I was doing some reading and came across some helpful words from a Puritan, Lewis Bayly. One of the chapers in his book, “The Practice of Piety” is called: “BRIEF DIRECTIONS HOW TO READ THE HOLY SCRIPTURES ONCE EVERY YEAR OVER, WITH EASE, PROFIT, AND REVERENCE.” He outlines six guidelines for profitable Bible reading. Although they seem profitable, I’m not sure they make reading the Bible in a year “easy” as he claims. Regardless, I offer them as suggestions for reflective Bible reading.
I’ve taken the liberty to “”modernize” and paraphrase what Bayly wrote.
“Just as faith is the soul of Bible reading, so reading and meditating on the Word of God are the parents of prayer, therefore, before you pray in the morning read a chapter in the Word of God, then meditate on all the excellent things there are in that passage. The following is a guide for meditation:
First: How is the passage challenging you to live a holy life filled with good works?
Second: Are there any warnings of God’s judgment on particular sins that you need to hear?
Third: What blessings does God promise to those who demonstrate patience, chastity, mercy, gift-giving, zealous service, love, faith and trust in God, and other Christian virtues?
Fourth: How is God the gracious deliverer and gift-giver to his faithful people in this passage?
Fifth: Apply these things to your own heart; don’t read the passage merely as history, but as God’s letter sent from heaven to you.
Sixth: Receive God’s Word with reverence as if God stood by your side speaking His word directly to you. Apply all that you read in Scripture to yourself and respond appropriately – either growing in faith or in genuine repentance.”
I loved the section: “reading and meditating on God’s Word are the parents of prayer…”; what a great metaphor!
