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What Does God Look Like?

March 10, 2019April 1, 2019 admin1 Comment

As I prepare for Lent I continue to reflect on how I can learn more about God and on ways how I can draw closer to Him. One question that came to mind is: What does God look like?

To answer this question I looked directly to the Bible.

Every single person, even the person sitting across from you at church or the person behind you in line at the grocery store, was created by God. Our loved ones and our friends were created by God. People of different race, cultures, and beliefs were all created by Him. Most importantly, there are people who we may not see eye to eye with or those who we continue to agree to disagree with—each and every one were all created by God. To love God means to love those who He has created. If I cannot truly love others, how can I truly love God? I ask the Holy Spirit to guide me and transform my heart. After all, I am a sinner. I too have judged and have said hurtful things.

God is the truth, the light and is perfect. We may be created in His image however we are still differentiated from Him because we are sinners. It is through our belief in Christ Jesus that we are saved.

Christ is the visible image of the invisible God. He existed before anything was created and is supreme over all creation.
Colossians 1: 15

We exist because God created us. Each of us are here today because of God’s will. There are no accidents.

God was thoughtful and purposeful when He created us:

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!

(Psalm 139:13-17)

To love and see God is to love ourselves and for who we truly are. I must remind myself of this because I have the frequent tendency to criticize and doubt myself. I admit, I am my worst critic. I am too short. I am a slow runner. I am a terrible mom. I am not enough. When I compare myself against the standards of this world, I grow further away from God.

God’s Word is telling me, telling us, that we are enough. To grow closer to God is to move away from the customs of today. Someone else will always have the bigger house, the nicer car, fancier designer clothes or better higher paying job. If we take away the material and the things that make us temporarily happy what do we have? Just before Jesus left this world He asked us to simply love each other. He also asks us to change the way we think.

So now I am giving you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, you should love each other. Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples.
John 13:34-35

Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy.
Ephesians 4: 23-24

God’s image is glory, righteous and holy.

God’s glory is in my husband when he goes to work each day to provide for our family. God’s glory is in my children when they wrap their small arms around me and tell me they love me. I waited so long for my children and they are truly God’s miracle. I see God’s face when I am able to wake up each morning and I am able to see, hear, speak, touch, and walk. I see God’s face when I see patience and kindness in our fast-paced world. I see His face in the sun and the sky when I drive to work. He’s there in the rain and the deep cold. God’s glory is present when we forgive and when pray for one another. God’s glory is seen when He allows me to realize when I am wrong. God’s glory is bright when we comfort a friend and even brighter when we help a stranger.

Lastly, God can be seen when we have light shining in our hearts:

For God, who said, “Let there be light in the darkness,” has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ.We now have this light shining in our hearts, but we ourselves are like fragile clay jars containing this great treasure. This makes it clear that our great power is from God, not from ourselves (2 Corinthians 4: 6-7).

Our lights shine bright when we share our gifts for the purpose of doing God’s work. Our hearts glow when we do good things when no one is looking. Our lights radiate when we turn away from things that weigh us down: anger, grudges, bitterness, jealousy, and impatience.

My dear friends, I will leave you with a final verse from God’s Word. May you find comfort in God’s unconditional love for us. If we look carefully God’s image is everywhere. When in doubt, He is always within us.

We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in his love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them (1 John 4:16).

~Justine, Writer of The Scarlet Rope

Forgiveness: Can You Throw the First Stone?

March 2, 2019March 2, 2019 adminLeave a comment

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Forgiveness. Is. Hard.

If there is anyone out there who finds it easy, we must sit down for coffee and talk—oh please, oh show me your ways!!

Now when I say forgiveness is hard for me I’m not talking about those moments when my ever-so-loving husband has “accidentally” stolen my addictive Burtsbees chapstick for the 10^th time. In those moments, of desperately needing it, when I realize that it has magically disappeared I must admit that my head tilts slightly (a common sign of my annoyance levels peaking a little) and I experience a subtle blood simmer, not a boil but a simmer. Over the years I have learned to purse my dry chapped lips shut, breathe deeply, shake it off and let it go.

There’s even those calm sunny day mornings when I am driving to work and out of the blue, someone decides to cut me off only to get one car ahead with the end result of leaving me behind at a red light while the F1 car racer continues on their merry way. Forgivable? This one’s debateable right?

