Staying disciplined in your walk with God

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eecollins

Guest
#1
One thing that I have been having a hard time with is staying disciplined with reading my bible everyday. How do you become more disciplined in the word? Any tips?
 

Demi777

Senior Member
Oct 13, 2014
6,877
1,949
113
Germany
#2
Its not about reading out bible everyday. Its about getting a intimate relationship with our Lord. Its not about working ourself to him. Let him guide you where he needs you and what he wants you to do.
 

Ahwatukee

Senior Member
Mar 12, 2015
11,159
2,373
113
#3
One thing that I have been having a hard time with is staying disciplined with reading my bible everyday. How do you become more disciplined in the word? Any tips?
Good morning eecollins,

Since God is to be first in our lives, make your time of study and prayer a priority. I make an effort to read every day, but sometimes things come up that keep me from it, but I always come back to it. As you diligently search out God's word, He will bless you with knowledge and understanding, which He will continue to do throughout your life as you continue to seek Him. Do you have any Biblical topics that specifically interested in? If so, then begin to do studies on those topics. There are many to consider, the bodily resurrection of Christ, the gathering of the church, salvation by grace through faith vs. works of the law, end-time events, etc., etc.

In the same way that you make time for the things that you like to do, make it a point to read and pray and by doing so you are glorifying God. Regarding prayer, that can be done throughout the day, whether in your room or when you are out and about.
 
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Lota

Guest
#4
I understand your struggle. I have that too. Just I always think about going into Word as meeting with your loved ones. you just look forward to be with your loved ones.. the same is with the Word. So.. I would not use word.. discipline.. rather..right focus.
 

PANCAKES

Senior Member
Apr 26, 2009
451
14
18
#5
One thing that I have been having a hard time with is staying disciplined with reading my bible everyday. How do you become more disciplined in the word? Any tips?
Me too girly. I know it's cliche, but don't give up. If you take 5 steps forward and 300 backwards, get back up and take more steps forward again, and again and again and again, forever. Don't let the enemy say you've failed too many times, and then stay where you are (I did, and all that results is a longer "limbo" time). Get the heck back up again as fast as you can and keep plowing through.

Also, don't read for the sake of reading through the bible on a schedule. Take time to really let it soak in and remember that the Holy Spirit is your teacher as Jesus said. I'll quote something from my bible study for you:

"Early each day i have an appointment with God. I often wonder what happens when the God who loves me comes to meet with me. How does He feel when He asks, "Henry, where are you?" and I am not there (see Jer. 7:13). I have found this to be true in my walk with the Lord: I keep that time alone with God, not in order to have a relationship but because I have a relationship. Because I have that love relationship with my Lord, I want to meet with Him and spend time with Him. Time with Him enriches and deepens the relationship I already have with Him.
I hear many people say, "I really struggle trying to have time alone with God." If that is a problem you face, let me suggest something: make the priority in your life to love Him with all your heart. That will solve most of your problem with your quiet time. People who struggle to spend time with God don't have a scheduling problem; they have a love problem. You have a quiet time because you know Him and therefore love Him, not just because you want to learn more about Him. The Apostle Paul said Christ's love compelled or constrained him (see 2 Cor.5:14)."
-Experiencing God by Richard and Henry blackaby.

The study suggests to spend time each day in a prayer walk with God as well (30 minutes). I do this around my neighborhood. I usually do this at night because it's more peaceful.

Hope this helps
 
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Miri

Guest
#6
Its not about reading out bible everyday. Its about getting a intimate relationship with our Lord. Its not about working ourself to him. Let him guide you where he needs you and what he wants you to do.
I agree with Demi on this.

Many read the bible like a school exercise and feel if they read so many verses a day
the job is done.

But building a relationship with God happens all day long via prayer, chatting to God as
you go through your day, maybe sticking in those ear phones and listening to some
worship music on the bus. In fact you can listen to the bible on the bus on the way
to school or work.

The joy of reading the bible and spending time with God is either there or it's not.
Sometimes it can feel dry and meaningless but we just need to give it a go anyway.

The main thing is to ask the Holy Spirit to help you and draw alongside you.
Think about what you want to get out of it, I will give you a clue, if your answer is just
to complete that day's reading then you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

Your answer (hopefully to draw closer to God) will dictate how you approach it.


