Every person can read thru the entire Bible when four simple things converge:
1) MOTIVATION – you really, really want to do it.
2) CUE / PROMPT – you intentionally create cues or prompts that remind you of what you want to do.
3) ROUTINE – you create a routine that involves a time, place and practice for making it happen. And,
4) REWARD – you get a clear picture of WHY you want to do it in the first place.
There was a time when reading thru the Bible in a year was nothing but a good intention. I would start and stop. Start and stop. Start and stop… You know the drill.
Then, I’d feel horrible that I must not be good enough, spiritual enough, smart enough…or just…ENOUGH…to do something that so many of my heroes pointed to as being a significant part of their personal growth and transformation.
Until, something CHANGED!
This morning (December 9, 2022), I completed my 10th journey reading through the entire Bible using the Bible App. (This doesn’t include dozens of additional journeys through the NT, Psalms, Proverbs and selected readings. It also doesn’t include any of my BBA reading – Before the Bible App reading.)
How did things change?
How did Bible Reading become a consistent and routine — (while being anything but routine) — part of my life?
B.J. Fogg in his excellent book, Tiny Habits writes:
“A behavior [habit] happens when the three elements of MAP—Motivation, Ability, and Prompt—come together at the same moment. MOTIVATION is your desire to do the behavior. ABILITY is your capacity to do the behavior. And PROMPT is your cue to do the behavior.” —BJ Fogg, Tiny Habits
Don’t miss that. According to Fogg, habits — like reading the Bible, daily time with God, exercise, you name it — come down to the convergence of three things:
1) MOTIVATION
2) ABILITY
3) PROMPT
Charles Duhigg, who wrote the groundbreaking book, The Power of Habit, reaches a similar conclusion. He indicates that habits are the by-product of a three-step loop:
1) A CUE — a “trigger” that tells your brain what to do.
2) A ROUTINE — a physical or mental routine, and,
3) A REWARD — something that helps you remember WHY you are doing this in the first place.
I’ll combine the above to attempt to describe what flipped in me and how anyone and everyone can create a consistent habit of reading God’s Word on a daily basis.
FOUR THINGS THAT WILL HELP YOU CREATE A DAILY READING HABIT:
1) MOTIVATION — I really, really, really wanted to read God’s Word. In fact, I became desperate.
Why was I desperate? Because, I was responsible for leading my wife, family and a congregation. How could I possibly lead people who really mattered to me if I wasn’t hearing from God on a consistent basis?
I wanted my life, character and decision making to be formed by my FATHER’S PERSPECTIVE, not personal opinion or conventional wisdom.
2) CUE / PROMPT — I created a couple of cues that “triggered” my brain on a daily basis.
My cue for reading the Bible became getting the coffee ready, preparing my Bible reading plan and setting out my workout clothes and shoes before going to bed every evening. Something about getting myself prepared for the next day, helped set the trajectory for that day and solidified the habit of early morning Bible reading.
James Clear, in his terrific book, Atomic Habits, astutely observed:
“You do not rise to the level of your goals. You fall to the level of your systems.”
—James Clear
He further clarifies:
“If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead… Goals are good for setting a direction, but systems are best for making progress.” —James Clear
The cue or prompt you create is the “system” you’re putting in place to help move you in the direction of the goal or habit you want to become a consistent part of your life.
Determine your cue or prompt. I’ve described mine above.
3) ROUTINE / ABILITY — I also created a daily routine.
The routine also relates to the system. When it came to reading my Bible, I did three things:
- First of all, I decided upon a TIME — first thing every morning.
I’m a morning guy so this was a no-brainer for me. Further, I wanted to hear my Father’s voice before I allowed any other voice to speak into who I was or what my day was going to be like.
- Second, I determined a specific PLACE — the chair near the lamp in my office. Over the years, that little corner has become like a “sanctuary” or “holy place” for me. Before my social media feed, the news channel or latest greatest best-selling author, I wanted to hear God’s perspective on my lilfe and my day.
