The Most Important Meal of the Day 

 

by Eric Lucan
 

Everyone has a morning routine.  Some common routines might involve a bowl of Cheerios and the morning paper.  Other routines might involve running around the house to get the kids ready for school.  Maybe your mornings include a Starbucks run and commuter traffic.  Or maybe your morning starts after hitting the snooze button several times. As different as everyone's morning may be, one common element for everyone should include the Word of God.
 
Now I am not perfect in this regard by any means, but I believe I recently found something that works for me.  We all know that we need to read the Bible, but finding time to do it can be difficult.  As a pastor, I spend a lot of time studying the Word when I am preparing a message or planning to teach but that can never take the place of a devotional life.  We are busy people in a busy community, but we need His Word.  I read that Billy Graham used to go through Psalms and Proverbs every month in his devotional life.  He would read 5 chapters in Psalms and 1 chapter in Proverbs every day and then repeat the cycle every month.  He said that the book of Psalms taught him how to get along with God, and the book of Proverbs taught him how to get along with his "fellow man."
 
Whether it is an in depth study of a particular book of the Bible, a one-year Bible reading plan, or a Psalms/Proverbs study like Billy Graham's, we need something we can stick to.  Below are some great options that might fit into your daily routine. 
 
Bible Reading Plans - Have you ever wanted to read through the entire Bible?  How about in one year?  Check out www.bibleplan.org.  They have several plans for the entire Bible or the entire Old or New Testament in a year.

 

Bible Email - I tried some Bible reading plans before I found this.  I made it a couple of months with the year long plans but didn't always set the time aside and quickly got behind.  With Bible email, the daily reading is sent directly to your inbox.  Since I check my email everyday, this is perfect.  Before I read any email in the morning, I read the Bible Email.  This service is totally free.  Go to www.freebibleemail.com

to sign up.
 
Bible on CD or iPod - If your morning involves a commute, what about the Bible on CD or for your iPod?  Multiple translations are available as well.  More information is available at www.audiobible.com.
 
We could get religious and say that reading the Bible should be done out of relationship not routine.  That argument might bear some weight, but I look at it a little differently.  Because we are in relationship with Him, then we intentionally set aside time to strengthen that relationship and that is something I hope we all decide to do.
 
If you are about to embark on a renewed devotional life or if you already have a strong one, I encourage you to discuss it with others.  This way we can all be accountable to each other as well as encourage the Body to read His Word.