Reading, Reflection, and Renewal

One of the things I love about the Bible is the fact that no matter how many times you’ve read it already, it always has something powerful and relevant for your current season of life. I think that is part of what the writer of Hebrews meant when he described the Word of God as alive and active (Hebrews 4:12). But if we want to be transformed by the Word of God, we have to be willing to approach Scripture with a humble heart and a growth mindset.

In my own walk with God, I tend to grow the most when I read passages from the Bible and then reflect on how well I applied those teachings to real situations in my life. Often times, God will send me a test in the form of a challenging situation, a difficult conversation, or a relationship that gets embroiled in conflict. Then later on, I’ll read something from the Bible that helps me realize I could have handled those situations a lot better. In other words, the test comes first, and then there’s the lesson.

For me, the rhythm of testing, reading, reflection, and renewal has been helpful. God sends a test, which I never handle perfectly. At some point in the future, I read passages in the Bible that shed light on how a more mature disciple would have responded in that type of situation. Then I spend time in prayer reflecting on what I did well and how I could have responded in a more Christ-honoring way. And as a result of that prayerful reflection, I renew my commitment to incorporating those Biblical principles into my life.

This process helps me transform my failures into learning opportunities that help me align my thoughts, attitudes, and actions with the teachings of Jesus. God knows we will never be able to follow him perfectly, but the next best thing we can do is turn those failures into an opportunity to grow into a better reflection of Jesus. And reflecting on how God’s Word applies to specific situations in our own lives is a great way to do that.

Let me encourage you to adopt a similar kind of rhythm of reading, reflection, and renewal in your devotional times with God. Don’t just read the Bible to be informed; read it to be transformed.

Blessings, Bryan Fojtasek