- Third, I also settled on a particular PRACTICE or PLAN — the M’Cheyne One Year Reading Plan or the ESV Study Bible One Year Reading Plan. I’ve alternated between both over the last decade.
When it comes to reading thru the Bible, your plan and approach is huge! I love both of the above plans because they divide my reading into about four segments, depending on the day. One section in the OT, one in the books of poetry (Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, SOS or Job), one in the OT prophets, and one reading in the NT. This is a game-changer when you come to those challenging sections of Scripture like Leviticus.
Along with knowing the reading plan I’ve selected for a year, I also know what my time is going to look like. It begins with prayer and gratitude, continues with Scripture reading and note-taking, and wraps up with a few minutes of journaling about what I just read and what I sense the Holy Spirit is saying to me.
This morning routine with God has become my favorite part of the day. Oh, sure, I love interactions with people. But I go to bed every evening excited about what’s going to happen when I meet with my Father the next morning.
4) REWARD — Lets talk briefly about the reward.
On a very surface level, I need to admit that my personality type is very motivated by the way the Bible App tracks my Bible Reading. Basically, it “keeps score” by letting me know what my current “streak” is when it comes to Bible Reading. At this point, I don’t want to break the streak. That’s part of what motivates me.
This is a personality quirk of mine. It’s probably why I’m a huge “Apple Watch guy” and thrive on getting all three of my circles to “shine” and making certain that I track more than 10,000 steps every day.
If I’m being really authentic, that’s probably part of the “REWARD” aspect when it comes to daily reading for me. I love a list of things done or a “streak” that remains unbroken. I want to see how far I can take it. How long it can last. Again, that’s one of my idiosyncrasies.
But, the much BIGGER issue when it comes to REWARD / MOTIVATION relates to determining the kind of man I long to be or become.
When I survey my life — my character, heart, ministry, goals, impact, relationships, destiny, eternal reward — the stuff that actually matters, I realize a few things.
- I’m prone to sin and stupidity.
- I’m hopeless to change, in and of myself.
- I’m absolutely desperate and dependent upon God.
- He has given me His WORD as “a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”
- He has given me His SPIRIT to illuminate and apply His WORD to my heart and life.
- Complaining about my lack while neglecting these two huge gifts is the definition of stupidity and will only keep me stuck.
- I don’t want to be stupid.
- I don’t want to be stuck.
- The only reasonable OPTION is to GET INTO GOD’S WORD so that HIS WORD GETS INTO ME.
BOOM!
The reward? A changed life.
Does that mean I think I’ve arrived?
Heck, no!
Does that mean I think I’m super spiritual?
Again, heck no!
Does that mean I think my way is the right way?
Absolutely not!
GET THIS.
I read God’s Word daily not because I’m spiritual, but because I’m desperate.
And, while I don’t for a moment think I’ve arrived, I believe I’m a long way from where I began, and I long way from who I could have become. In the words of an anonymous author.
“I’m not where I need to be,
Not where I want to be,
Not where I’m gonna be,
But thank God, I’m not where or who I used to be.”
GOD’s WORD has changed and is changing me.
That’s why I read His Word daily.
You can, too.
You can read the Bible consistently when you:
- Define your MOTIVATION? Write it down.
- Determine your CUE / PROMPT? Make it something that connects with you and fit into your daily rhythm.
- Settle on a ROUTINE (time, place, practice or plan).
- And, define the REWARD.
“O how I love and treasure your law;
throughout the day I fill my heart with its light!
98 By considering your commands I have an edge over my enemies,
for I take seriously everything you say.” —PSALM 119:97-98 TPT
ANNOUNCEMENT
In 2023, I’ll be leading an online Bible Reading Group featuring a daily Bible Reading plan and a weekly ZOOM call for inspiration and accountability. If you’re interested in being a part of that group, limited slots are available, email me today at hellochrisgoins@gmail.com for more information.
