Every morning, I roll out of bed, turn on the hot water for coffee, hope I remembered to grind the beans the night before, and then pour that cup of Joe. There’s a sense of comforting tradition that takes place when I gather my special mug, grab a muffin, and head to my front room. Waiting for me, I have options. I can sit in silence until the caffeine starts running through my veins, I can hop on my phone to see what’s going on in the “world” around me, or I can open up nourishment for my soul.
To be completely honest, I usually start with the silence and then move toward the nourishment. Realizing I have just a few minutes before other feet wake, I love clinging to the quiet moments of freedom by grabbing several verses of Scripture to start my day. It might seem obvious to read your Bible in the morning; it also might seem a bit taboo considering everyone “knows” that reading your Bible would be considered the right answer. But what I know for sure, is that it works.
Readiness for the Day Ahead
I have had many opportunities in my life where I woke up and didn’t read Scripture. Instead, I got showered, dressed, ate something, and then ran out the door to start my day. But as I’ve grown a little older and become responsible for the lives around me, I’ve learned that those mornings of quiet process with God’s truth are what set me in motion to love well during my day. And when I wake up late or miss the opportunity to do so, I really notice the difference. It’s as if I went for a run without drinking any water. There’s an obvious lack to what I’ve needed before I’ve gotten moving.
These days, it’s easy to download Bible apps on phones, and that is a gift! I love knowing I can dive into any topic by clicking keywords into my screen for fuller access. But what I love most is mornings when phones aren’t needed, that simple sound of thin Bible pages turning. It’s the familiar comfort of words on paper, the Book in my hands, and my pen scratching notes on the margin. It’s this tangible Bible of bent corners and hand-written sketches that will end up passed down to my children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren in all its highlighted and worn-out glory. And it’s my hope that they will know that hard days were met with red letters, and I was in the grit more than I was in technology. It’s a gift of nourishment in my present, and it’s also a gift of nourishment for them in their future.
It’s Starts With Us
With all the opportunity to spend time these days, I hope these are the moments remembered of me. I hope our kids say “We had SO many Bibles in our house!” Because we do! And I also hope they say, “They were always open!”
As we lead children into the Word, the best way for them to actually become interested is by seeing us already invested. I can tell my kids to practice the piano all day long, but it’s when I sit down at the bench to play that they come and sit with me. I can encourage them to make their own toast each morning, but it’s when I show them how, that they feel empowered to make their own breakfast. Teaching the Bible is no different. It comes with the patience, explanation, and the beauty of storytelling that will engage and interest them by showing them the worth of what is inside.
It starts with us. I am convinced of that. It starts with our intentional opportunities to seek out verses in Scripture each day to highlight. It starts with the joy of having Bibles, storybooks, and art around our homes that point us back to the Book itself. It starts with the simplicity of our need to connect with God.
It might seem obvious to grab a Bible and read it. And it might not. Because sometimes the most obvious thing is the one that is often forgotten. So, take this opportunity to turn the tide or maybe just turn the page. Set an open Bible in a place you’ll easily see it, grab it, and take advantage of its wisdom.
