morning Mercies : A Daily Gospel Devotional by Paul Tripp. 

God’s Wisdom for Navigating Life: a year of daily devotions from the book of Proverbs by Tim & Kathy Keller.

Heart Aflame: daily readings from Calvin on the Psalms by John Calvin.

Take Heart: Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith by David Powlison

Bible Reading Plan for Shirkers and Slackers by Ransom Fellowship. Okay, I admit this is not a devotional book, but it is a great plan to read the Bible through in a year. 

A Good Confession: Daily Reading on the Westminister Shorter Catechism

It didn’t take long for roadblocks to surface. For numerous reasons, things were not coming together as everyone anticipated. Plans stalled and frustrations grew. Over a year later, another member of the church shared his long-time vision and passion to start a medical clinic for the underprivileged in the downtown area. Within a couple of years, a thriving medical clinic full of Christian doctors, nurses, and counselors was in place. 

Sometimes the Holy Spirit says “No” to great godly desires

We expect for the Holy Spirit to say “no” to things and to “forbid” things that will dishonor the Lord. Of course, the Spirit will say “no” to Christian parents who are tempted to bribe someone to secure college admission for their son. We expect the Spirit to “forbid” the Christian business owners from mistreating their employees by not paying what was promised. It is harder for us, though, to grasp that the Spirit will sometimes prohibit God’s people from doing something that is a good, right, and godly goal especially when he has given us a passion for it.

In Acts 16:6 we read about Paul’s and Timothy’s passion to go into Asia to preach and teach the exciting and freeing news of Jesus’ grace. What a great and godly goal! What is wrong, ungodly, sinful, or unwise about that? Nothing! Was it a genuine need? Yes, it was! It is startling, though, to read that they were “forbidden” by the Holy Spirit to do that (v. 6). So Paul and Timothy adjust their route and try again. But the Spirit “did not allow them” (v. 7) for a second time to carry out the ministry their hearts were passionate about. Forbidden and not allowed are strong words. Think about that for a moment. There are times when you and I are tempted to think that the evil one is trying to stop God’s people from doing Kingdom work when it is actually the Holy Spirit who is shutting things down. And he may be shutting down things that you and I really want and are really good ideas. Unfortunately, it is not always easy to tell when a roadblock is spiritual warfare and when it is the Spirit of Jesus. 

Therefore when you and I experience a number of situations that prevent us from making progress on something godly that we are passionate about, we must be willing to consider that God may not want us to do it.

Sometimes the Holy Spirit redirects us to a different “Yes”

Paul and Timothy made their way through Phyrgia, Galatia, Mysia, and Troas and still had no success and no opportunity to do the ministry the way they wanted. The Spirit said no. The Bible doesn’t tell us how Paul and Timothy felt about the Spirit closing doors. I wish it did. Luke only records for us what they did as they kept trying to adjust their plans. So we must be careful not to read into the passage either that they grew angry and discouraged or that they were laidback and took it all in stride confident there was a “better plan”. All we know is that after some time Paul received a vision (v. 9) and learned that the LORD was calling them to do ministry in a different place, to a different people, in a different way. They were to go to Macedonia even though they desired to go to Asia. There are times when we see a legitimate spiritual need and have a passion to address that need, but Jesus sends us out to meet a different need in a different way. It can be difficult emotionally to come to grips with the Spirit calling us to a different “yes”. But when we remind our hearts that our Father knows more than we know, loves people more than we do, and loves us more than we love ourselves, then it becomes easier to trust and follow his lead. He is committed to inching his grace forward and to making us people who are less addicted to our own preferences and passions. We tend to believe that if only God would tell us what he is up to, then it would be much easier to understand when he says no. But God tells us that, even if he did explain to us what he was doing, we still wouldn’t believe him. When Habakkuk complained, God said, “Look among the nations, and see; wonder and be astounded. For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told.” (Hab 1:5). Our Father is doing amazing things that we struggle to wrap our hearts around. Jesus was told “no” in the garden when he prayed for another way other than the cross. He followed his Father’s voice to a different “yes” on the cross so that he would defeat sin and death. 

Roadblocks aren’t always spiritual warfare. Sometimes it is the Spirit who does not allow us to do good things. That’s OK. Let’s help each other conclude what different “yes” God is calling us to.