What to read in the Bible, when to read it...

During my devotional time this evening I came across a verse that struck me. I did a search on the phrase "Jesus said" on Bible Gateway to meditate on Jesus' heart (from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks, right?).

Matthew 15:32 refreshed me, "Jesus called his disciples to him and said, "I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way."

Jesus fasted for 40 days, He knew full well that they weren't starving. In fact, I'm pretty sure that when they got to their houses they would have their fair share of the ancient equivalent of the modern-day double cheeseburger and large fry meal. I'd say it's safe to say that they weren't in NEED yet Jesus had compassion on the fact that they were hungry. They were hungry because they'd been with Him for three days. They sacrificed eating to learn from the Messiah. I was encouraged because I realized that Jesus most likely has compassion for me too, especially when I sacrifice something to follow Him - even when it's not a need... wow.

What should I read in the Bible and when?! I was studying 1 Thess. with Paul but I happened to want to do this search instead and I feel relief and peace because of it. What do we do when we're reading through the Bible in a year and we're stuck in Leviticus or Numbers or Revelation...(I know I'm being ungodly by even thinking that - there are great sections in every book and I know that God has breathed it for a reason, I just don't happen to know all of the reasons..."and 36,000 were in the tribe of whosawhatsit and he was the father of ...").

Here is what I do which may or may not be helpful to somebody:

1. Read through the Bible in a year - You're bound to run into something that applies to you somewhere at some point in time.
2. Study a particular book at a time - This gives you the liberty to meditate on God's Word and choose what you feel you need to learn.
   
3. Get familiar - Find out what books and what chapters in the Bible talk about what (I know we're talking 66 books here, but it's worth it). I know off the top of my head that if I am concerned about spiritual gifts or communion I should go to I Cor. 11-14, or if I've lost my sense of authority as God's child I can turn to Ephesians 1 or colossians 2, I can turn to Romans 8 if I feel like I'm being separated from Jesus, if I can't express my anguish I know to go to every other page in the Psalms (haha). GET FAMILIAR with books and outlines. It will greatly affect the way God speaks to you through His Word.
   
4. Know your favorite verses - If you have a few key verses that always speak to you, go to the context and read the verses and chapters around that verse.

Out of the four, I've found that number three, getting familiar with Scripture, has been the most beneficial to me in my daily time with Jesus (without getting rid of the former ones or latter). I often either read through the Bible in a year or pick specific books to study AND also read from sections of Scripture that I know might have a great impact on me. It's especially great to study books/chapters/verses where you haven't visited in a while because, well...you don't know everything and there might be something there that God will speak to you that He didn't the last time you read it because you didn't care last time. Just like my Matthew 15:32 tonight.

• Read through the Bible/Study a specific book to find your Matthew 15:32.
• Get familiar with the Bible to be able to flood your heart with truth when you know you're being lied to.