Bring Your Daily Planner
At Grace Place church we decided to “Break the Famine” and read through the Bible together this year. I have sensed a lot of excitement about this journey we’re taking together and it has been so cool to share insights with others from the daily reading—just in the course of everyday conversation. I have been recommending that you have four tools with you every day when you are ready to read: 1) a Bible; 2) a reading plan (which can be accessed at www.graceplace.org); 3) a pen; and 4) a journal (to personalize the reading using SOAP—Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer).
If you are person who uses a daily planner or calendar to keep your life organized, consider bringing that with you as a fifth optional tool. Wayne Cordeiro, in his book, Divine Mentors, talks about how easy it is to get distracted when you are reading the Bible. Perhaps you start thinking about a call you need to return, an email you need to send, an errand you need to run for your spouse, etc., and soon you are side tracked. Just take a minute to pause and write that down in your planner. Then you’ve captured it as a reminder for later, but also cleared your mind so you can concentrate again on God’s Word.
I find it helpful also to jot down a few action items for my day or week after reading the Bible. It seems like I am more tuned in to what my real priorities are at that moment.
