The Key to Executing Our Life-Our Business – Part 2
In our previous post, we introduced you to “the one book that says it all.” Now, it is time to put that book into action for your life. What good is having something in your life and no plans for it?
Have you tried reading the Bible and failed?
Has it been one of your lifelong goals to become a student of your faith-the Bible?
So what’s the problem; what keeps you from accomplishing your goal?
Here’s a thought; understanding what planning is all about is key. Here are the simple ingredients for planning: 1) define where you want to be or what you want to accomplish, 2) identify where you are in relationship to where you want be or what you want to accomplish, and 3) what will it take to get you there?
Plan for your Bible
Even what you do with something like the Bible requires a plan. Decide what you want to accomplish with your Bible. Maybe it’s something basic, which isn’t a “common” thing, like read the entire Bible. While this might seem simple; it’s not, trust me on this one. You need a plan. What type of Bible should you read? What’s the deal with all the different Bible translations? How do I begin such a task? What happens when I need help with it or just want to share what I’m reading? Sounds like anyone who has these questions need a plan.
Our Bible Plan
How can I successfully read through the Bible?
One of the first things Pamela and I decided as a family was to determine what version of the Bible was most comfortable for each of us. We settled on the NLT (New Living Translation) but before you start to argue Bible translations…let me go to the left for a second. It is my belief that anyone who tries to get you to read a translation of the Bible you do not understand, doesn’t want you to get understanding. Everyone has a different reading level and his or her needs differ especially when it comes to understanding what they read. One of the things I always like recommending for new Bible readers is to start with a kid’s bible. Back to our plan, we’ve decided that each year we will read through the entire Bible using The Bible App’s Bible plans. We select one and follow the daily reading plan. The key to the Bible is in knowing how interesting it really is and selecting the right translation for you is what’s key.
Studying is different than reading
Don’t confuse reading the Bible with studying it. Reading it for us is quick consumption. Studying it is the way we use and apply it to our life. We may take just one verse and study it. For Pamela that looks different than what it does for me. I look for how the verse affects life in an uncommon way as that’s the focus of my blog at nolongercommon.com. Studying is the way you take its words and add value to your life. What makes the Bible so good at this? Well, I think it’s because the Bible is the one book that addresses every subject or situation we can encounter. Take a verse each day, think about what it means and how you can apply it your life.
“This is My Bible”
One day we plan to complete our “No Longer Common” version of the Bible. From our studies, we have many verses throughout the Bible that apply to this subject, which brings me to my final point for this post. You need your own Bible and I do not mean copy of the book. Let me explain, we have a list of scriptures that have great meaning for us. These scriptures have changed our lives and we have them bookmarked as our life scriptures. If we could create our very own bible to carry around these are the scriptures that it would contain. When you find something that sticks out and you cannot let go of it, write it down. Trust me as you read the Bible, it has a way of surprising you and giving you exactly what you need when you need it.
My grandmother got me started in this journey. She made reading the Bible a tool for our life-our business. She was the best I knew at building people. Through her in depth study of this most “uncommon” book, she made building others her life’s work and so do I.
Today is Friday!
What if you could change your world simply by reading one book? Would you do it? Then here it is… The Bible. Plan to read and study it today. Leave me a comment.
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