When I was 17 I use to get up an hour early to read my bible and spend time
with God. It was hard and I was tired. I had a file and I wrote down bible
verses which spoke to me and I wrote up prayers. It was the best time ever.

Now I know I can speak to God and prayer to him at any time. When I read the
bible verses and sentences just jump out so much I can barely get through a reading.
It has become a living breathing thing to me. No matter how often I have read the
same verses I always get something new from them that I never thought of before.

That all started all those years ago.

So think about why you do it and what you hope to get out of it, then think about
what works best for you, we are all different, you don't have to do bible study the
same way as everyone else, there are lots of way.

It doesn't have to be dry and tedious.

There are lots of bible reading schemes and notes out there for young people, both in
paper form and via apps.

If you have a tablet or smart phone try downloading some and see how you get on.
but avoid the Mormon and Catholic ones. Lol. The benefit of a phone app is you
can peek at it any time you want to.

Dont worry about reading loads of chapters, if you find it hard just start with a
few verses a day and think about their meaning through out the day.

You can try a daily quiet time app or booklet. One I have tried which seems good is our
daily bread and it's completely free. It gives a short reading every day, a down to earth
practical example of it in real life, or it links to a current topic. It then has a few
explanations about the actual reading. Then it gives you a thought for the day. Plus
if you want it includes a scheme to read the bible in a year.

During difficult times I have used this and it really did feel as if it had been
written just for me! God knows just where we are at and He will use
whatever resources we use, to speak to us.

IMG_0255.jpg
 
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missy2014

Guest
#7
let your desire Godly desire (your desire for him) guide your reading and the peace of God . Be blessed, xoxoxo Missy
 
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missy2014

Guest
#8
the more longer were Christians the more we realise we want to keep it simple not complicated some times God ask to do things that are a real challenge and not fit the mould and such i.e spend more time fasting than normal fasting isnt one of my strong points but yeh you'll want to keep it simple to not fret stress worry and just enjoy! really enjoy God just for who he is God doesnt have to be 'relevant' God says in the OT you may know "I am that Iam", the Great Iam hes enough :)
 
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missy2014

Guest
#9
oh and reading over and over the same passages is fine your favourite verses thats what its all about you enjoying it but mix it up a little too
 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#10
Before you read the Bible, pray for wisdom to understand the cryptic message so God will reveal His words to you the way He wants and not just with your own understanding. Always pray for protection from the attacks of the enemy. Laziness to read the bible and distractions like the internet are the enemies tactics. In all your ways, plans and decisions, acknowledege Him and He shall lead your path. And always give thanks so you will have a grateful heart and find contentment in your life. With a grateful heart, reading the Bible will not feel like a task anymore but something you to do because you want to.
 
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missy2014

Guest
#11
hey tink Good evening/thing/time of day. hows your day been? how are you? saw your online at the mo hey I wanted to ask do you speak the main languages of the Phillipines of just English?
 
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missy2014

Guest
#12
* or just English lol
 

Tinkerbell725

Senior Member
Jul 19, 2014
4,216
1,179
113
Philippines Age 40
#13
hey tink Good evening/thing/time of day. hows your day been? how are you? saw your online at the mo hey I wanted to ask do you speak the main languages of the Phillipines of just English?
I speak in tongues. JK missy. I speak a few local dialects, Filipino and English. I want to learn Spanish. How about you? I'm well and good. Hope you are well too.
 
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missy2014

Guest
#14
thats neat coool! wo hui shuo yidianr pu tong hua huo zhe pu tong gua - I just said I speak a little mandarin in Chinese

nice spanish good goal
 

Roughsoul1991

Senior Member
Sep 17, 2016
8,784
4,452
113
#15
Just as any discipline; discipline has to be taught and practiced. Which takes time and effort. To help you stay focused is to find in what ways do you learn the best. Are you better at listening, reading, writing/listening, writing/reading, bible study plans, or what I did was buy a study bible that was filled with information on every scripture, maps, pictures, facts and history. Find what gets your attention the most and run with it. I enjoy studying in depth so a study bible really keeps me focused and less bored with just reading.