This enables you to plan your time in the Word each day and grow in faithfulness and consistency. They break down Bible readings into daily sections that can typically be done in twenty to thirty minutes. Use a plan - Reading plans are a great way to encourage consistency.Studying Scripture and praying with other believers is a beautiful way to grow in gospel-centered community and help you stay on track in your spiritual disciplines. Ask a friend to join you for a study or join a Bible study group at your church. Find an accountability partner - Seek accountability to help you remain consistent.As you grow in consistency then add in other plans or resources as time permits. Choose one study, one reading plan, or one group to attend in order to practice consistency. Start small - Do not fall into the trap of adding too many studies, reading plans, journals, or Bible study groups to your schedule.Practical Steps for Consistency in Bible Study May we consistently cling to Jesus, who is faithful yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8)! The list below is by no means exhaustive, but hopefully, it will help as you discern why consistency may be lacking in your life and provide some ways to spark consistency this year. And at times, we have to stop and take a hard look at what barriers might be preventing us from consistency. And while there might not be a five-step process for consistency, there are practical steps we can take to become more consistent in our Bible reading, prayer, and time with other believers. As His image bearers and those indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we are capable of faithfulness as we serve and follow Him. And we carve out time to be in the Word and to pray because our hearts crave the presence of our Creator.īelievers can be consistent in spiritual disciplines because we serve a steadfast God. We joyfully labor in consistency in order to know our Savior more. The Apostle Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 15:57–58, “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ! Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, be steadfast, immovable, always excelling in the Lord’s work, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Because we have victory in Christ, we can be steadfast, we can excel, and we know that our labor is not in vain. But when we turn to the Lord for help, He gives us the victory. And when we strive to do it on our own we fail many times over. When we fail to complete the plan we created for ourselves or the study we began, we are tempted to just quit altogether. When it comes to consistency, we can be our own worst enemy. His life was devoted to a consistent relationship with God. And Jesus was surrounded by a community that desired to grow in their knowledge of the Lord. And we study the passages where He spent time among His disciples teaching them about the kingdom of heaven. We read about His time in the synagogues reading the Scriptures. But throughout the gospels, we read about times when He slipped away in the early dawn to spend time with the Father. During His earthly ministry, Jesus experienced the same interruptions, difficulties, busyness, and demands on His time that we do today. Jesus displayed perfect consistency in His relationship with the Father. So if there is no quick fix to make us more consistent, how can we become steadfast in our spiritual disciplines? But nothing worthwhile was ever solved overnight, and the New Testament gives us a clear picture of our faith representing a marathon and not a sprint. And in our quick-fix instant-gratification world, we want a five-step process to solve the problem and move on in victory. Christians often struggle with consistency in their Bible reading, prayer, and attending church or Bible study-our spiritual disciplines. There was a variation of answers, but the overwhelming struggle mentioned was consistency. We all experience these at some point, but recently I took a poll of our Instagram followers and the staff at The Daily Grace Co.® and asked this same question. Maybe it is doubt, fear, commitment, prayer, or reading and understanding the Bible. What is your greatest struggle in your walk with the Lord?
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