How to Motivate Yourself to Read Scripture (Based on Your Tendency)

 

Daily Bible reading. It's one of the best things I can recommend to stay centered. It helps me find perspective. It encourages me, convicts me, gives me hope. I have several generations of Bible readers in my family, so I am blessed in that I have seen many ways to make Bible reading work. The key is to figure out what motivates you, and then use that to your advantage.

My best friend recommends that I read The Four Tendencies by Gretchen Rubin (2017) last year, and it has revolutionized the way I look at motivation. The book lays out the four tendencies, or motivation styles, of most people. There are the upholders, who meet inner and outer expectations (Rubin, n.d.). They just want to know what to do. Questioners meet internal expectations. They need to know why to do something.  Obligers meet outer expectations. They need other people. Rebels don't uphold any expectations. They want freedom to do their own thing, the thing that fits for them. (To find out which you are, take the quiz at Gretchen Rubin's website.) What's that got to do with Bible reading? Well, once you know how you are motivated, you can figure out how to get committed to the centering habit of daily Bible reading.

I am an upholder, so habits are fairly easy for me. Personally, I just need a plan, and having itout in front of me keeps me on it. I'm not bragging. It's just the way I am. (And there are some definite downsides to this trait!) I personally use the One Year Bible daily reading plan (n.d.), but there are others just like it that lay out what to read each day of the year. There are even apps that will deliver a daily Bible reading (or daily Bible reading recording) to you each day. Did you know it only takes 12 minutes of reading a day to get through the Bible in one year (Crossway, 2018)? That right there is motivation enough for me to read daily!

But what if you're a questioner? Good question! Find your reason why. I could give you reasons to read the Bible, but you'd probably just question them, so I encourage you to find your own. Once you do, there can be no turning back.

If you are an obliger, ask a friend, partner, or child to join you in daily Bible readings. (Maybe even set aside a daily time to meet and discuss, either virtually or in person?) There are also online communities such as Facebook's Twelve Minutes (n.d.) group that you can join. Just find your people, and read the Bible with them. It might just become a center point in your relationships.

If you're a rebel, decide if you really believe that reading Scripture matters. For that matter, search the scripture to see what it says about your relationship to it. Talk to your pastor. Question close friends. Figure out if this is really for you or not. If it is, do it. If not, figure out your own centering practice.

I am embarking on the centering practice of reading through the Bible once again this year. The habit of reading the Bible grounds my days, and the content of what I read grounds my mind. God always has something new to show me through reading His Word, and I am here for it. Will you join me?

References:

Crossway. (2018, November 19). Infographic: You have more time for Bible reading than you think. https://www.crossway.org/articles/infographic-you-can-read-more-of-the-bible-than-you-think/

One Year Bible. (n.d.). The One Year Bible Daily Reading Plan. One year Bible online. https://oneyearbibleonline.com/daily-oyb/?version=51&startmmdd=0101

Rubin, G. (2017). The four tendencies: The indispensable personality profiles that reveal how to make your life better (And other people's lives better, too). Harmony.

Rubin, G. (n.d.). The four tendencies quiz. Gretchen Rubin. https://gretchenrubin.com/quiz/

Rubin, G. (n.d.). A guide to "The four tendencies" personality framework. The Happiness Project. https://the-happiness-project.com/blogs/tools/four-tendencies-guide

Twelve minutes. (n.d.). In Facebook [Community page]. Retrieved December 28, 2022 from https://www.facebook.com/groups/twelveminutes/.

What it Means to Wait

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. I've endured many seasons of waiting in life, and now I feel that I am in another one: hoping and waiting and wishing for a less stressful, less busy, calmer, easier corona virus free life. I am blessed to be stressed, blessed to be stretched, blessed to have a way to keep working in all this, but I've been so tired.

A friend and I were discussing our careers the other day, about our desires to get to a place where this ministry of helping others to somehow become easier, more sustainable. But then I read in Psalm 38 about waiting. The Spirit impressed upon me that sometimes we wait because the next thing is not here yet, or because we are not ready for it. We long for the future, but yet God calls us to live right now. And then the commentary I listened to on Psalm 40 talked about waiting on God meaning also waiting on God's timing. That convicted me.

If I believe in God's sovereignty, if I believe that God is who He says He is in the Bible, I must wait. I must trust in God's timing. I must be faithful in this season, even if I long for a different one. God is teaching me. God is growing me. May I not forsake the cultivating of life here, even as I long for another one. And may I ultimately long for heaven where I will see Jesus face to face.

