Opinion
Taking it slowly – one verse at a time
Jane Walters has adopted a more pedestrian pace for a while when reading her bible, but has found she is gaining new perspectives on what she is reading.
I guess it’s a sign of age when you start saying things like, ‘October already? Where’s the year gone?’ and ‘Someone’s in a hurry!’ when you’re overtaken at speed. But life does seem so very fast sometimes, and I’ve started to push back a little by reading my Bible very slowly.
I’ve mentioned before in these blogs that I’m an avid reader. I usually have several books on the go at once and average finishing one a week, so it’s been quite different to read just one verse at a time in my morning devotions.
I indulged myself by starting a new notebook (always a thrill for a writer!) and set about recording my thoughts and reflections on that day’s verse. The first day, I wrote a page and a half in my notebook. Again, the second day. The pattern continued, sometimes writing slightly less, sometimes considerably more, but only dealing with one verse. Sometimes even just half a verse.
I shan’t reveal yet what passage I’m studying, because it will hopefully develop into a book at some point, but it’s one that has repeated themes. Frankly, some verses are similar to others but – and this has been fascinating to me – each day has afforded me some fresh perspective, some new insight, which has meant that my own notes are far from repetitive.
Often, it’s what’s going on for me that day that proves the catalyst and shapes my responses to what I’m reading. It’s typical, too, that other verses come to mind, other things God has said in the past, that directly feed into it. No day is the same.
There are drawbacks, of course. It turns out, if we only read the Bible one verse a day, it would take us just over 85 years to get through it! So the verse-by-verse approach can only apply for short seasons. Plus, it is essential that we always set verses squarely in their context, to avoid the temptation to cherry-pick the best bits or misinterpret what they mean.
We can, however, apply the idea of the ‘slow read’ to longer passages, resisting the urge to skim through them (especially if they are familiar) and allowing words and phrases to resonate more deeply as we pause to digest.
I shall finish with this recommendation in Joshua 1:8: Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do (NLT).
Amen!
The picture is courtesy of Unsplash.
Jane Walters is Chair of the Association of Christian Writers and loves to champion writers of all ages and stages. She leads Green Pastures Christian Writers (currently meeting on Zoom) and creative writing retreats at Quiet Waters. Find out more: www.janewyattwalters.com or @readywritersretreats on Instagram.
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