Most mornings when I wake up, the first thing I do is reach for my phone. I mindlessly thumb through messages and news feeds, eventually (maybe) opening the daily devotion app tucked away on the front screen. The problem is, when I’m attached to technology, I find that my connection to God weakens.
A while back I sat next to a dear woman at church named Sue. She’s in her golden years, twice widowed, and knows the Bible front to back. As we listened to the sermon, she filled the margins of her Bible, eagerly underlining and jotting notes next to other pen marks that had previously been written. I was so struck by her note taking that I asked her about it after the service.
Her mouth curved in a soft smile, and she breathed a sigh filled with wonder. “Isn’t God so good? Every time I read His Word, He shows me something new.”
I heartily agreed with her that day, and deep inside, I knew I’d witnessed a habit worth modeling.
Moms, technology is a gift. It connects us and makes life easier in so many ways. It allows us to read a quick devotional on days when life spins out of control. It fills us with inspirational quotes and verses in news feeds. But nothing can replace the beauty of a physical Bible.
Here are four reasons:
A physical Bible reduces distractions
Remember that wake-up routine I mentioned earlier? As much as I intend to open my devotions app first thing, chances are good that other apps or “urgent” messages will capture my attention and send me down a rabbit hole of wasted time. When I use my physical Bible and a study guide, I keep my phone out of sight (volume turned off) and focus on the words in front of me.
A physical Bible instills a sense of reverence
When I hold my thick, leather-bound Bible, I treat it with care. I watch where I set it down, and I carry it into church rather than shoving it into my messy purse. When I open the thin, wispy pages, I turn them gently, not wanting to tear or bend them. This book is a love letter from the God of the universe, and I want to treat it as the treasure it is.
A physical Bible demonstrates to my kids the importance of a Bible study routine
When I’m on my phone, I may be reading a Bible verse or devotional. But from my kids’ view, I’m just catching up on messages or engaging in another round of Candy Crush. By using a physical Bible, I’m telling my kids this is important, and yes, it’s even worth turning off the phone for.
(Side note: As much as I love a quiet Bible study time with no interruptions, I try to do my devotions at least once or twice a week at the kitchen table during my kids’ breakfast. I think it’s so important for them to see me prioritizing it, and it has opened up great breakfast conversations as a result.)
A physical Bible creates a living journal
Since sitting next to Sue in church that day, I now bring my Bible every Sunday and underline and jot notes too. I love opening Scripture and seeing what I’ve written in months past. Whether it’s Hebrew or Greek translations or personal applications, those notes create a documentary of how God has spoken to me.
I’ve seen artist friends draw beautiful pictures in the margins of their Bibles to express how they’ve connected with God. Whether you’re a note taker or an artist, imagine the legacy you’ll leave for your kids someday when they open the pages of your Bible.
Connecting with God every day is so important, and sometimes technology is the best way to do that. But, mamas, let’s not neglect the value of a physical Bible. Read it, treasure it, and pass on the legacy.
Journeying with you,
Sarah
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Let’s talk! Do you have a physical Bible? If so, what do you like best about using it to connect with God? If not, how could a physical Bible deepen your time in the Word?
I have been debating for years to write in my bible until I saw my pastors bible and I was so amazed and I have since started underlining and circling what God highlights this will be my next step !