I’m referring to those situations in my life when I have been so deeply hurt, betrayed or felt like the rug was just suddenly pulled out from under me. I have been lied to, wrongfully accused, judged, and broken hearted. The hurt is so painful I get overwhelmed with so many emotions of sadness, anger, frustration, bitterness and resentment. After many tears and deep heart ache I ask myself how on earth am I ever able to forgive this person.

As I continue to deepen my relationship with the Lord, I have been more mindful to remember to talk to Him more often. The first thing I do when I ask myself the question of how I am going to forgive, is pray.

Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven. If you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.”
John 20: 22-23

I ask the Holy Spirit to transform my heart, soften it not harden it, and help me to forgive. Only the Holy Spirit can stir hearts. If God was able to stir the heart of King Cyrus of Persia to allow the Jews to return from exile (Ezra 1: 1-3) then He too has the true power to stir my heart to forgive.

Secondly, I look at what can I do to control my own behaviour as I cannot control the behaviour of others.

Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.” Don’t let evil conquer you, but conquer evil by doing good.

Romans 12: 17-21

I for sure must not cut off the person who cut me off that sunny morning. I also must not lie about the person who lied about me. I must not wrongfully accuse that person who wrongfully accused me. I must not judge that person back who judged me. I must not break the heart of the person who broke my heart first. But how? Easier said than done right?

To be fair, I must look at how I personally contributed to the situation.

“And why worry about a speck in your friend’s eye when you have a log in your own? How can you think of saying, ‘Friend, let me help you get rid of that speck in your eye,’ when you can’t see past the log in your own eye? Hypocrite! First get rid of the log in your own eye; then you will see well enough to deal with the speck in your friend’s eye. Luke 6: 41-42

I have to be able to take accountability for my own words and actions or even the lack thereof that I personally have contributed over time that has led both of us to such hurt. One book that I have found helpful in having heart-to-heart conversations with others is called, “Crucial Conversations”. It has allowed me to effectively communicate my perspective without having the other party feel threatened.

Most importantly, I refer to the Bible. So, what do the Scriptures tell me about forgiveness?

There are of course examples of forgiveness throughout the Bible that we can refer to for encouragement. The most important example is Jesus dying on the cross for our sins.

So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world.

Hebrews 9: 11

In fact, within the Our Father we ask God to forgive us as we forgive those to trespass against us. This is also written in Luke 11: 4, “And forgive us our sins, as we forgive those who sin against us.”

There was also Joseph who was sold to slavery by his own brothers and was sent to prison for a crime he did not commit and despite all of that he was still able to forgive his brothers.

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people. No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.” So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them.

Genesis 50: 19-21

Which leads me to ask myself the question, what is God trying to teach me in this challenging situation? You may also want to visit my blog about listening to God’s voice: God, is That You? if you’re interested. What lesson is He trying to show me that is even deeper than the act of forgiveness itself? Like Joseph, perhaps God is using me and/or the other person to fulfill His purpose.

I think it’s also important to remind myself to take a look in the mirror when I find it difficult to forgive. I too have sinned. I too have hurt others. I have said mean things. I have committed mean things. Just as Jesus said to the crowd who were about to stone a woman who was caught in the act of adultery in John 8: 7, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!” I ask myself if I can truly and rightfully throw that first stone. You and I both know that’s a hard no.

You may also ask that if I keep forgiving and forgiving, does it make me a pushover? Or if I continue to forgive over time am I just enabling the transgressor?

Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven!

Matthew 18: 21-22

I do draw the line at emotional and physical abuse and do not condone it either.

“This is the new covenant I will make
    with my people on that day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts,
    and I will write them on their minds.” Then he says, “I will never again remember
    their sins and lawless deeds.” And when sins have been forgiven, there is no need to offer any more sacrifices.

Hebrews 10: 16-18

Just as Jesus has forgiven my sins He also forgets.

When I have done everything humanly possible to pray, control my own behaviours, I must remember to pray for my transgressor. May God stir their heart too to see and hear my perspective. Perhaps they too are hurting and suffering and need time to heal. May God show them how to take accountability. Perhaps God is teaching them a life lesson and one that they will come to understand in His own timing.

Sometimes, I just have to simply forgive and walk away and trust that God is handling it.

