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Daily Bible Reading - Part Two
How To Make It A Habit
Mark A. Copeland
INTRODUCTION
1. In the previous lesson, I sought to encourage everyone to make daily Bible reading a habit...
a. By emphasizing the value of the Word of God to:
1) Save us
2) Comfort us
b. By stressing we are creatures of habit and time
1) We either have a habit of reading or not reading
2) If we have gotten in the habit of not reading, our time on earth will end without our ever
having read God’s Word
2. In this lesson, I want to offer suggestions for making daily Bible reading a habit in our lives
[To be successful in forming any good habit...]
I. WE NEED TO CREATE A “POSITIVE ADDICTION” TO DAILY BIBLE READING
A. WHAT IS A “POSITIVE ADDICTION”...?
1. Usually when we hear the word addiction, we think of negative addictions
a. Which is simply another word for bad habits
b. Such as smoking, swearing, drinking, gambling
c. When something bad for us:
1) Becomes “second nature”
2) We do it without much effort or thought
d. We become dependent on it, either emotionally or physically
e. When we try to do without it, we experience various degrees of discomfort
2. Positive addiction is when you become dependent upon a good habit
a. For example, exercise can become a positive addiction
1) Those who have made exercise a pleasurable and frequent experience soon
become “addicted” to it
2) So that if they go a few days without exercise, they feel uneasy, depressed, irritable
3) Of course, if they go without exercise long enough, the discomfort will eventually
pass
b. So a positive addiction is a habit which is:
1) Good for you, either physically, mentally, or spiritually
2) A source of pleasure and satisfaction
3) One that should you neglect it, begins to give you “withdrawal pains”
B. WHY IS A POSITIVE ADDICTION TO DAILY BIBLE READING NECESSARY...?
1. It will help you maintain the practice of reading the Bible
2. Should a few days go by without reading the Bible, the “discomfort” experienced will help
motivate you to get “back on track”
3. Most people who have tried to read the Bible daily and did not keep it up...
a. Are people who have never experienced a positive addiction to reading God’s Word
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