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The bible cannot save you Christ does. He loves his people so very much and we should love others especial the brethern. As for why one sees and another does not THAT is in God's hands and we should always be aware not all people are the same.
But God is God of ALL
Salvation cannot be forced, earned, nor obtained by any other than Jesus Christ. Be thankful to him for what you do understand and give thanks. In other words don't try so hard, just let things flow as he wills If you belong to him all will be well with your soul. Give thanks in all things for this is his will in us concerning Christ Jesus. May God bless you as only he can do
But God is God of ALL
Salvation cannot be forced, earned, nor obtained by any other than Jesus Christ. Be thankful to him for what you do understand and give thanks. In other words don't try so hard, just let things flow as he wills If you belong to him all will be well with your soul. Give thanks in all things for this is his will in us concerning Christ Jesus. May God bless you as only he can do
Hi Mooky: Just in case you are not really saved, tell God that you commit your life totally to Him and then ask Jesus to be your Savior. I was saved before I ever read the bible and when I did begin to read the bible it was like a thirsty man finding water. I have read the bible daily for 54 years and it was just as exciting this morning as it was 54 years ago. If the bible seems dull, really seek to be right with God.
This is an interesting but austere program. Kind of like becoming a hermit or a monk. If that is what God is calling you to, I guess you need to follow it.
There are two things that concern me. One, is that it is great for 45 days, or 90 or whatever, but it is not a lifetime plan! What is to keep you reading the Bible once the challenge is over? I have found in my walk with God, slow and steady wins the race!
In other words, find a reading program that will last you the rest of your life. I have done a number of reading plans over the years, and I always come back to reading three chapters of the OT daily, and one chapter of the NT daily. That gets you through the Bible once a years. So, I've been saved 37 years, that represents 37 read the whole Bible straight through readings, more or less. (I stopped once for 2 years when condemned by Word Faith people for not being healed.) I also read the Bible at various times over and over. So 5 straight read through of Genesis, then Exodus, etc. Plus, I have read the Bible simultaneously in other languages. Then there was seminary and all those studies of the various books. Oh, and I have been reading the NT three chapters a day, so that means I read it through completely 3 times a year. So maybe around 50 times.
That is the advantage of consistence and discipline. If you do not "force" yourself to read daily, you will not read! I used to keep track of it, then went away from it, then came back again. So if I miss a day or two, I can figure out why. As for forcing, I am always totally blessed when I force myself to pick up the Bible. God always meets me there.
Second thing is Desire of Ages by Ellen White? Just no! That is a book telling you how to be a Seventh Day Adventist and her particular theology. You do NOT need to read that book ever! Just saying!
First, there is a lot of judgement and condemnation on this thread, especially directed towards the OP. Uncalled for and unnessary, she is searching for help, not censure.
I just want to encourage you, Mooky, to read through this dry spell. You may think you are not getting anything out of it, because there are no fire works or burning in the breast. But God's Word does not return void. It is working on you, when you do not even know it is. It is changing you and transforming you in your walk with God. You are learning things you may not even realize, but one day, you will think, "Hey, I read that during that long dry spell, now I get it!"
The Bible is essential if we are to know God's expectations for our lives. It is vital if we are to understand who Jesus is. It is God's love letter to us, so how could we not need to read it? Do we want to shut out the lover of our souls? Because, when you pray without having a foundation of the Word, you will not be as strong in him as you could be.
I've always read the Bible daily, except the 2 years when Word Faith people condemned me for not being healed, and the physical pain was horrific. I'm so grateful that God was persistent, telling me to read the Psalms, 5 psalms a day. Because I found real people in the Psalms. People who were hurting. People who were angry. People who were suffering or depressed. And yet, they found their hope in God. There was no theology that we have to be perfect to come to God. There was no suggestions that believers in God must be healed, be wealthy or anything else. Life in a fallen world is what it is, but thankfully, God is greater than all that!
So, I want to encourage you that people for millennia have gone through dry spells. Not just in reading their Bibles, but in their relationship with God. It is called the "Dark Night of the Soul." You don't sound like you are there, because boredom is not always the same as crying out to God and he doesn't seem to be there. But, I worry if you don't stay steady on the course, you may get there! If not now, then some other time.
Reading the Bible, like prayer, meditation, and service and many other things, are spiritual disciplines. Sadly, in our society people do not understand the value of discipline. "If it feels good, do it!" This is the mantra of the world, and the mantra of some people on this thread! Shocking! Discipline means hard work, sometimes slogging it out. It means being consistent, valuing your time with God in both bible reading and prayer above everything else, even when it is NOT fun!
We do need to force ourselves and that is a good thing! Because life doesn't always come easy! Oh, some people will say, let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you, and of course, that is an important part of the puzzle. But, if we don't know what God is saying, what does the Holy Spirit have to work with? Nothing but indolence and laziness. (Not talking to anyone in particular, here!)
As I said above, read the Old Testament 3 chapters a day and the New Testament one chapter a day, and you will read the whole Bible in a year. I had a pastor that said, "God will work through your disciplined daily Bible reading." No pointing fingers after flipping open the bible to a random page necessary! And it is so true!