Psalm 51: 1-7

Have mercy on me, O God,
    because of your unfailing love.
Because of your great compassion,
    blot out the stain of my sins.
Wash me clean from my guilt.
    Purify me from my sin.
For I recognize my rebellion;
    it haunts me day and night.
Against you, and you alone, have I sinned;
    I have done what is evil in your sight.
You will be proved right in what you say,
    and your judgment against me is just.
For I was born a sinner—
    yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the womb,
    teaching me wisdom even there.

Purify me from my sins,and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

May God grant you peace in your heart to forgive yourself and especially those who have wronged you. May He stir your heart and may He stir theirs. May we continue to have faith in His purpose rather than our needs and our ego. May we love others just as God love us unconditionally.

Justine, writer of The Scarlet Rope

God, Is That You?

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 admin2 Comments

A friend of mine recently asked me, “How do I know if it’s God talking to me and not my own voice?”

In times of trial, confusion, hurt or conflict we as Christians have been advised to pray about it and listen to what God is trying to tell us. But how DO we really know it’s Him?

Last year, I attended an annual women’s ministry event called, A Women’s Day Apart and a guest speaker Anne Fleetwood happened to speak about this. I thought it is worth sharing with you. She advised to ask yourself the following questions:

Is the message a direct verse from the Bible?
Does the message match God’s character—loving, forgiving, compassionate, kind?
What do Jesus’ followers say about it? For example, your pastor, spiritual director, mentors etc.

Since last year, I have taken Anne’s advice and continued to work on ways to be still and listen out for God’s voice. Often, I have to remind myself to remove myself from worldly distractions, such as purposefully setting time aside to be still, even if it’s for five minutes, to just BE in His presence. It’s a time where I am not asking for anything or praying about anything but a time when I can acknowledge God for who He is: amazing, kind, compassionate, loving, forgiving, all knowing. I must admit, I don’t do this often enough but am working on it and praying that the Holy Spirit will continue to transform my heart.

I have started to incorporate daily bible reading into my life and journaling about it. It’s in those moments, when I least expect it, He teaches me things in such soft whispers but moves my spirit in such profound ways. This made me think of Elijah:

“Go out and stand before me on the mountain,” the Lord told him. And as Elijah stood there, the Lord passed by, and a mighty windstorm hit the mountain. It was such a terrible blast that the rocks were torn loose, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. (1 Kings 19: 11-13)

In the past, I was looking for signs, big signs, but I have come to learn and know that God can speak to me in whispers if I can only just be still and listen. Signs can be misleading. All I need to do is believe and put my trust in God. Sometimes I ask myself, am I really listening out for God or am I listening to my own wants, needs and ego.

In those quiet moments, God whispered to me and made me realize that He has never left me and that He truly loves me.

In my conversation with my friend, I also felt it was worth sharing that I still need to be able to take action and not just simply sit back and “hope for the best”. I am still going to try but my ability to try only goes so far. I leave the rest up to Him with what I am praying and listening out for.

In my decision making, I can still make mistakes even after I have prayed about it. Perhaps it was God trying to have me learn from His lesson. In those moments, it’s important for me to acknowledge that I have made a mistake, that I was at fault and that I need to ask for forgiveness from anyone I have wronged and most importantly from God. How can I humble myself more? How can I recognize and appreciate the season God has provided for me?

For everything there is a season,
    a time for every activity under heaven.
A time to be born and a time to die.
    A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
    A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
    A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
    A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
    A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
    A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
    A time for war and a time for peace

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

Lastly, I have come to realize that it’s ok to ask for help by asking others to pray for me.

At the end of the day, we are still human but through our acceptance of Jesus dying on the cross for our sins, we are saved. In the end, no matter what it is that we are going through, we will be ok because Jesus loves us that much.

~Justine, writer from The Scarlet Rope

Refresh Your Bible Reading Routine

February 18, 2019February 18, 2019 admin2 Comments

Photo by Rachel Lynette French on Unsplash

Looking for some ideas to refresh your Bible reading routine?

Why suffering?

February 11, 2019February 15, 2019 admin4 Comments

Welcome back. If this is your first time visiting my bog I hope you may stay awhile.

At some point in your life you (or someone you know) may have been struck with an unimaginable and painful situation that may have led you to question and inadvertently cry out: Why me? Why does this have to happen to me? What have I done to deserve this? What’s the point? Why would God do this to me? Why would God make me suffer?

