Psalm 119:15-16 — I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.

Back in July I wrote a couple of devotions about Bible reading – how I do it, and why I do it.
I have a really good Bible-reading application on my iPad, and recently the publishers have been emailing me hints and suggestions about following a daily reading plan. As it happens, Myra and I have been reading through the Bible every year for a few years now, but it seemed a prompt to return to an important topic and to nag anyone who needs it!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 are often quoted to encourage Bible reading : “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Or sometimes Psalm 119:11 : “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” They’re sources of excellent reasons for reading the Bible — for studying it, meditating on it, soaking yourself in it — but they don’t really provide the drive for daily reading. A passage that perhaps comes closer is found in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 : “And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up….” Now there’s a couple of verses that make it clear that reading the Bible, and not just reading it but making it the topic of our regular discourse, should be a constant activity. Still doesn’t really get to the heart of why I read the Bible every day, and not just in the morning, but at times through the day and in the evening too.
I read the Bible because it’s how God talks to me, and He loves me. Why wouldn’t I want to listen to what He wants to say to me, day by day, hour by hour? If I am ever to catch the thoughts of God, surely this will be it, this will be the way.
When I read the Bible I hear God’s love for me. I get guidance on how to deal with the problems of the day. (No, I don’t often get answers, or fixes — but somehow I do get my attitude reset so what looks like a “problem” turns out to be something else.)
If you’re a parent, have there been times when your children didn’t want to talk, and didn’t want to listen? How did that work out? I’ve a feeling that could be like that — or a whole lot worse — if I refused to “listen” to my Heavenly Father!