A day without God’s Word is a day not lived!
By Noor van Haaften, speaker and author
It has been many years since I, as an 18-year-old student, took part in an international Christian student retreat in Austria. It wasn’t exactly a “retreat,” by the way, because we didn’t get much free time. It was more like a short Bible school with many lectures, seminars, and small groups. Although I was rather skeptical about faith at the time and didn’t find the idea of spending three weeks of my summer vacation at a Bible retreat very appealing, I had let myself be persuaded to attend. I kept to myself the fact that I was looking forward to the mountains more than to the retreat.
It is thanks to the main speaker at this retreat that my heart opened up to the Bible. He spoke with such enthusiasm about the Apostle Paul and the Epistle to the Romans that I was completely taken aback. As we discussed various stories about Jesus in small groups, my amazement at God’s Word only grew. Soon I abandoned my original plan to leave the retreat early. By then I was fully immersed, and so I received three weeks of Bible instruction! During that memorable summer, it became clear to me how good it is and how much good it does to get to know the Bible and the God of the Bible. I became a Christian in the Salzburg region! Back in the Netherlands, I attended Bible study groups in Utrecht, where I was studying. I also regularly participated in Bible retreats. There I learned both to read and to study the Bible, which proved to be life-changing.
If you want to grow in faith…
There is an old English hymn that says that whoever wants to grow in faith should read the Bible and pray every day. Growth requires nourishment, and we find this in the Bible. The psalmist of Psalm 1 compares the person who loves God’s Word and meditates on it constantly to a tree planted by streams of water that bears fruit. This meditating on God’s Word is an internalizing of what one has read. Much would be lost if, immediately after reading a Bible passage, we were to move on to our daily routine without pausing even for a moment to reflect on what we have read.
When we read Bible passages or verses at our leisure and keep ruminating on them (or even memorize them), they will take root within us and become effective or fruitful. Our hearts will not waver at every misfortune, but will become stronger and more steadfast, and our minds will be renewed. The psalmist of Psalm 119 writes about this: “How I love your law! I meditate on it all day long. You make me wiser through your commandments (…) I have more insight than all my teachers, for I meditate on your testimonies.” (Psalm 119:97 ff.; LUT)
Setting the Right Priorities
Our Bible reading often falls by the wayside because we’re pressed for time. We think we don’t have time! But most of the time, it’s simply that everything else takes precedence, and in the end, we can’t bring ourselves to read the Bible. To be honest, we’d certainly have time for Bible reading if it were truly important to us. We’d save a lot of time if, for example, our cell phones took up less space in our lives. If we didn’t play games before going to sleep and check first thing in the morning upon waking to see if anyone has sent us a WhatsApp message or email. We waste a lot of time by repeatedly letting ourselves be distracted and led away by all sorts of things, instead of consciously setting priorities so that what’s most important doesn’t get lost.
The latter happened to Martha, who was probably more of an extrovert by nature, which made it difficult for her to find peace and be still. When Jesus stopped in Bethany on his way to Jerusalem to visit her and her sister Mary, it was Martha who immediately rolled up her sleeves to take care of him and his companions. Mary, on the other hand, put everything aside to make the most of Jesus’s unexpected visit. She sat right at Jesus’s feet so she wouldn’t miss a single word he said. While Martha, sweaty and frustrated, was searching for snacks to offer her unexpected guests, Mary and the guests were nourished and refreshed by Jesus’s words. The “Martha, Martha” with which Jesus addressed Martha after she had lost her temper was not a rebuke. It pained Jesus that Martha, because she was so busy, was missing out on something, even though he had come to meet her and bless her with his words. Instead of setting the right priorities and sitting down with Jesus, she had lost herself in serving. This story can be found in Luke 10:38–42.
Bible Reading
Anyone who wants to get to know God’s Word (and thus God Himself) better must consciously immerse themselves in the Bible. We would miss out on a great deal if we stuck to our favorite verses instead of reading more, digging deeper, and discovering more. It would also be a shame if we limited ourselves to the New Testament, for the Old Testament deserves to be heard as well—because in it we discover God’s nature and work, and because it “carries us” toward the great climax of Jesus’ coming into this world.
There is no hard-and-fast rule for reading the Bible, although there is much to be said for reading a Bible verse or passage in the morning, praying, and starting the day with that text. David, for example, sought the Lord early in the morning and entrusted his day to Him. He says in Psalm 5:4 (LUT): “O Lord, in the morning you hear my voice; in the morning I seek you and wait expectantly.” This “being attentive” points to a devout listening for God’s voice or His work in our lives. This listening is exciting: We hope in God and wait for Him! What is especially remarkable is that, in certain circumstances, a Bible verse may suddenly come to mind—one that was “stored” in our hearts—and that applies precisely now, encouraging us, comforting us, or showing us the way. It is a precious moment when God’s light shines on our path and the Lord speaks to us.
When reading the Bible, you can choose a single verse or a longer passage, such as a psalm. Some people find a devotional book with a text for each day helpful, while others resolve to read and reflect on a book of the Old Testament, one of the Gospels, or a letter of Paul in the New Testament in small “chunks.” Just do what suits you and what is feasible for you. Some people find it helpful to set aside a specific spot in their home for Bible reading and prayer, while others use their work breaks for this, or listen to Bible passages and songs through AirPods while taking a walk or going for a run. Don’t leave it up to chance, because then it usually doesn’t happen, and you’ll miss out on the treasures the Bible has in store for you. Consciously make room in your life for Bible reading so that the Lord can speak to you and your connection with Him can grow stronger. May He bless you!
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About the Author: Noor van Haaften, a native of the Netherlands, is a sought-after speaker at Bible retreats and the author of several books, including a 7-part Bible study series on figures from the Old Testament. These books are also suitable for Bible study groups. Her latest book, “Joshua, Commissioned by God,” will be published in June of this year by Francke-Verlag in Marburg.