**Note: this is a lengthy post, so please get comfortable and I hope you can stay awhile.

Perhaps you have encountered this numerous times in your life, and/or you are in fact experiencing this right at this very moment. Or perhaps you know someone who is going through an extremely troublesome period and has shared these very same questions with you.

Are you or someone you love suffering from a job loss? A serious physical illness or new diagnosis? The loss of a loved one(s)? Mental illness (ie. Depression, anxiety, etc.)? Addiction? Divorce? Abuse? A failing marriage? Struggling to find the right partner? Infertility? Miscarriage? Disability? Debt? Not having enough money? Isolation?

Whatever it is, the unimaginable has happened and you are faced with feelings of hopelessness, fear, anger, failure, frustration, worry, anxiety, angst, not being in control, sadness, depression, despair, pain, heartache, or isolation. You have come to the realization that you are suffering from something that you have never asked for and didn’t deserve. I think it’s also worth mentioning here that each person has their own individual experience and reality of what suffering means and is to them. Suffering is an experience caused by physical and/or emotional pain.

There are examples of suffering all throughout the Bible dating back to Adam and Eve. Both disobeyed God and so Eve (women) had to suffer the pain of pregnancy and giving birth and Adam (men) had to struggle to grow food on soil that God had cursed (Genesis 3: 1-24). Joseph, Jacob’s son, was sold into slavery, wrongfully accused for raping Potiphar’s wife and was thrown into prison (Genesis 37: 18-39:19). Job was a righteous and blameless man who suffered from awful events: his animals were stolen, his farmhands were killed, he lost all of his sheep and shepherds, his camels were stolen and servants were killed; and all of his children died from their house collapsing on top all of them (Job 1-2: 6). Suffering also occurred in the New Testament: a woman suffered from bleeding for twelve years (Matthew 9: 20-22) or a sick man who could not walk laid by the pool of Bethesda for thirty-eight years waiting to be healed (John 5: 1-15).

The most important example of suffering is Jesus. Jesus was brought into this world to save us and right from the beginning it was a difficult road for him. He was born in a dark and cold stable and he only had strips of cloth to keep him warm (Luke 2: 6-7). Many years later, Jesus was crowned with thorns, mocked, spat on, and struck on the head with a stick. He was literally beaten and had to carry his own heavy cross to the crucifixion site before he was nailed to and died on the cross for our sins (Matthew 27: 27-45). Jesus suffered the physical agony but he also suffered the emotional pain from taking on the sins of the world that was heavier than the cross itself. Jesus, who died for us, is both human and divine. Jesus knew the emotional and physical pain associated with suffering.

My journey to truly get to know God started when I encountered the painful experience of not being able to get pregnant. My husband and I had tried to conceive naturally but were met with disappointment after disappointment month after month. I got worried. Specialist appointments led us down the path of invasive assessments and tests, oral and injectable hormones, intrauterine inseminations (IUIs), in-vitro fertilizations (IVF) and multiple frozen embryo transfers—not to mention the amount of time off work and money spent on each procedure. Each excruciating two week wait post procedure was followed by empty negative pregnancy results and unbearable heartache. I became discouraged, resentful and angry. I felt like a failure and started to explore the concept of ‘is life was really worth living’? I started to isolate myself from others around me including my husband. Most of all, I became angry with God and those very same questions came to my mind. I questioned Him. Why me God? Why would you make me suffer like this? I did everything right. I made sure I took my meds on time, avoided and ate the right food, drank Chinese herbs to promote pregnancy, I even tried acupuncture! Still no baby. Looking back, this is the furthest I have ever been from God. My heart felt empty and I truly felt alone.

Which leads us back to ask, why?

I think the answer lies in my next question: Why not?

Why not me? My perspective on suffering was all about me and centred around my needs and not about what God wanted for me. My perspective focused on me and what God does (or does not do) instead of who God is.

