In order for me to be effective in the Student ministry, I must read at least 30 minutes to 1 hour per day, meditating on what I read and taking good notes. If I’m busy doing fieldworks, I will use my mp3 player to listen to audiobooks or sermons during my driving time or whenever I have free time (this is how I learn to improve my English too). But most of the time, I prefer reading. I do this so that by the illumination of the Holy Spirit in my heart and mind; my passion for Christ will keep refueling day after day. And second, so that I can serve students and others better. A good gift and genuine love for others is to improve oneself first in the knowledge and the holiness of God before one can share and inspire others to do the same. Therefore, one of the ways for me to achieve this end is to read every day especially in the study and the reading of the Word of God.
I may not agree with some of Brian Tracy’s principles taught in his book Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life but I must admit that his calculation is very good when he writes, “If you read just one hour per day that will amount to about one book per week. One book per week will amount to about 50 books per year. 50 books per year will total about 500 books over the next 10 years. At the very least, you will need a bigger house just to hold your books”. Amazing! Now, if you read 1 chapter per day you can finish reading the Bible in 3 years OR you can read 3 chapters per day and you will finish reading the Bible in 1 year. This is more amazing!
If you’re persuaded by this article to read every day, I recommend you to follow these 10 Ways to Increasing your Reading Efficiency:
1) Select your reading material carefully. Don’t waste your time on books of little value. Preview what you are considering reading before you start a book. For Christians, your main and most important book to read and study is the Bible.
2) Eliminate poor habits. Find a place where you’re free from distractions. Get rid of junk foods and avoid contact with electronic gadgets and television. This kind-of-place is hard to find, but blessed are you who find it.
3) Make conscious effort to broaden your reading. Don’t confine your reading to one narrow area. I tend to only read Christian literatures. Thus, consciously I will vary my reading to novels, leadership books, motivational books and other secular and mainstream books. My rough ratio for Christian books and others is 3 to 1. You don’t have to follow my pattern. The point is – broaden your reading.
4) Try to understand the big picture. Read for main ideas. Don’t get caught up or spend too much time with “insignificant problematic details” in what you’re read.
5) Ask the author questions as you read. Be an investigator. Ask: Why? What? When? Where? Who? How? And try to find the author’s answers as you read.
6) Also, ask yourself questions as you read. Test your own understanding of the author’s words and ideas.
7) Don’t read too fast for the sake of finishing your reading. Make sure you really understand what you are reading before you go ahead.
8) Concentrate on what you are reading. Don’t entertain unnecessary distractions; focus on author’s message.
9) Visualize the author’s main points as you read them. Especially, when the author writes illustrations or parables to amplify his or her point. “See” the words describes in your mind’s eye.
10) Keep your notes on what you read and/or write and underlines important ideas that you get from your reading in the book itself. This is important if you want review them from time to time to better remember them.
And lastly, not on the list because I assume that you already know; it is essential and most basic in everything we do, that is: to ask for the Holy Spirit to guide us as we read books, especially, as we read “God’s breathed” (2 Timothy 3:16ESV) book – the Bible. Enjoy reading! :)
THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.
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