I sat next to a man at a conference once, and I noticed he wasn’t taking notes.
“You’re not taking notes?” I asked. I was scribbling wisdom all over the margins as fast as I could.
“No,” he said. “I never read my notes. If whatever is said doesn’t make enough of an impact for me to remember it, there’s no point in writing it down.”
Hmm. I still took notes, but I got his point.
I’ve taken a few Bible studies with groups of women. The studies were amazing. Some studies shook my world so hard, I cried. Some were healing. Some gave me a lot to think about, even when it was over. But honestly, I never went back to the books to look at my notes. Workbooks began to grow on shelf space, until one day I recycled them.
I don’t buy books as much as I used to. I go to the library. If I dog-ear enough memorable passages in a book, I’ll buy a copy of it (but even still, with the reading time I have available, I’m usually consuming new material than revisiting books I’ve already read.). Life is too short to read everything I want to read, and then read it again. But maybe that’s because I’m a slow reader.
Right now I’m reading Multiply by Francis Chan. I renewed the book three times before I even started it because I was knee-deep in several other books. I’m halfway through it now, and doing it all wrong since I’m not watching the videos online or discussing it with a group. Even still, there’s impact.
This morning I got on my knees before the Lord and prayed about a lot of things. But mostly, that I would be aware of the opportunities to put his word in action. Sometimes I’m too rushed to notice. Sometimes I forget about the right thing in the moment. Sometimes I don’t make the connection that blessing an enemy is as close as the person across from me at a get together.
31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, “You are truly my disciples if you remain faithful to my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32, NLT.
The Bible is a book I never want to put down. I hope that I will spend my whole life searching scripture, praying and clinging to the Lord. He is at work changing this heart of mine.
Lord, I’m grateful for the teachings in so many books and studies, even more grateful for your very words in my own hands. You are truth. You are freedom. You are life. Thank you for meeting me where I am, for your love and patience, and for your faithfulness. I’m even thankful that I have yet to read the whole Bible in a year.
Courtney (66books365)
Sixty-six books in a year 
I went the same route and then went back to writing – they say that when you write you remember 60% better than when you just listen and if you read, write and listen you remember 80%. There will be a time when there will be no books – give the Holy Spirit stuff to work with – discover once again the joy of writing
Read, write, listen. Yes! And, I wonder: do. Would that get us closer to 100%?
The best author and finisher of my faith is the Holy Spirit, who knows exactly what I need and can remember. Even after reading through the bible 16+ times, I still don’t know it all and probably won’t until I see Jesus face to face. What a pleasure it is to know Him.
Great point, Reggie!