I didn’t realize that God had His own plan for me. My husband and I decided to pursue international adoption. After more appointments with doctors, a social worker, lawyer, endless paperwork and documents to be filled, fingerprints, and multiple trips to the bank we were finally added to a waitlist for a baby in South Korea. We waited close to two years to receive “the call” that we have been waiting so long and hard for. It was a cold night in February—February 8, 2010 to be exact, I went out on a run feeling discouraged once again. Out of nowhere I burst into tears and literally cried out loud to God, “I am right here, please hear me, I am right here!” At that very moment I never felt so alone and so helpless. My outburst caught me off-guard and I had looked around hoping no one heard me and thought I was crazy. I continued on my run and on my way home and unexpectedly I saw a blue heron fly away in the darkness. I thought it was strange but carried on. The next day came around and coincidentally we received the call that we could fly to South Korea and pick up our baby boy. After receiving that call, I knew then I wasn’t alone after all. The blue heron was no coincidence. God was with me and sent me that blue heron as a sign. What is even more powerful is I that have come to the realization that even after I left God, He never once left me.

Photo by Appolinary Kalashnikova on Unsplash

God is an awesome God. He created the universe. He created life.

I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.
Revelation 22: 13

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Who kept the sea inside its boundaries as it burst from the womb, and as I clothed it with clouds and wrapped it in thick darkness? Have you ever commanded the morning to appear and cause the dawn to rise in the east?
Job 38: 4, 8-9, 12

If I cannot even come close to understand how God created the earth who am I to question God for what happens in my life. God existed from the beginning and will continue until after the end. Instead of focusing on the great and amazing things in my life, I chose to focus on what I didn’t have.

God has a plan for us all.

Like a parent, God was trying to teach me and use me for His purpose.

The Lord will work out His plans for my life—for your faithful love, O Lord, endures forever. Don’t abandon me, for you made me.
Psalm 138: 8

In moments of despair we must run to God and not run away like I did.

Despite Joseph’s struggle in prison, God stirred the heart of the prison warden and favoured Joseph. He then was let out of prison and the Pharaoh granted Joseph authority to be in charge of all of Egypt (Genesis 39: 19- 41: 42). God was always with Joseph. The woman who suffered from bleeding for twelve years had the faith to reach out and touch Jesus’ robe and was instantly healed (Matthew 9: 20-22). Through Jesus’ authority, Jesus told the lame man of thirty-eight years to get up and walk and just like that, he got up and walked (John 5: 8). Elizabeth and Zechariah were righteous people, were unable to conceive, but were faithful to God. Despite being old, God heard their prayer and they were able to give birth to a son, John (Luke 1: 5-13). God’s plan for John was to prepare the people to lead them to God.

My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness. So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10

God wants us to grow and perhaps may want us to experience life’s challenges to help others. Today, I am open to speaking about our infertility struggles and want to eliminate the stigma that is tied to infertility. Most of all, I heard God’s calling to grow closer to him so that I can spread His word.

My hope is that you will be inspired to deepen your relationship with Him. Instead of the focus on “why is there suffering”, let’s turn it into “God is awesome”. It’s not about what God does but about who He is.

Dear God, may the Holy Spirit continue to transform our hearts to grow closer to you. Because of you we are forgiven and we are loved. Help us to see that it’s not about what you can do for us but rather it’s about who you are. You are amazing, loving, forgiving, compassionate and kind. We praise you for all the good things in life and we praise you for the challenges. May we seek comfort under your wing when we endure pain and may we be reminded that you are always with us.

How to read the bible (Part 2 of 2)

January 26, 2019February 18, 2019 adminLeave a comment

How to read the bible (Part 2 of 2):

Welcome back! So now you have all of your materials and you may ask, “Now what? What’s next?”

The first important thing you may want to consider is: Why do you want to read the Bible? One of the main reasons why I read the Bible is because I want to learn about God and to get to know Him. The only way for me to understand His character is to spend time reading His Word and learning about what the Scripture says about Him. I don’t read the Bible because I think the more I read it may make me a better Christian or because I have to check off an invisible tick box to signify an accomplishment that I have read the Bible. I want to read the Bible because I want to live the way God wants me to live.

“‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”
Matthew 22: 37-40

Before you open you Bible I encourage you to pray to God and have a conversation with Him. You don’t have to be formal, just speak from the heart. Ask Him to show you why you should read Scripture. Ask for guidance and wisdom.

Another important thing is the How. Like developing any relationship with a friend or significant other, developing a relationship with God takes time. I have learned to go slow when reading the Bible. I used to try and follow many Bible reading plans “in one year” and would get discouraged if I fell behind. Bible reading plans are great, please don’t get me wrong, they’re just not for me. I felt rushed and I didn’t feel that I had enough time to truly reflect and listen to what God was trying to teach me.

