I’d love to hear! When it comes to Bible reading and sitting with The Word in the Word, do you have one tried and true practice or do you find it shifting in different seasons, different stages, different ages?

I find myself in the latter camp. Mine changes.

{here’s another post about Bible + routine from a few years ago}

I’ve had intense times.
Delightful days. Digging in deep.
Studying long.
Learning, praising, appreciating.

I’ve had indifferent times.
I’ve sat in seasons where God feels very silent.
Intervals of dissecting, dismantling, and deciphering.

I’ve had junctures of composition and development, growing, changing in the reassessing.
There are long periods of writing out prayers and places when my pen lays quiet.

Yet, in every bit of it, I believe there is growth and learning.
It’s a building of tenacious faith and a rooting of steadfast humility, a noticing of need and proclivity for nourishment.
Jesus has been beside me in it all.

My rules of reading, abiding in the Word look like this for these summer months.

Listening

Most mornings, I tap my Bible app and read the verse of the day.
Then, with a few taps and swipes I choose a book and a chapter, touch PLAY and let the words read to me as I run a brush through my disheveled hair, style it, apply a bit of makeup, and dress for the day.

I’m currently listening to the Gospels which segways into my next summer practice.

Align

I’m slowly working through Align: 31 Days of Prayer Aligned with God’s Desires.
The format is lovely.
To begin, choose one of the Gospels to read.
Each day begins with reading a Gospel chapter from the one you choose.
There’s a Bible verse at the top of the page accompanied by a short devotional.
The second page carries a 7-fold prayer prompt approach along the page edge and holds a lined page for writing out reflections.
While each day is a two-page spread, it can prompt more intensive reflections or go on the lighter side for busier days.
I especially love petitioning for nations around our world.

Waymaker Study

My other slow work is through the Waymaker study by Ann Voskamp.
FaithGateway is hosting a summer study with free access to the videos. You can sign up here.

The Waymaker study introduces the practice of A SACRED Way of Life.

S – Stillness to Know God
A – Attentiveness to hear God
C – Cruciformity to surrender to God
R – Revelation to see God
E – Examine to return to God
D – Doxology to thank God

Music

I’ve been listening to for-fun playlists this summer, but I also have playlists filled with songs singing to my soul.
The musicians sing beauty and truth and faith and questions and doubts and carrying-on when life is rough. They sing delight and depression and a Good Shepherd. They sing of angst and doubt and devotion and strength.

Travis and Lily Cottrell soar praise forever to the King of Kings.
Andrew Peterson reminds us to Be Kind To Ourselves and sings of planting trees and blessing someone.
Mandisa’s melodies bring us messages that We All Bleed The Same and we may be the one He speaks through.
Ellie Holcomb sings Fighting Words and Red Sea Road.
Matt Redman reminds us in all our questions and wrestling Jesus doesn’t let go.

Prayer Journal

The final practice, one I’ve been doing all year, I especially love.
It’s grounding and good, yet simple and undemanding.
I write out a few prayer lines in this five-year prayer journal each evening.
Sometimes this looks like gratitude listed, sometimes specific prayer for one person. Other evenings it’s prayers for a particular spot on the globe. There are entries with deep heartcries and lines brimming with joy. Dates where the prayers center on the birthday person of the day.
Times when the lines are filled to overflowing, others when it’s only one sentence.
It’s been a life-giving practice for me.
I’m grateful.