I have a Bible - but it just sits there

[Faithful83]

I've had a problem for so long that any Bible had print too small for me to read. Finally, I got ahold of one whose print isn't great, but was considered "large print" as Bibles go and is at least readable. I had been so deeply wanting a Bible to read and now that I have one, guess what? It just sits there. Everything I do in a day with my hands, making holding a Bible infeasible, then there's downtime, where I watch TV or surf the internet...all of the sudden the day goes by, I'm too tired by then to be reading, and I just end up asking God to forgive me for failing to read His word that day.

Any advice? How do I get more into reading the Bible? Really, you wouldn't think it would be much of a task.

 

[The_Lords_Froggy]

Well, I just set my teeth and shut down the computer at night and go read the Bible. It was hard for me to start doing that, but I prayed to God to lead me. I have to remind myself of what God wants me to do, and we (me included) should always put Him first, even though I feel like I'm being a hypocrite. God bless you, I hope you can start getting into it.

 

[cyberwood]

For me, I see spiritual growth much like physical growth. I would like to be physically strong, but when I do not go to the gym, I stagnate. My stagnation after a time becomes regression. What I had I lost. What I could have, I never gained. There are many days when I can say I was really too busy to make it to the gym. But at the end of the day there is no growth, and no excuse can take away that penalty. However, when I just *do* it, and find creative ways of fitting working out in my schedule, I see progress, and gain. I find myself becoming more athletic. This, then, spurs me on, and becomes in itself motivation.

I believe spiritual growth, in large part reading the bible, is like this. When I am not reading the bible, I forget the promise I have received. When I forget this promise, I forget the spiritual battle inside of me. When I forget this, I not only stagnate, but also regress. However, when I just *do* it, and find creative ways of fitting bible reading into my schedule, I am spurred on. I see new facets of the gospel that I did not know before. This keeps me focused, and brings to my life perspective.

I guess the point I am making is to just *do* it. Maybe wake up earlier? Maybe decide TV will not be coming on - go right to the Bible. Start by spending 5mins a day. Then 10...then 15...eventually 1 hour. There's no shame in starting small. When I start weight lifting, I life ridiculously light, because my body is not yet trained to undergo a more intense workout. If I go too hard too soon, I burn out. It's just like that spiritually. If that muscle hasn't been trained, going too hard too soon would cause you burnout.

My prayers are with you Faithful. I am confident the Lord will lead you through this.

I hope this helps some...

-Chris

 

[honeybee2]

Good counsel, Cyberwood.
Faithful, i also found it helpful to use a Living Bible. Yup, the ones that became very popular in the 70s Jesus movement. It uses modern everyday language. Now i know there are some who will say it's no good, but after many, many years of reading KJV and various others, it was the one that helped me to understand the Father's love for me, and got me back into reading the Bible. Chris is right, you must make an effort, but your effort will be rewarded by hearing God speak to you from His word...
Happy reading!

 

[Motor City Christian]

Hey there Faithful. I think at sometime or another EVERY Christian feels like they read their Bible to little. I am no exception.
I recommend, as others have, a Bible you can pick up and read everyday. Maybe you could pick up a devotional bible. The 365 Day Bible is excellent, and it comes in the NIV. You may also want to read a Bible like the Message. It can be quite great for looking at the Bible in different ways. Some may say the Message is watered down, but if it helps you read the Bible, go get it! I work in Christian retail and know many, many other Bibles if you would like other suggestions.

 

[Ceris]

One thing I have done recently that has helped remind me is to keep my Bible right next to my bed, and not on the book shelf. Also as Motor City Christian said, a 365 Day bible is excellent to use. In fact I am reading the 1 Year Chronological Bible (NIV) myself. Its a pretty interesting way to re-read the Bible.

 

[Beauty4Ashes]

Yes keep your bible near your bed. And if you spend a lot of time on the computer or wherever, keep your bible there during the day so the next moment you are complaining about having nothing to do, the word of God is sitting right in front of you begging you to read it. God wants to speak to you and get to know you so much more and that will happen with regular bible reading.

Try to set Atleast one regular time per day for reading your bible and stick to it and keept the time consistant. If you are a morning person, you may choose to do it in the morning and not allow yourself to do anything else until you have started out the day with prayer and His word. Or if you are a night owl like me, you may feel more at ease reading before you go to bed at night. If such is the case, make sure your bible is in easy reach of your pillow, not buried under some junk on a shelf.

Another thing I would highly reccomend is highlighting in your bible, taking notes even drawing small illustrations if you are a visual person such as I am. Don't be afraid to mark up your bible if it helps you get more into it. And keep lots of bookmarks on hand as well. If you are really lacking the motivation to reach over and pick up your bible at all, that initial starting point, pray for God to give you the desire and then set aside the time and do it. It takes sacrifices to keep all of our relationships flourishing in life, how much more that for God.

I am constantly needing improvement in this area myself. But I believe that you will discover that once you get started, you maqy find yourself not even wanting to stop. The deeper you dig, the further you realize you have to go.

I'll pray for you.

