To say that taking on this new Worship Director role at my church has had a steep learning curve would be an understatement. Directing a team of 20-plus people (singers and musicians) is the epitome of “too many moving parts,” and I’m still figuring most of it out. The result has been that I’ve had less time for my wife, less time for AcousticWorshiper.com, and less time for me to think and ponder about things like I need to. I hate to admit it, but I’ve also let there be less time for me to read the Bible and pray (gasp!).
My pastor has been preaching a series about having a fine taste for the Word, and it’s just what I needed to hear right now. (side note: another great way to fight burn-out is to be in service listening to your pastor!) In times where I’m stretched thin trying to do what I believe God has called me to do, I find myself weak and hungry. Instead of reaching for the junk food of the world or just whatever is in arm’s reach (the internet in the palm of my hand…), I see that I need to feed on God’s living and active Word.
The same applies to you as you serve at your church! We all get weary from serving. So what do we do when we’re physically hungry? We eat.
Here are some practical things you can do to make sure you are feeding on the Word.
Get a Bible App
These days it’s so easy to everything on your phone, so why not read the Bible on there, too? My personal favorite Bible app is the YouVersion Bible app. In the YouVersion app, not only can you read, but, depending on which translation you’re in, you can also listen to audio version of the Bible. Faith comes by hearing! (Romans 10:17) You can also get push notifications for the Verse of the Day or reminders to complete your daily reading plan. And by the way, there are a TON of reading plans if you’re not sure where or what to read in the Bible. Another cool feature of the YouVersion Bible app’s reading plans is that you can go through a plan with a friend, sharing comments along the way. This is a good way to keep you accountable to stay caught up on your plan.
Two other strong honorable mentions that I have installed on my phone are:
Olive Tree Bible Study app & Blue Letter Bible app. Check those out if you’re interested. If you have any questions, hit the Comments at the bottom of this post.
What to Read
If the YouVersion Bible app reading plans are not exactly what you’re looking for, there are some good “go-to” books. The ones I regularly read (and re-read) are: Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. These are books stocked full of wisdom. Good place to go if you want to be a wise guy (pun intended…).
Proverbs: With Proverbs you can easily read the chapter that matches whatever today’s date is. For example, if it’s May 10th, you’d read Proverbs 10.
Ecclesiastes: This book is also full of wisdom, but it gives you a good perspective on the things that matter in life. We’re only here for a flash, so make it count! 🙂
It’s also extremely useful to journal what verse stands out to you while reading these books of wisdom. Follow the references you find and ponder what the verse means. A great way to journal is the “SOAP” method. [Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer] Leave a Comment below if you’d like more info on the SOAP method.
Pick a Favorite
Read through your favorite book. If you don’t have a favorite, use one of mine: Genesis or James.
I like Genesis, because it’s where everything started, and it sets up the rest of the Bible. The way you read Genesis determines how you read everything else. Read things you’ve read before. Read the creation story again. You never know what might jump out at you.
I like the book of James, because it’s full of so much practical wisdom that we can apply to our daily lives. Taming the tongue, faith-based works, enduring trials, wisdom from heaven, etc…
I always come back to James.
Do It 🙂
The old saying, “you are what you eat,” is actually true — both in the physical and spiritual sense. Filling up on the good stuff will help you be a strong member (or leader) of your worship team.
How do you make sure you spend time reading your Bible?
Leave a comment below and let us know!
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