7 times through

Here's another way to meditate/read the bible:

Pick One Book. Read it 7 times before you choose another book.

What happens when you watch Spiderman Three 7 times? You know every line and every move...you know it by "heart" right?

Here's the deal: the goal is NOT to "get through" the Bible...it's to let the Bible "get through you...to your heart"!

So many times we read a book having NO IDEA what it was about...our behavior does not change...

Read a book 7 times. Suggestion. Start with 2 John. It's only 1 chapter; 13 verses! How about Philemon. It's only 1 chapter; 25 verses. Jonah is cool...only 4 chapters and an intriguing story...very short books.

Here are 7 things you do each time you read:

(1) First reading: read through, as if you were reading a novel...get a good understanding...look at the whole and not the details...

(2) Second reading: read through zoning in on people and places...begin to think details

(3) Third reading: read through zoning in on events taking place

(4) Fourth reading: look for major themes of each chapter. Write them down. Look for the major theme of the book. Write it down...memorize the themes...even some verses...

(5) Fifth reading: Look for and take notes on: (a) God' s relationship with humans (b) humans relationship with God (c) humans relationship with other humans

(6) Sixth reading: Take notes on God's grace: creation, redemption, forgiveness, salvation, holiness, crucifixion, resurrection...in other words...how is God shown to be the "hero" of each chapter? Of the book?

(7) Seventh reading: write down all the commands that you find. Then, practice one command a week...practice doing all the commands for a week...even a month...until the bible "gets through you" enough to change you...

Then and only then have you "read" the bible because it has now "read you"!