When I was small my Little League team would say a cheer right before we ran onto the field. It was a way to rally ourselves and focus on what we were about to do.

Maybe it seems strange, but it can be good practice to have a ritual before you read your Bible too. It’s a way to rally and focus yourself on what you’re about to do.

Too often, we read our Bibles as if nothing is going to happen as a result. We think and act like they’re dusty words on a page that are far removed from our daily lives.

So you need something to shift your thinking—to help you remember you’re not just reading the Bible, but receiving a word from God.

What kind of ritual am I talking about?

I simply recite Isaiah 40:8 every time I open my Bible: “…the word of our God stands forever.” It gets my head in the game and focuses me on what I’m about to do. In a simple-yet-powerful way, it reminds me that I’m not just reading the Bible, but about to receive a word from God himself. Isaiah 40:8 draws our minds heavenward into a wide open space, teaching us that even though our lives are temporary, God’s word and wisdom stand forever!

Here are some others you might find useful:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path” (Psalm 119:105).
“For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword” (Hebrews 4:12).

Why not give it a try? It’s simple. But it gets your head in the game.

Reading the Bible is not about checking off a religious box. It’s about receiving a word from God.

As Isaiah 40:8 says, “the word of our God stands forever”! Approach your Bible reading—and your life—confident that this is true.

By Matthew Ruttan

• “Up!” is published 5 days a week (Tuesday to Saturday), and returns on October 24th.