I would recommend starting off with reading one of the Gospels in the New Testament. I chose to start off with Luke and perhaps you may want to do the same. The Gospels were written by Jesus’ disciples (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) and tell the story of Jesus’ life and His teachings. As you go through Luke, highlight verses that speak out to you and/or write them down in a journal. Or, if you’re experienced I’d be happy to hear what works for you. I pray that you could teach me and others on how to dwell in God’s Word.

Here are 3 things that I ask myself when I read a passage/verse/chapter:

What is happening in the story?
How does this apply to my life and the way I should live? In other words, what is God trying to teach me?
What does this say about God and His character?

Lastly, read the Bible during a time that will work for you. Some are able to read the Bible first thing in the morning, others throughout the day, some for five minutes and some for an hour or more. We all have different lives and schedules. Perhaps you’re a shift worker, or a busy parent–or both! I spend time with the Lord after my children go to bed and the house is still. There is no set time when to read the Bible or no set rule of how long to read the Bible. Please also don’t be discouraged if you miss a day. Again, developing a relationship with Him takes time. God knows your heart, He knows you’re trying. We are not perfect, only God is.

I pray that you found this helpful. I hope you can also share what works for you. Do you have any tips? What’s your journey on reading the Bible? What are your favourite verses/stories do you refer to?

If you’re interested in my recommendations on Study Bibles, Bibles, journals etc. please feel free to click here.

“Be still and know that I am God!”
Psalm 46:10

How to read the Bible (Part 1 of 2)

January 19, 2019February 18, 2019 adminLeave a comment

How to Read the Bible (Part 1 of 2)

Welcome! You want to read the Bible and you may ask: Where do I even start?

You may be new to the Bible, you may be familiar with the Word, or you may be very experienced and knowledgeable. Regardless of your comfort level it can get overwhelming at times. It’s normal to feel intimidated, discouraged, confused and lost at times but the most important thing you can do is pray for God to guide you and to open your heart. There is no right way or wrong way to read the Bible.

Here is part 1 of 2 on how to read the Bible. Part 1 focuses on the materials you will need.

The first step on how to get to know God and to develop a relationship with Him is to read the Bible.

Here are some suggestions on what you will need:

A study Bible: The most important step to reading the Bible is getting a study Bible that is best suited for YOU. The most common versions are New International Version, New Living Translation, and English Standard Version. You can browse online here to find the version that feels right for you. I personally read the New Living Translation version because it is very easy for me to understand. A study Bible helps me to further understand a particular verse, it provides timelines and context to an event, and it includes interesting and helpful notes on stories and people. Yes, it’s BIG and HEAVY…but trust me on this one. If you’re interested in a study Bible I would recommend this one: Life Application Study Bible NLT, TuTone
A travel Bible: You will need a smaller sized Bible (without the study notes) that is easy to carry with you if you don’t feel like referring to your study Bible. I personally carry a smaller sized one for when I travel or go to church. If you’re also interested in the Bible I have (see picture below) I would recommend this one: Compact Edition Bible NLT, Floral TuTone
A journal: This can be any blank notebook of your choice.
Highlighers and pens: You can use any highlighter and pen colour of our choice. I highlight verses that speak out to me and write out my notes in my journal.

Life Application Study Bible (New Living Translation)
Life Application Study Bible NLT, TuTone
Bible Tabs: Majestic Bible Tabs Lavender

Travel Bible: Compact Edition Bible NLT, Floral TuTone
Journals: Pink: All Things Are Possible – Matthew 19:26 Journal: Faux Leather, Top stitched floral design, Lined journal with Scripture on every page
Be Still & Know – Psalm 46:10 Tan Flexcover Journal: Beautifully debossed cover, Lined pages with Scripture, Elastic band closure

Please note that these materials are just suggestions and are ones that work for me. I would love to learn what works for you. What materials do you work with? Post and share your Bible, your journals, whatever it is that inspires you to read God’s word. I would love to hear your comments.

Don’t forget to come back soon for Part 2 where I focus more on the why and how I read the Bible. Have a great week!

If you’re interested in my recommendations on Study Bibles, Bibles, journals etc. please feel free to click here.

“But the word of the Lord remains forever. And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.” 1 Peter 1: 24-25