I’m horrible at reading comprehension. It was one of the areas in school that I constantly got low grades. For some reason, it takes me several attempts of trying to understand a passage before I finally get who the characters are and what’s happening because I get overloaded with information.
Unfortunately, this translates into reading the bible as well. I struggle to remember all the chapters I read and what was going on. Sometimes it intimidates me from even reading the bible at all. I think, “Well, I’m just gonna struggle remembering this anyway, what’s the point?”
One of the greatest pieces of advice I’ve ever received in this regard is to let God tell you just one thing each day. One thing. That’s it. Sometimes I read for 30 seconds and there’s something that sticks out to me in the first couple verses. Other times, I’ll go a few chapters before I gravitate towards something. Whenever that happens, I stop reading. I dwell on that one thought. I pray about it and meditate on it. Then, I can go throughout the day and remember what I read. Maybe I can even go a few days and still remember it! The better I can remember it, the more likely I will be able to apply it to my life when the situation arises.
Reading the entire bible in 30 days doesn’t help you become more like Christ. Pastor Kevin says it all the time, we’re learning the Word when we’re living the Word. For me, if I can take one small truth from a devotion and remember to apply it to my life, that is growing me closer to God than if I read the whole book and didn’t remember anything. It’s quality over quantity.
Don’t be intimidated by the vastness of scripture. Just take it one thing at a time.