God bless

 

[Blessed-one]

agree. Make yourself do it. Write out a schedule, force some concentration into yourself.
Perhaps it might help if you asked God about.. say, i'll read one chapter, half a chapter a night or something. Better than nothing.
works from bottom up!

 

[KleinerApfel]

Faithful83,

great that you found a Bible and have the desire to use it. As others have said, just start with a few minutes daily, and you'll eventually find something that grabs you so much you'll extend the time without realising it!

Have you looked st the Bible Gateway site?

http://bible.gospelcom.net/

If you like spending time on the net, look it up and keep it in the background. I find it really helpful when I'm on the forums to have it there to look things up.

It does have a large-print facility, but unfortunately you need to search for a verse using the normal, rather small print text before you can access that feature.

Type a verse in the left-hand box, then press "search".
As the verse appears, the large-print option is just about visible under the "home" button at the top.

Rather ironic that something so useful is all but hidden to those needing it! I have written to them suggesting it needs to be easier to access, so maybe they'll improve it soon.

I hope you enjoy using this great resource.

God bless, Susana

 

[HoT-MetaL]

Hey dude! Id try and perspire to do everything you can to get a bible that you can read. The Lord Is My Banner has a good idea with the web bible, you can enlarge text etc. There are decent large print bibles out there, even large print study bibles, you just have to search! Its important to get your daily vitamins in the word, so try as hard as you can to get into it!

God Bless, metal.

 

[Faithful83]

I've seen Bible Gateway, yes.

I like the Message version, but couldn't find one in large print. I have the NIV large print edition.

By the way, does anyone know what large print is for Bibles? I've always thought large print was at least 14 point font, but what I have that's large print really looks like 12 point font.

 

[MrsGnomeCrusher]

I've seen Bible Gateway, yes.

I like the Message version, but couldn't find one in large print. I have the NIV large print edition.

By the way, does anyone know what large print is for Bibles? I've always thought large print was at least 14 point font, but what I have that's large print really looks like 12 point font.

I just scanned http://www.bibles.com and they had an 18 point KJV. They said that was extra large print. I'm looking at http://www.parable.com and so far I've found up to 14. Try Googling "large print bibles."

 

[C.A.B.L]

I just scanned http://www.bibles.com and they had an 18 point KJV. They said that was extra large print. I'm looking at http://www.parable.com and so far I've found up to 14. Try Googling "large print bibles."

Faithful,

If you have a Christian bookstore near you, which I'm sure you do. They have in the accesories section a page sized "magnifier" that can enlarge the print for you. They are very cheap and work really good.

 

[Motor City Christian]

There is a Super Giant Print out there in the KJV. I wanna say it's Broadman & Holman. It would run you $39.99 regular for bonded leather and $29.99 for leatherflex. Just to throw out a suggestion if KJV is an option.
Just a retail industry note for all of you: KJV Bibles tend to be less expensive, at least the reference ones, because KJV is available for copyright in the open market. The NIV is owned and operated by Zondervan, and they can have to give permission for another company to use the NIV. I think Tyndale and Kirkbride(who makes the Thompson Chain) have been the only ones granted permission. Just so you know.

 

[rnmomof7]

Just a comment.

The living Bible and the message are not translations, they do not claim to be accurate. The author simply paraphrases the text , so it is influenced by his own biases .

I would suggest the NKJ it is a translation and it is readable. I would have suggested the NIV a time ago, but the editors are not changing some of the text to be PC.

 

[rnmomof7]

I've had a problem for so long that any Bible had print too small for me to read. Finally, I got ahold of one whose print isn't great, but was considered "large print" as Bibles go and is at least readable. I had been so deeply wanting a Bible to read and now that I have one, guess what? It just sits there. Everything I do in a day with my hands, making holding a Bible infeasible, then there's downtime, where I watch TV or surf the internet...all of the sudden the day goes by, I'm too tired by then to be reading, and I just end up asking God to forgive me for failing to read His word that day.

Any advice? How do I get more into reading the Bible? Really, you wouldn't think it would be much of a task.

I do a lot of Bible reading on the internet. We are sitting in front of the computer anyway, and you can set the font to your preference.

Crosswalks has a program where they send you scripture every day and you read through the bible in a year that way.


If you travel over to the Semper Reformanda thread there is a bible study going on there . Woody is using the old Episcopalian prayer book study .

 

[rainbowprism]

How about getting the Bible on tape?! You can listen to it while in the car or while makng dinner?

 

[honeybee2]

Just a comment.

The living Bible and the message are not translations, they do not claim to be accurate. The author simply paraphrases the text , so it is influenced by his own biases .

I would suggest the NKJ it is a translation and it is readable. I would have suggested the NIV a time ago, but the editors are not changing some of the text to be PC.

The New Living Bible is accurate, and not a paraphrase. It is a translation into everyday English.
While the old 70's Lliving Bible is a paraphrase, it is surprisingly accurate as far as meaning and intent. I also appreciate the fact that it shows the Father in much more approachable way. That's where i really fell in love with the Word again, was reading the LB.