If you are familiar with my site, I blog about cleaning and organizing everything in your home and life. One of the things you probably already know about me is that I am a Christian. As a Christian, daily Bible reading is important to me, and I always try to make it part of my daily schedule.
Just like anything else, if you don’t have it planned in your schedule, it can be easily neglected. Think of it as daily exercise. After all, it is a spiritual exercise. By disciplining yourself, you will grow “spiritual muscle.” So, today I thought I’d offer you a few ideas of how to organize your Bible study time.
First of all, let’s look at what resources and methods you are already using that are working for you. Are you a visual learner who likes to see and visualize the words on the page? Or, are you an auditory learner who learns better by hearing the words read aloud?
Perhaps, you are a kinesthetic learner and like to doodle on the pages or highlight in multiple colors. Whatever your learning style, you can organize your Bible time to suit you best. I, personally, like using a Bible app and listening to the Word read aloud. I retain it more that way.
Also of great importance is the time of day you prefer. Are you a morning person or an evening person? Maybe the afternoon is when you are at your best. Choose a time of day that suits you best for being your most alert and most awake. Otherwise, you can be tempted to drift off to sleep or daydream away and forget what you’ve read.
At the beginning of the year, I always elect to read the Bible through from cover to cover. Bible Gateway has an app I use and love that allows you to select a plan. I use the chronological plan and listen to it daily.
I used to keep small index cards in my Bible to keep track of what I’ve read. Now, the app does it for me by placing a checkmark by the chapters I complete. You can find and print off a reading chart online for free. There are many varieties to choose from. Find what method works for you.
I also like reading and marking the pages of my Bible. I have a notebook I write in occasionally as I read something and God shows me some specific application for my life. If you prefer, you can organize your Bible and notebooks in a special basket that you use in your daily devotional time.
Special Tip: If you’ve been reading my blog much, you know I love and teach the importance of using a daily planner. If Bible reading is to become a daily discipline, you should mark it down in your “to do” list on your daily planner until it becomes a habit.
Whatever your learning style, there is a way to make Bible reading a discipline for you. I mentioned one app already(Bible Gateway) that you can use. You can elect to have notifications sent to your phone to remind you to read until it becomes second nature to you.
One Bible Study and Prayer method I’ve always loved and used is the ACTS method. ACTS stands for Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication. I memorized this as a young Christian and have found this to be an excellent way to approach God in prayer before reading the Bible.
First is the “Adoration” portion of ACTS. Here, we learn to approach God with a heart of worship, adoring Him for Who He is.
Second is the “Confession” portion of ACTS. Here, we confess our sins to Him and ask for forgiveness.
Third is the “Thanksgiving” portion of ACTS. Here, we thank God for all He has done for us.
Lastly is the “Supplication” portion of ACTS. Here, we intercede and pray for ourselves and others.
All of these are simple tips to organize your Bible time, but the ACTS method is particularly good because it prepares your heart to hear and receive from God.
I also wanted to encourage you today. As a mom, I know that it’s easy to feel like the daily tasks of housekeeping and caring for the children are unnoticed and unappreciated. You may be tempted to think you don’t matter and that what you do doesn’t matter. Let me stop you right there. YOU DO MATTER.
You are loved by God and created for His good purposes. One of the most beautiful ways you can serve God is by caring for your family and your home. Straighten your crown, ladies, and read an encouraging word from my personal journal from 2016 about Queen Esther and how her role saved a nation.
Thinking about Esther today and why she may be one of the most honorable women in heaven. Queen Vashti may be so, also, but that remains a mystery. We don’t know much of King Xerxes, but what we do know tells us something of his character. He was “half drunk with wine” called on his queen to come “display her beauty” and was filled with rage when she refused.
The drunk king then asked his officials, who were also likely drunk, to make decisions that would affect an entire kingdom. Some commentaries and scholars believe “display her beauty” before the kings court may have suggested she appear nude, wearing ONLY her crown. If so, we can assume Queen Vashti may have acted in wisdom, but she will remain a mystery as she is never given the chance to redeem her behavior.
So, what we see of King Xerxes is pretty telling of his lack of judgement and character, as it is stated in chapter one that during the banquet everyone was given “as much wine as they pleased.” No discipline. No self-restraint. No rules. No restrictions. “Everyone could “decide this matter for themselves.” We can also see something of his character by the officials he selected, namely Haman.
