Video games and the digital world have normalized the word “hack” our daily vocabulary. Basically, a hack is a shortcut.  In a video game, a hack allows you to skip levels of difficulty or easily handle otherwise tricky challenges.  In life skills, a hack is an easier or quicker way to perform some daily task.  Hacks serve to make life simpler. They promise to bring us to a desired end sooner that usual and with less effort and stress.

Spiritual growth, however, knows no shortcuts.  No spiritual hack will allow you to skip difficult steps to maturity.  At the end of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:24-27), Jesus contrasts the lives of wise and foolish people.

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The wise man anchors his life securely by digging a deep foundation in rock.  The foolish man takes a shortcut.  He builds his life through much easier effort of merely playing in the sand.  When torrential floods beset both lives, their foundations determined their outcome.  The life anchor in rock stood strong.  But the flood washed away the life of sand castles.

Busting up rock and digging a deep foundation are hard work.  Building sand castles are easy.  We do that on vacation.  Sand castles are a spiritual hack doomed to failure.

Building a No Shortcut Life

Spiritual growth requires effort and hard work.  No quick fixes or shortcuts produce spiritual maturity.  The one who desires to grow in faith will exercise discipline and expend spiritual energy.

One of the most important foundations into which we should anchor our lives is regular, systematic Bible intake.  There is no shortcut there is no hack around immersing ourselves in God’s Word.  We cannot obey God if we do not know what He has said.  We cannot know what God has said if we do not read His Word.

Let me suggest three disciplines that will anchor your life in the Bible.  These disciplines are not easy, or we wouldn’t call them disciplines. But we will not see spiritual growth without them.

1. Bible Intake.

Regular systematic reading. Reading larger portions of Scripture gives you a big-picture view of God’s story.  You can use one of the “read the Bible through in a year” plans or choose to read a few chapters a day at your own pace.  Click here for a some great Bible reading plans.

You might also consider reading a chapter of Proverbs each day of the month.  I have also found great delight in a plan that includes reading five Psalms each day.  Click here to read an article about a free app for your phone that will help you with this plan.

You might also consider reading a book of the Bible a chapter at a time or study a Biblical theme.  The possibilities are abundant, but you have to make the intentional effort to do it.

2. Meditation.

Meditation has gotten a bad name in Christian circles.  We have surrendered the word to Eastern mystical practices, but the concept has Biblical roots.  God encouraged Joshua to meditate on His word day and night.  If Joshua would do that, God promised he would prosper and see good success. (Joshua 1:8)

When we meditate on the Bible, we simply slow down long enough to think about what we read.  We consider how we might put the Bible passage to use in our daily lives.  One of the tools I like to use for meditation I call the SPECK method.  I used the letters of the word “speck” to ask 5 questions about the Bible passage I read.  Is there…

• a SIN I need to confess/avoid?
• a PROMISE I can claim?
• an ENCOURAGEMENT for a situation I am facing?
• a COMMAND I need to obey today?
• some KNOWLEDGE about God, His purposes, or His ways that I need to know?

3. Memorization

David observed that a person who memorizes God’s Word has a better chance of overcoming sin. (Psalm 119:11)  When the devil tempted Him in the wilderness, Jesus countered by quoting Scripture.  (Matthew 4:1-11)  Jesus didn’t take the time to unroll His scroll of Deuteronomy and consult his concordance.  He stood ready to fend off the temptation because He memorized the Bible.

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You may think that you cannot memorize Bible verses, but you can.  Anyone can.  Take your time.  If you can memorize one a day, then do that.  If that task is too great, memorize at whatever pace you can.  I have a handy resource that uses the alphabet to help you memorize 25 verses.  You can click here to download the resource for free.  Take as much time as you need but make the effort.

You Don’t Need a Shortcut

As believers, we need to remember that spiritual growth is a continuation of our salvation.  We call it sanctification, and it is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.  We do not need shortcuts when the Holy Spirit is our enabler.  When we make the effort, He provides the enablement.

Now.  Let’s get to work!

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Take some time to hit the comment button above and tell us 2 things you are doing or will begin doing to get more of God’s Word in your life.

For further reading:

Fresh Bible Study Ideas

How to Begin Investigating the Bible for Yourself