Newfound Interest in the Bible

[Melodeonist]

For ages I’ve not really read the Bible much. Maybe a peek here and there in the Psalms or Proverbs but that’s about it. However, at night lately I stay up late watching YouTube in my car while I vape and relax. I watch YouTube too much and I feel it’s been detrimental to my faith. I feel God is calling me to swap YouTube with the Bible so I may relax, vape, and read the Bible instead.

For the past two weeks or so and reaching its peak yesterday, I’ve been struggling greatly with lust and the sins of the flesh. However, I feel God has given me the grace and motivation to turn around. I feel the seeds of my sins were sown by my unscrupulous watching of YouTube. Now I know I will try not to fall again. I will try to read the Bible every night in my car while I vape.

Now here’s my question. What should I focus on reading? I want to focus on reading parts that will help my faith grow, my hatred of sin to increase, and to better my understanding of God. Where should I start?

 

[adamhovey1988]

Whatever you want dude, everyone is different. I am reading the Bible all the way through, second time around. Sorry I can’t be of more help. I’m glad you are getting into scripture though.

 

[Roseeurekacross]

Start by taking the Bible inside and reading it. And stop vaping.

 

[po18guy]

You need structure. So, you might subscribe to the daily readings from the mass and read along. Or read the chapters which coincide with the mysteries of the Rosary or Divine Mercy Chaplet. Get a pocket New Testament, as Pope Francis advised. Carry it. When thoughts go off the rails, take the NT out and read it.

 

[DebCWil]

If you want your Bible reading to be more than simply literature, than find a quiet space for devotion. It is not a place for personal vices. A simple way of reading the Bible is to read it cover to cover which I have done several times. Setting aside 15 minutes per day to read 3 chapters per day plus 5 on Sunday allows you to read the Bible in one year.
I learned this as an Army Reservist while on active duty for Support. I started by reading the NAB since that is the translation used in United States for Mass.
Simply reading the Daily Mass readings will allow you to read the Bible over a period of 3 years. You may want a subscription to The Word Among Us with Mass supplement. It has daily meditations on one of the Mass readings.
Some people like to split their readings between the NT and OT. Our Daily Bread is a non-Catholic publication that provides a Bible in a Year schedule.

 

[Crusader13]

The best thing I can recommend is to read a good book that will break down the entire Salvation History of the bible for you. It’s very difficult and one can easily get frustrated when you pickup the bible and start trying to read it cover to cover or even when simply starting with the Gospels first. The entire story is in essence a love story and the covenants that were made between God and His people are the central theme. Once you understand how everything flows from beginning to end, reading the bible is FAR MORE enjoyable then merely trying to piece together sections and chapters on your own.

One of the best books I’ve ever read on this topic is Walking with God: A Journey through the Bible. Tim Gray and Jeff Cavins do an excellent job of breaking down the entire story and explain everything in terms that your average layman can understand.

Two other very good books are Bible Basics for Catholics by John Bergsma and A Father who keeps His promise by Scott Hahn. Bergsma’s book is just how it sounds, it gives you the basics of Salvation History without delving too deep into any one area. It’s a quick easy read and gives you the bare essentials. It’s a great book as well.

Scott Hahn’s book is also very good and his deals more with Covenant and how it relates to us and Salvation History. Either of these books is an excellent way to get started and if I had to recommend just one, I’d choose Walking with God.

I hope this helps.

 

[Melodeonist]

Thanks for all the replies! I feel way better now that I’ve started reading the Bible every day. I am tempted to sin less as I’m not planting the seeds of sin anymore by watching YouTube, but rather planting seeds of holiness. I still struggle with religious and political arguments and rudeness with my mother, but with time and God’s help hopefully I will overcome. I also struggle with gossip a good bit, but that too I’m sure God will help me with.

I got to check out some of those books sometime!

 

[DebCWil]

Disregard the political and religious argument. As you begin, you are starting for yourself. The Altruistic reasons will come later.
John the Baptist said, “I must decrease that Christ must increase.”
Why do people begin a physical fitness program? Is it to please others, or to become more physically fit themselves? There will always be obstacles to any self-improvement program, including a program to improve your spiritual journey.
It doesn’t matter if you are trying to improve your diet, your physical fitness, or your spiritual life, there will always be skeptics. It is up to you to set up the time.
As a young girl, in the short period of time that I attended parochial school, Sister recommended putting shoes under the bed (something that my parents already had us doing). As long as we were already on our knees to get our shoes, say your morning prayers.
Some things are as simplistic as “a mile beginning with a single step.” Set aside the fifteen minutes a day for prayer. It doesn’t matter if it is the first fifteen minutes in the morning after an early morning run, or the traditional 3pm Holy Hour. I set aside my time after work. Moses was called to remove his shoes as he came to the burning bush. As I reached that point in Genesis, I too began to remove my shoes during my time of scriptural reading. It is no different than proper attire when I run or swim.
When I selected my current apartment, the first thing I noticed was place to set up a prayer corner. Many people have a place to set up a home altar. The home altar doesn’t have to be anything elaborate. It can be a simple shelf with religious articles, a comfortable chair, statue of the Mary, rosary, your Bible, prayer book(s), and box for religious keepsakes.
Start slowly. Don’t compare where you are, personal knowledge/transformation with perceived knowledge of somebody else’s holiness. This is your journey.
A beginning swimmer begins by wading in the shallow water and is slowly guided into the deep. 15 minutes/day to read 3 chapters a day. Later you may begin to weave the Liturgy of the Hours into the regular course of your day, and explore Lectio Divina.