There are very few things I love as much as a good adventure. The idea of wandering around a city without a map or taking a spontaneous hike during an aimless road trip is thrilling. Experiences like those are the backdrop for many of my favorite memories. As much as I love diving head first into the unknown, I also appreciate routine.

There is so much to be said about steady faithfulness.

To be faithful and consistent is a process. Neither patience nor grace are developed over night; the same is true for diligence and long-suffering. The best catalyst for the development of these qualities is, unsurprisingly and uncompromisingly, the Presence of the Lord. Spending time with Him shapes and transforms our hearts. Speaking specifically to faithfulness, though, spending time with the Lord day in and day out serves two powerful functions. First and foremost, it gives us greater insight into the character and nature of our King. He is Faithfulness itself (2 Thess 3:3) (1 Cor 1:9). The time that we spend with Him causes our hearts to become familiar with the constitution and qualities of faithfulness (Deuteronomy 7:9). We become increasingly able to recognize the strength and growth that faithfulness brings as we come to better know the Lord. In addition to learning about the Lord’s faithfulness, the time that we spend with the Lord helps our hearts to grow in faithfulness. The more time that we spend in authentic worship and prayer, the more our hearts will become dedicated to those critical disciplines of the faith (Eph 4:22-24). In this positive feedback system, greater levels of faithfulness yield an increase of faithfulness itself (Prov 28:20) (Matt 25:21).

In spending time with the Lord and seeking to grow in faithfulness before Him, by far the most sturdy and effective trellis has been scripture. The Word of God can cause our hearts to come to life in powerful and paralleled way: as truth is read, our hearts bend further toward the Light (John 3:21). Of course, our hearts must be receptive to scripture. But when our hearts are in alignment with the fullness of what the Lord has for us, passages will become touchstones and benchmarks for spiritual growth.

Given the prominence of the Word, I have found it valuable to place intentional focus on scripture. I’ve mentioned before that I enjoy reading through the daily office lectionary. The intentional cross-section of scripture is engaging and approachable. Beyond the lectionary, though, there are several passages that have become like wells over the years. These sections of scripture are the ones that I find my heart naturally gravitating toward in time of celebration and heartache, plenty and dessert. Most of them focus on who God is, and a few cover important aspects of identity as a believer. Years of wrestling with the verses, meditating and praying through the content has caused them to come alive in my heart (Heb 4:12). When in doubt, those passages are my go-to. I know that I can go to those pieces of the Word and find refreshing, hope, peace, and reminders of Truth.

In addition to those go-to passages, each season also has its own set of passages to focus on. Transitioning between seasons for me always includes conversation with the Lord about the places in the Bible that He wants me to focus on. Typically, it’s two or three key passages ranging from a couple of verses to an entire chapter or two. (For instance, Isaiah 45, 2 Samuel 22, and the book of Ruth are the passages for the season I am currently in.) These areas of the Word become my home base for the season. Bright fixtures in my time with the Lord, these passages are often the basis of what the Lord is seeking to do in my heart. They also serve as reminders to pray and help my heart maintain an attitude of consistency. Placing my heart before the same section of the Word day is transformative (Rom 12:2). Over time, my heart begins to resonate with that section of scripture. This is not to say that every day contains some major, life-changing encounter; rather, the slow and steady work of the Word in my heart is thorough and deep-reaching (Heb 4:12). But it takes time, time spent with the Lord.

These passages offer more a starting point for my time with the Lord. They become an anchor of advancement. As I allow my heart to engage with those pieces of scripture, it is drawn further along into the fullness of what the Lord has planned for me (Eph 1). I am not hyper concerned about hearing the Lord’s voice; I already have a working notion of where He wants my heart (John 10:27). Thus, my heart is securely anchored to the present purpose that the Lord has for me. In being anchored in the Lord’s will, the Holy Spirit is able to intentionally and strategically move my heart forward. Regardless of mountains or valleys, His leadership operates on the highway of the Word to move my heart forward (Ps 23:4) (Isa 35:8). The result is greater intimacy with the Lord, greater knowledge of the Bible, and the advance of the Kingdom.

As you dialogue with the Lord, Dear Saints, I would encourage you to ask Him if there are certain sections of scripture that He would have you focus on for a season. I’ve had friends that will work slowly and intentionally through one of the books of the Bible for six or eight months. Other friends read and pray through the chapter of the Psalms that corresponds to their age (for example, a 30 year-old would read through Psalm 30 every day). Regardless of the approach you choose, identity those key passages and then create a routine to engage with them. Journal, pray, sing, dance, draw, cook, walk, and rest your way through the verses. The Lord is faithful and will surely meet you exactly where you are; His Word will become like a living fire within your bones.