Tips for Getting Into God's Word

"Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path."

~Psalm 119:105 (New International Version, NIV)

Life is crazy and hectic. It is very easy to stray away from the daily habit of consuming God's Word. But when I do, it's not good. Havoc generally ensues. (Maybe I'll write a specific post on that at a later date.) I don't think I'm alone in this struggle, so I thought I'd share some tips for incorporating Bible reading into the busyness of everyday life.

Do it first thing in the morning.

I try to read my Bible before I get out of bed. (Granted, I have to get out of my bed to get my Bible.) This keeps my attention focused and somewhat undivided. Once I press power on my computer, grab my phone off the charger, start laundry, or even set out clothes to wear, I'm off thinking about the day instead of absorbing what I'm reading.

Try memorizing or meditating on a verse every day.

I grew up taking part in AWANA and having to memorize Bible verses word-perfect. I stopped memorizing for a while, but then my mom challenged me to get back into it. My Bible memory these days looks more like meditating on part of a verse than being able to recite the verse word-perfect, but it works. I try to keep a stack of index cards with verses handy for this purpose.

Use audio Bible readings.

When I'm really running late, or have a long drive ahead, I use the One Year Bible audio readings. These have a little bit of commentary followed by the full reading for that day (since I follow the read through the Bible in a year plan). I prefer to see the words on the page, but hearing them is better than nothing.

Go to Psalms and/or Proverbs for a quick read.

One of my pastors recommended reading the Psalm of the day and the Proverb a day (based on the numeric day of the month). This is what I refer to as my "fast food" Bible reading strategy. Psalms and Proverbs are not as dense as other books, but they still provide truth!

Getting into the Word is important, no matter how you do it. Please share your tips for getting into the Bible on a daily basis in the comments section below.

My Prescription for Good Mental Health

I wrote this post awhile ago, as life and work got a little crazy. I'm revisiting it now and realizing how much I need a dose of good mental health. I've stopped doing some of these things, but I need to start again.

1. Three rows of crochet: I don't get to this every day, but overall, it's an activity that calms my brain (by crossing the center line, EMDR folks) and makes me feel like I've accomplished something for the day. More than three rows is not good self-care because of my "dystonia."

2. Positive mental input via podcasts and radio: In the midst of external criticism and feelings of inadequacy, filling my mind with the good stuff (aka crowding out the criticism) is vital.

3. Daily Scripture intake: Usually via reading, but sometimes via the audio One Year Bible recording. If I'm not starting the day with truth, I'm starting the day with no foundation

4. Good nutrition: It's easy to forget eating or eat junk when I'm busy, but neither turn out very well. Meal prep and snacks are vital during this time

5. Comfy clothes: When days are long, it's not good to be uncomfortable. I'm not talking sloppy here, but wearing clothes that fit and cover me thoroughly is vital to survival. Layers are also helpful for the widely varying temperatures in Arizona.

6. Floor sitting: There's got to be some science behind this, but sitting on the floor (usually to crochet) winds me down and helps me relax before bed.

7. No social media during nighttime snack: Scrolling Instagram or Pinterest before bed isn't a good idea. I'm in a brain-numbed state and I can't seem to stop. And if I do it while eating, I often violate point four by eating junk food mindlessly.

8. Crosswords: The antidote to my social media scrolling. These engage my brain and help me not think about the day past or the day future, or much else but my intense drive to finish. (Yes, I'm competitive with myself.)

9. Creative outlets: I need to make and create, even if I'm not an artist. This also goes back to number one, but also feeds into my need to make fabric cards and cook.

10. Prayer: I often don't want to do this, but I need to, and before the crisis, not after or during. Prayer is my power connection, as well as a way to calm my mind and remind myself that I'm not in control.

11. Yoga: I am trying to get back into practicing, at least once a week. Yoga is a good way to create a quiet space to detox mind, body, and spirit. It is also a way to stretch and unwind the kinks that build up in my body after a log week of work.

I'm not saying that I'm perfect, or even that I practice these things well, but I think it's important to make a list, to realize what works and what doesn't, so on those bad days I can remind myself to "take the pill" of my prescription for good mental health and chill.

What is your prescription for good mental health? Please share in the comments section.

*This post is inspired by Georgie Morely of In It For the Long Run.