I love checklists. When I started reading my Bible consistently as a teenager, it was because I wanted to tell my small group leader in youth group that I had read my Bible every day that week. I believe that accountability can be an important part of learning to have a consistent, daily time with God in His Word, but there was a problem with my heart motivation. Rather than seeking to have a relationship with God, I was seeking to do the things that I thought would make me look more spiritual.

After graduating from high school, I went to West Coast Baptist College. What could be more spiritual than going to college and majoring in Bible? It was during my sophomore year there that I came to the realization that I had never trusted Christ as my Savior. No amount of reading my Bible, praying, or Christian service could have ever saved me. Only the finished work of Christ on the cross could save me.

When I placed my faith in Jesus alone, the trajectory of my life was completely changed. I was a new creature! The presence of the Holy Spirit affected every area of my life, and my daily time in God’s Word was no exception. At that point, I had already read the Bible through at least three times in English and once in Spanish. Yet somehow I felt like I was starting at square one again, and it was absolutely delightful. I dropped whatever Bible reading plan I had been using and started in Romans. I followed that with John. Reading the Bible for the first time with the Holy Spirit interpreting was an experience I will never forget.

Over the years, I have learned that having a consistent, daily time with God in His Word is the only way I can experience His hope in my everyday life. I want to help you do the same. Together, we can fight the checklist mentality (PSA, God doesn’t have a sticker chart in heaven where He marks how many days you’ve had a quiet time!), and develop a deep relationship with the God of the Word.