“28. Resolved, to study the Scriptures so steadily, constantly and frequently, as that I may find, and plainly perceive myself to grow in the knowledge of the same.
Jonathan Edwards knew that one of our most important resolutions in life was to read scripture. He resolved to read steadily, constantly, and frequently. Scripture is the very breath of God, and it breathes life into us that we may be equipped for every good work. If we desire to grow in godliness, reading God’s word is the best place to start.
Recently I heard a story that reminded my heart how great a gift we have in the written word of God. I’ll share it with you in hopes that it refreshes your awe of this gift as well. On January 4, 2024, the Moi tribe of Papua, Indonesia received the first ever Bibles written in their language, and it was a powerful moment. You can hear the full story of God’s amazing work in this tribe here. If you have time to watch the video, perk your ears (or eyes since you have to read the translation) for what’s said as they receive the bibles. The first time I heard it, my eyes filled with tears. A Moi man holding bibles shouts to the people crowding around him, “Hey, my friends, what we have all been waiting for, the Creator has placed it into our hands, here it is! In our lifetime, the Creator has entrusted us with his word!” I wondered, does this same awe and excitement pass through my mind as I reach for my bible? As English-speaking people, we have easy access to the Bible. You might have a few around your home or an app on your phone. At any time, we can also web-search any given verse. It can be hard to recognize what a gift it is when it’s so easily obtained. But friends, the Creator God has entrusted His word to us, too! I don’t want to glaze over the significance of the gift we have been given. I think Edwards recognized the gift of God’s word. He resolved to read it so frequently that his knowledge of His creator would grow exponentially.
Thinking over his Resolutions, I find one thing is lacking, and that is the practical ways in which he planned to implement them. What were the approaches he used to study God’s word? I’m sure he had plans to implement them intentionally, but they weren’t included in his Resolutions. It is said that for a goal to be successful, it needs to be SMART: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Even more important than making our goals SMART is making them something we truly desire. I get the impression that Resolutions were birthed out of a desire for Jonathan Edwards to know God more intimately, and it was that desire that motivated him to diligently press on in keeping them. I want to keep this in mind as we think through some of his Resolutions these next couple of weeks and how they can encourage our faith walk. For today, how can our goals be desirable and SMART?
Bible reading plans are popular because they are SMART. They are great tools, and there are so many options out there that I won’t camp on it, but I will give you one piece of encouragement: your bible reading plan doesn’t need to be completed in a year. Now, you might be thinking that is contrary to the “T” in SMART, but I think that we can give ourselves grace here. The goal of reading scripture shouldn’t be to check the boxes and finish on time. I want to encourage you instead to linger in God’s word and give it time to sink in. I had a few failed “Bible in a Year” attempts before a wise woman pointed this out to me, and it has been such a weight lifted off my “check the box” heart. The whole Bible might also feel overwhelming to you. That’s completely understandable! Pick a portion of scripture instead. Maybe you want to read through the Psalms, or the Epistles. Perhaps you have never made it past Leviticus, and you want to give time to the Pentateuch. Reading God’s word shouldn’t be intimidating; he is inviting you in!
Another way of relishing in God’s word that I am very much a beginner at is memorizing scripture. If you are a beginner like me, try thinking about how you would teach a child a memory verse. Memorizing scripture with my kids has helped me so much. We say it repeatedly out loud, come up with motions, do a craft, or listen to a song. Use any tool you can find to help you, it’s not cheating! If you are a skilled memorizer, I would encourage you to attempt memorizing a whole book of the bible. Maybe that sounds daunting to you, but check out “An approach to Extended Memorization of Scripture” by Andrew M. Davis. It’s a short read and a helpful approach to long memorization.
This year I am attempting something I have never done before: to write out an entire book of the Bible. I cracked open a new journal and got some fresh pens to get myself excited to begin. (I recommend Pilot Frixion erasable pens because many mistakes will be made!) I chose to start with Matthew since that is what I’m currently studying, and it has already amazed me how much I am picking up on because I am forced to take my time to read and then write every word. I also chose to write mine in cursive so I would not only improve on a lost skill but also slow myself down an extra notch. Remember, our goal is not checking a box, but allowing the power of God’s word to penetrate our hearts. Try thinking about some simple ways to get yourself excited to start the habit of sitting and writing scripture word for word. You could plan to gift it to a loved one or buy a pretty journal or colorful pens. God made you with a unique personality, so the ways we motivate ourselves to approach scripture more frequently may differ. How can you make your goals fun and SMART?
As you approach setting a resolution to study scripture more, remember that it is not how you do it or how perfectly you complete it. Ask yourself two questions: “Is this causing me to find joy in Christ?” and “Is this glorifying God?” If not, reevaluate your plan, take away any outside pressure or expectation, and remind yourself that the Creator God has entrusted this wondrous gift to you, not so you would make a checklist of reading it, but that you may intimately know Him.
There are so many ways to creatively approach scripture and write it on our hearts. These are just a few ways that are on my heart recently. I would love to hear how you are motivating yourself to be in God’s word more frequently! Leave a comment and share with us! Next week I’ll be taking a break so that you can hear a wonderful interview Sue and Lindsey had with author Becky Harling on her new book, Friend-Wise. I’ll be back on March 16 to further the discussion about community. In the meantime, may you discover new joys in your relationship with Jesus as you engage with His word!
— Chelsea Nelson © March 2026
Thanks, Chelsea. This is an important topic. Also, I appreciate the pen recommendation as I always make mistakes writing.