I’ve stopped reading my Bible recently. Instead, I take time to listen to it. My work as a journalist means that I am constantly looking at words, reading and interpreting content. And I’ve realised that there was a tendency to take a similar approach to my ‘quiet times’ with God. I am finding it really fruitful to simply sit with a coffee and listen to actor David Suchet’s audio readings of the Bible on YouTube – particularly the books of John, Mark, Corinthians and Ephesians. There’s no agenda and no particular ‘What am I learning today?’ It’s wonderful to simply sit and marinate in truths. After a while of listening to Jesus speaking in the gospels, through Suchet’s wonderful readings, it feels as though I’m transported back 2,000 years and I am there with the crowds, watching and witnessing the miracles. I am convinced that nuggets of truths sometimes stand out for me, and perhaps they wouldn’t if I was reading and intellectualising it. For hundreds of years, believers didn’t have the literacy to ‘read’ the Bible. They would rely on hearing it read aloud by priests or memorizing it to themselves. I don’t mean that I am opposed to reading the Bible! But I do think that accessing the library of 66 books in fresh ways sometimes is invigorating.
The whole point in quiet times is simply spending time with Daddy, as Jesus himself called the Father of the heavenly lights; and like any living relationship, that requires carving out time and honouring it with integrity, fresh approaches, listening and holding up the banner of love.
Jesus himself spoke of the importance in keeping things simple (Matt 6: 5-13):
“And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
This, then, is how you should pray:
‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.’”
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