We will...be women of the Word, seeking to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to live in accord with sound doctrine in every area of our lives (Commitment # 3, True Woman Manifesto)
Have you ever seen a sponge fall into a sink full of water? Immediately it absorbs as much water as it can hold. Its dry, shriveled appearance is transformed into a fully saturated kitchen tool. Think of your mind as a dry sponge, and devise a plan for absorbing as much of the Word as it will hold! (Warning: This plan will not work if you have good “intentions,” but neglect to “be intentional” in applying yourself to the task.) Start being intentional by plugging it into a slot in your daily planner—or set your phone alarm—anything that will help hold you accountable to your commitment to start absorbing the Word.
Several years ago I made a commitment to God that I would meet with Him daily. Nothing has affected my spiritual growth more. My promise to Him kept me going on days when I was tempted to let my devotions slide. Now, my devotional time is more regular than my eating schedule!
If reading the Word regularly is not the norm for you, I recommend starting out with a helpful tool like a devotional, a workbook study, or a book that focuses on a specific biblical topic. Don't just read, but look up the Scriptures that are referred to, and then write down your thoughts. Record questions that come to mind and use them for future study.
There are many good reading plans that allow you to read through the Bible in a year—I recommend one that gives a daily sampling from both the Old and New Testaments.
Reading the Bible is the starting place, but for greater understanding, you need to actually study the Word. A good commentary and a study Bible with notes of explanation are very helpful.
