We all like the idea of reading. Think about those cozy autumn-themed paintings featuring a little wood cabin with a figure in a rocking chair cradling a book by the warm fireplace glow. Or maybe you think of those whip-smart characters in a TV show who always seems to find the clever solution to a bind through a book that they’ve read. The idea of reading is commonly compelling, but the follow-through occurs far less frequently. People with a successful daily reading habit are even more rare. Continue reading to be encouraged with five reasons why you should read every day.
Reading has the power to teach, expanding your world through knowledge. Building a daily reading habit fosters that pursuit of knowledge, helping you to become a lifelong learner. The connection between learning new things and reading is often most easily seen in children. Books like My Book about Church help children understand the basic activities that they see in church, educating them on the simple aspects of weekly life. Educational reading for adults requires books that contend with the complexities of life and offer new insights to learn from. Faith That Shines in the Culture by Alfonso Espinosa helps readers grapple with the tough topics of our modern culture, prompting people to step into their calling by educating them on the three estates in which Christians live out their vocations.
Because we are made in the image of God, our minds have the power of creation. We invent new ideas at work, create art through taking photos and writing letters, and design our homes to display our favorite style or football team. Creativity is like a muscle, though, and can become strained if it’s unused too long. Reading books like the Messengers series allows you to see the world in a new light, encouraging you to refresh your ideas about the Gospel through the fascinating lens of dystopia.
Because the act of reading engages different parts of the mind, it has long been linked to brain health. Even a few minutes of reading as a daily habit has been known to have benefits for attention, productivity, and stress. A book like Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope by Tanner Olson offers short, reflective poems that provide moments of peace in daily life. Selecting something like this book of poems as daily reading requires little time but can offer a moment of focus and peace in your day.
Not only does reading educate about unfamiliar topics but books also possess the ability to connect and develop camaraderie. Reading that reflects your own life journey can be an affirming experience. Books such as Weary Joy: The Caregiver’s Journey uplift and provide encouragement when you’re in a complicated season of life. Reading about others who share your struggles and joys can make you feel less alone and even understood on a deeper level.
The most important benefit of reading is that we have been given the gift of Scripture, which is not only the basis for Christian life but also the way that God speaks to us. We know that “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). Reading the Bible is not a passive activity but the powerful sword of the Spirit moving in us as faith.
Another way to experience God’s Word every day is through a daily devotion. Developing a daily reading habit has so many benefits, but reading the Word of God every day builds us up in faith. As 2 Timothy 3:16 tells us, “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness.” Read this gift every day, trusting that God’s Word never fails to be powerful and effective.
Scripture: ESV®.
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