So a lavish beauty contest begins with the ultimate prize being the kingdom and the role of Queen. Esther won the favor of the eunuchs and then the favor of the king. She had not sought out this position, but it had been endowed on her by God. Her beauty caused her to be selected for consideration, but it was her character that would sustain her as the queen.
She was humble. She did not select things by her choice only but sought the advice of the eunuchs. She was wise and discreet, as she did not reveal all, namely her nationality and family background, according to chapter two. She was chaste, as only young virgins were selected. She was loyal and by her cousin Mordecai’s discovery, she protected the king from an attempt on his very life. She was brave, bold, and courageous and realized her position required action that could have cost her life. “If I must die, I am willing to die,” on behalf of the people of her kingdom.
She prayed and fasted on behalf of her people and asked her maidens to do the same. She called on Mordecai to do the same on her behalf. We all know the outcome. The people were saved, Haman was hanged, and Mordecai promoted. All of this because a woman feared God, honored her husband, and laid down her agenda to bring about the saving of many. Basically, she got out of the way, and LET GOD. What can you do with the position God has given you?
Need to deep clean? I have lists for you to guide you along.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kitchen list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bathroom list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Kids’ Rooms list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Living Room list can be found here.
My How to Deep Clean Your Bedroom list can be found here.
Also, to keep up the general housework, you may need to create a daily housekeeping schedule that suits your specific needs. To do so, I have created a helpful series you can read here.
Need to Declutter Every room? I have declutter checklists for every room and every space in your home to guide you along below.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Struggling with the daily housekeeping chores? Check out my ebook on this topic, entitled Make Over Your Homemaking. Use this link to get it at a discounted price.
How to Declutter the Guest Room or Your Kid’s Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Laundry Room and Patio checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Coat Closet/Hall Closet/Linen Closet checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Home Office checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Attic checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Garage checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Living Room checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Kitchen Checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Entry/Foyer/Mudroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Clothing checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bedroom checklist can be found here.
How to Declutter Your Bathroom checklist can be found here.
Need some Inspiration to Declutter? Join us for the Year Long Through Declutter Series by subscribing by email below. To subscribe, leave a comment below.
The Year Long Thorough Declutter Series is designed to help you declutter every room and every space in your home. We declutter 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. You can sign up here. It includes daily tasks, so you can track your progress. It also includes detailed lists to declutter each room and each space within your home. Subscribe below to receive your daily task. To subscribe, just leave a comment below.
Happy Decluttering!
New to deemiddleton.com and don’t know where to start? I recommend going in this order:
Step 1: Check out this post on the 1st step you should take to get organized. If you don’t have a calendar, you can grab my free weekly printable calendar page here. It is in my shopify store, but it is totally free, so you won’t be prompted to put in any payment information. It is a free download and will be delivered straight to your email.
Also, you can get the complete digital printable copy of the Year Long Thorough Declutter Series Calendar and Checklists here. The printable digital download is delivered to your email. It includes 25 pages of printable calendar pages and checklists to help you declutter every room in your home. You can sign up here.
Step 2: Create a daily Housekeeping Schedule. You can use this series to start to set up your own schedule. You can also use this simplified weekly schedule.If you often ask: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Or, if you struggle to get organized and have tried and failed time and again, you can likely find out which of these 11 reasons cause you to fail to get organized.
Step 3: How do you remove clutter?.…Sign up for the Declutter Series and get your entire home decluttered in just 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week.”Declutter Your Home” checklists are provided in each email.
Step 4: What is the fastest way to clean a dirty house? Use a timer and use the Deep Cleaning Checklists above. They will help you get your home sparkling after you’ve decluttered.
Interested in becoming a full-time blogger like me? Check out my blogging series. At the top of every page on my blog, you’ll find a drop down menu. Just select the BLOGGING category.
Check out the most popular posts on deemiddleton.com:
14 Things That Make Your Home Look Cluttered
How to Create a Daily Housekeeping Schedule
How to Clean House When You Are Completely Overwhelmed By Clutter
What is Preventing You From Getting Organized?
Also, check out a great post on decluttering over here from becomingminimalist.com. Joshua Becker has some great tips on decluttering and minimalism.
For further reading, check out the fly lady here. She has some great cleaning and kitchen decluttering ideas plus excellent organization tips to get you started.
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