Another thing you might want to pick up is "Read the Bible for Life" by George Guthrie. We did this as a church effort, with the videos in the North American Baptist church I used to attend before we moved. Of course, I was long since on board. But for many people, sadly, they had never heard about reading the bible consistently every day, for spiritual growth is essential.
Anyway, just read that Bible and God will do something amazing! "Just do it!"
I just want to encourage you, Mooky, to read through this dry spell. You may think you are not getting anything out of it, because there are no fire works or burning in the breast. But God's Word does not return void. It is working on you, when you do not even know it is. It is changing you and transforming you in your walk with God. You are learning things you may not even realize, but one day, you will think, "Hey, I read that during that long dry spell, now I get it!"
The Bible is essential if we are to know God's expectations for our lives. It is vital if we are to understand who Jesus is. It is God's love letter to us, so how could we not need to read it? Do we want to shut out the lover of our souls? Because, when you pray without having a foundation of the Word, you will not be as strong in him as you could be.
I've always read the Bible daily, except the 2 years when Word Faith people condemned me for not being healed, and the physical pain was horrific. I'm so grateful that God was persistent, telling me to read the Psalms, 5 psalms a day. Because I found real people in the Psalms. People who were hurting. People who were angry. People who were suffering or depressed. And yet, they found their hope in God. There was no theology that we have to be perfect to come to God. There was no suggestions that believers in God must be healed, be wealthy or anything else. Life in a fallen world is what it is, but thankfully, God is greater than all that!
So, I want to encourage you that people for millennia have gone through dry spells. Not just in reading their Bibles, but in their relationship with God. It is called the "Dark Night of the Soul." You don't sound like you are there, because boredom is not always the same as crying out to God and he doesn't seem to be there. But, I worry if you don't stay steady on the course, you may get there! If not now, then some other time.
Reading the Bible, like prayer, meditation, and service and many other things, are spiritual disciplines. Sadly, in our society people do not understand the value of discipline. "If it feels good, do it!" This is the mantra of the world, and the mantra of some people on this thread! Shocking! Discipline means hard work, sometimes slogging it out. It means being consistent, valuing your time with God in both bible reading and prayer above everything else, even when it is NOT fun!
We do need to force ourselves and that is a good thing! Because life doesn't always come easy! Oh, some people will say, let the Holy Spirit lead and guide you, and of course, that is an important part of the puzzle. But, if we don't know what God is saying, what does the Holy Spirit have to work with? Nothing but indolence and laziness. (Not talking to anyone in particular, here!)
As I said above, read the Old Testament 3 chapters a day and the New Testament one chapter a day, and you will read the whole Bible in a year. I had a pastor that said, "God will work through your disciplined daily Bible reading." No pointing fingers after flipping open the bible to a random page necessary! And it is so true!
Another thing you might want to pick up is "Read the Bible for Life" by George Guthrie. We did this as a church effort, with the videos in the North American Baptist church I used to attend before we moved. Of course, I was long since on board. But for many people, sadly, they had never heard about reading the bible consistently every day, for spiritual growth is essential.
Anyway, just read that Bible and God will do something amazing! "Just do it!"
B
Ok I think you need to calm down depleted, my salvation does not depend on you or on the standards of other Christians. If you are expecting me to be 100% in line with what you believe, that's never going to happen. (Not with anyone)But that doesn't mean I don't have the right spirit or that Jesus is not with me.
K
You may be going through a dry phase. But sometimes I find my mind is just too busy to take anything in that I read. A while ago I got online and went to a site where someone reads the Bible. I found that it was easier to listen to the Bible than read it when my mind just cant concentrate on the written page. You might try that. I went about my housework and it was like listening to a sermon. It just might help. 
K
Im sorry,I have to disagree on this one. The Bible IS the living Word! It is milk and meat to the Christian. It is Gods love letter to us.He IS the Word and one cannot be a mature Christian without it. The Bible is not secondary to our relationship with God. The Bible goes hand and glove. How can we defend against the attacks of the evil one unless we know Gods Word? How can we know His will for us unless we know His Words to us? No the Bible is unique to any other books. It is sacred because it is His Word to us. The Bible should never be seen as less than,or secondary in any way.
K
Quote "The bible cannot save you Christ does."
No,this is not entirely correct. The Bible is Gods Word,and His Words save. Hand in glove.
2 Tim.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Ps.119
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Is. 40
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.
Ps.18
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Matt 4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
John 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
No,this is not entirely correct. The Bible is Gods Word,and His Words save. Hand in glove.
2 Tim.
All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
Ps.119
Your word is a lamp for my feet,
a light on my path.
Is. 40
The grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of our God endures forever.
Ps.18
As for God, his way is perfect:
The Lord’s word is flawless;
he shields all who take refuge in him.
Matt 4
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”
John 1
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
S
Hmm. How precious is Christ to you? How much satisfaction does Christ give you in knowing him and belonging to him? It may be that you are clouded with the world and it's goods as your delight instead of Christ. My answer is, continue to preach the gospel to yourself and continue to meditate on his person and work. The gospel always soften the heart, always fills the heart with gladness, always strengthens the fainting, and always exhorts to godliness. One puritan once wrote, unless you taste sin to be bitter you cannot taste Christ to be sweet