You Are What You Eat, Spiritually Speaking

As the saying goes "you are what you eat," even when it comes to things of a spiritual nature.

In Luke 4:4 Jesus quotes from the book of Deuteronmoy saying, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."  God's Word is our spiritual food.  If we are not taking in (reading) His Word, chewing (meditating) on it, and digesting (applying) the teachings and principles He has laid out for us then how can we expect to grow and mature?  Just like our physical bodies need physical food to grow our spiritual bodies (heart and mind) need spiritual food (God's Word) to grow, too.  And when you think about it, eating is something we do every day...multiple times a day even!  Should we not be opening our Bibles, studying and meditating on the words God has spoken to us at least that often?  Of course!

In 2011 I made a commitment to read through the Bible in a year.  I didn't quite get it finished in 2011, but did finish early in 2012.  In 2012 I chose to read through Diligently Seeking God, an excellent daily devotional written by Gary Henry.  There were several mornings where my husband and I would read through it together while he ate breakfast before heading off to work.  This helped us both grow closer to God and to each other.  Also, in 2012 my husband and I decided to read through the Bible in a year together, starting in Genesis and finishing up with the Book of Revelation.  This was especially encouraging and strengthening for both of us.  He has a greater understand of New Testament Scripture and so he was able to help me better gain a better understanding of these passages.  My strength was in the Old Testament, particularly the Books of Moses (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy), the Books of History (Joshua, Judges, Ruth, I & II Samuel, I & II Kings, I & II Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther), and the Major Prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel and Daniel.  I was able to help him understand the history of the Children of Israel, which also improved his understanding of certain New Testament passages.

This year I have decided to read through the New Testament, so I can better understand His Word and be better equipped to teach others.  Here is the reading plan I am using.  Also, my husband and I are reading through Gary Henry's book Reaching Forward in the mornings before he goes to work and have started to read through entire Bible for the second time using this reading plan.

Here are some other sources for Yearly Bible Reading Plans:

• E Word Today
• 52 Week Bible Reading Plan
• Blue Letter Bible
• Bible Plan
• Bible Gateway
• One Year Bible Online
• Various Reading Plans 
• Bible Class Material - 5 day/Wk Reading Plan

*NOTE:  I do not agree with the all teachings of all these sources, or all the methods used in the various reading plans.  I am only encouraging you to use them as a source to find a reading plan that helps you take time to read God's word.

I know we're already 10 days into 2013, but it's never to late to make a commitment to spend more time reading His Word!