DIRECTIONS by Robert Murray McCheyne

(I have included my comments in parenthesis. Pastor Frank Volpe) 

1.       The center column contains the day of the month. The first two columns contain the chapters to be read in the family. The two last columns contain the portions to be read in secret. (Four, colored Post Its can be used to mark each section of the Bible each day. So you may have a yellow for Genesis, green for Ezra, blue for Matthew, and pink for Acts. Continue to move them along as you read. Some have questioned reading four different book at once, but we have little problem following four different television shows daily or  weekly or as teenagers studying several subjects a day in school. Large index cards also work well, because you can use them to log verses or make notes. You can summarize each chapter with one basic sentence. At the end of the year you will have summarized all of Scripture!)

2.       The head of the family should previously read each chapter for family worship, and mark two or three of the most prominent verses, upon which he may dwell, giving a few explanatory thoughts and asking a few simple questions. (This is not an optional suggestion, but a directive from God according to Deuteronomy 6:6-7. You do not necessarily need to cover both family passages, but a good and faithful practice would be to prepare one in order to share and teach your family. You will faithfully honor God by doing this and if it flows from a heart of worship you will see fruit.).

3.       Frequently the portion named in the calendar for family reading might be read more suitably in secret: in which case the head of the family should intimate that it be read in private, and the chapter for secret reading may be used in the family. (If you have children who are old enough to read encourage them to read along. Don’t get discouraged. If you aren’t doing any reading as a family and you do one, family devotion a week that is an improvement. If none of your family is will do not be discouraged, just keep praying. The most important thing is to allow the Spirit to transform your mind through the Word so you naturally speak about the things of God. It flows out instead of you forcing it on your family.)

4.       The portions read, both for family and private readings, would be greatly illuminated if they were preceded by a moment's silent prayer - "Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law." (Ps. 119:18). (This cannot be emphasized enough. Ask God specifically how His word affects 1. Your relationship with Him, 2. Your relationship with others.)

5.       Let the conversation at the family meals frequently turn upon the chapter read. Thus every meal will be a sacrament, being sanctified by the Word and prayer. (This would require you having meals together, which may be not be happening at all currently do to scheduling or some other reason. Pray that God opens up time and restructure your priorities to have meals together more frequently. You can start slow if need be, you can also bring up verses and thoughts while driving children to the school or another function or picking them up. If you don’t have a family at home, ask God to open your eyes to an individual or family whom you can have dinner with from time to time and share these things. Do not feel funny or as you’re imposing, that is how the church should function.)

6.       Let our private reading precede the dawning of the day. Let God's voice be the first we hear in the morning. Mark two or three of the richest verses, and pray over every line and word of them. Let the marks be neatly done, never so as to abuse a copy of the Bible. (The two or three verses you choose to pray over can be transferred to an index card or small piece of paper to carry with you throughout the course of the day. If you cannot manage to read in the morning, do your reading at night and prepare your richest verses by recording them at  night on index cards and read the verses in the morning. )

(The first step to committing to this plan is asking the Lord for strength and guidance. He will faithfully supply. Next, identify when you will read and what your reading will replace. It could be a television show, or it could mean you go to bed earlier so that you wake up earlier to read. God will guide you, but you have to respond in obedience. Realize it will be worth it to grow closer to Him!)