With my Bible study small group, we’ve been working through the topic of discernment over the last weeks. It’s been a journey of discovery for all of us, from me who researched and put together the academic information to my friend who took the practical, hands-on side of the “how to.”
As we’ve shifted into a new year, I’ve taken on (not for the first time) the goal of reading through the Bible in a year. I’ve kept up with it so far, and I think what has helped is that I am using a different version that is NOT my go-to (I have nothing against it, just don’t prefer it for myself). I’m reading Eugene Peterson’s The Message Remix. What I think is helping me stick with it so far is that since it’s an unfamiliar version to my brain, I am actually reading it instead of glazing over and skimming through the familiar stories, which causes me to lose interest! The interpretation also challenges me on new levels.
How do these two things come together? Well, in church on Sunday, we’re going through a sermon series about Holy Habits: Rhythms for Life. This week’s habit is Scripture Meditation, or the importance of reading the Bible.
Which doesn’t sound like a new idea to most of us! As Christians, we know that it’s important to read the Bible regularly. But how many of us actually do? I’ll freely confess, I don’t as often as I should! This is why I’ve been convicted to read a section every day and go through the whole Bible in 2026. I’ve read large chunks of the Bible, but never through cover to cover successfully.
But since we’ve been working on the discernment study with my small group, something the pastor said when she talked about scripture being relational caught my attention. She said, “Discernment comes from relationship.”
“Discernment comes from relationship.”
Pastor Katherine, GCC
Scripture is actually relational because at its core, it’s a meeting place with God. The Bible is the story of God’s relentless pursuit of us, and when we read it, we actually are spending time with God. We get to know Him better through reading stories about what He’s done in our world to make a way from Creation, to the Fall, to sending Jesus so that we have a way back to Him for eternity. Understanding His heart is how we build a more trusting relationship with Him (this applies to other humans as well!).
When we spend time reading the Word and building our relationship with God, then we are better able to discern clearly because we have a better understanding of God’s heart because of our relationship with Him.
This is why reading the Bible really matters!
“But I’m busy,” you say. “I sit down to read and I fall asleep, or get interrupted! How do I read through the Bible in a year?”
I’m glad you asked. Because not everyone is in the right position to read through the whole Bible in a year. There are seasons that make this impossible–and that’s okay! Instead, set a more realistic goal for yourself. The pastor offered these recommendations:
If you don’t read Scripture at all…
start with one verse a day.
If you read sporadically…
commit to reading a chapter daily.
If you read daily…
try reading through the Bible in a year.
This answers where you are right now, all of us who come from different places and are in different seasons. You don’t have to do it all at once. But you should do some every day.
Discernment comes from relationship. Relationship with God comes from reading the Bible. Therefore, to grow in discernment is tied to reading the Bible!
I know that there will be days when I fall short, when I get behind in my reading. I’m sure there are hard seasons ahead, when I get discouraged and don’t want to keep up with what I’ve started. But I pray now for future me, that she will get back up and keep pursuing what she started, because it is worth it!
I pray the same for you, no matter if you start with a verse a day, a chapter a day, or join me in reading through the Bible this year (it’s not too late to start!).
Blessings,
~Lynne
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