Deep engagement with the Bible can dramatically improve your general health, according to the State of the Bible (SOTB) research by the American Bible Society (ABS). People with higher levels of Scripture engagement have better well-being scores compared to those who are less engaged with the Bible.
Holistic well-being is a measurement of people viewing their personal future with hope. An assessment of well-being is found in the Harvard Human Flourishing index, that includes the categories of Happiness and Life Satisfaction, Meaning and Purpose, Character and Virtue, and Close Social Relationships.
The SOTB research shows that Scripture engagement is a driving factor in higher hope scores. When people are engaged with Scripture on a regular basis, they have more hope and are more ready and willing to forgive others. Connection to the Bible and Christian community provides hurting people with a bridge to hope and healing.
“When deeply engaged with Scripture and allowing it to touch their hearts, we see significantly decreased levels of stress,” says Rev. Dr. John Farquhar Plake, ABS’ director of ministry intelligence. “Some of the highest levels of hope for the future are among people who are closest to the Bible,” he says. Consistent Bible engagement anchors a virtuous life, gives ethical stability and feelings of purpose, and provides the basis for an overall better outlook on life, according to the SOTB.
[Read the Bible Gateway Blog post, The Abide Bible: Engaging Scripture, Engaging God]
In partnership with the Taylor University Center for Scripture Engagement and American Bible Society, Bible Gateway invites you to sign up to receive the The Abide Bible Initiative free email devotional to help you develop a pattern of engaging with the Bible that fits your God-designed learning style. You’ll be introduced to five Bible reading plans based on the five Scripture engagement practices used in The Abide Bible:
- Contemplate. Follow the simple four-step practice of feasting on God’s Word by reading a passage, meditating on its meaning and application, praying, and finally sitting silently, abiding in God’s presence through the words of Scripture.
- Picture It. Place yourself in a biblical narrative as a bystander or participant in important events.
- Praying Scripture. Pattern your prayers after biblical texts, personalizing the prayer and gaining language for the thoughts and emotions you want to express.
- Engage Through Art. Consider a classic artwork—photograph, sculpture, painting—and let it deepen your meditations on scriptural truths.
- Journal. Focus and reflect on Scripture and its meaning for your life, opening yourself to God’s voice through the Holy Spirit.
The goal of these practices is to help you engage Scripture—and its Author.
Scripture passages for the introductory 5-Day Reading Plan are selected to include the top 20 verses searched for on Bible Gateway. Each Bible reference is linked to its location on Bible Gateway and includes, as applicable, the engagement reference note from The Abide Bible which is viewable with a membership in Bible Gateway Plus (but not required to use this Reading Plan). Once you’ve explored this introductory Reading Plan, we invite you to continue to engage Scripture using the five 25-Day Reading Plans that each focus on just one of the Scripture engagement practices. Sign up.
Study Scripture with your favorite Bible teachers by becoming a member of Bible Gateway Plus. Try it free right now!
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