This is Part Three of my seven-part Drawing Nearer to God series. I heard my pastor talk about “drawing nearer to God,” and I found myself wondering - how do I actually do that? So I did what I always do: I started digging, Googling, and writing. Now I’m sharing what I’ve discovered along the way.
Here’s my confession: when it comes to reading the Bible, I’ve always felt like I’m supposed to eat a buffet but end up grabbing a granola bar.
You know the feeling. Somebody at church brags about finishing the Bible in a year. Another friend quotes entire Psalms like he’s got the thing tattooed on his brain. Meanwhile, you’re just trying to remember where you left your Bible – probably under the passenger seat next to an old Wendy’s bag.
That’s me. Average Joe. And yet, Scripture is clear: drawing nearer to God means feeding on His Word.
Jesus himself said it in Matthew 4:4: “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Translation? You can’t run on empty. Spiritual junk food won’t cut it. You need God’s Word like you need lunch.
Here’s the thing about lunch: it doesn’t have to be five courses. You don’t wake up every morning and think, “If I can’t whip up steak and potatoes, I’ll just starve today.” No, you grab a sandwich, you eat what you can, and you move on. It’s the same with Scripture.
We get ourselves into trouble when we treat the Bible like a buffet – pile on too much, get overwhelmed, and end up not eating anything at all. “Well, if I can’t do three chapters, two commentaries, and a Hebrew word study, I won’t bother.” That’s nonsense. God isn’t impressed with your portion size. He’s after your appetite.
Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Notice it’s a lamp, not a stadium spotlight. God’s Word gives you enough light for the next step – not the whole road. One verse can get you through a day. One passage can carry you through a storm.
That’s what “daily bread” really means: just enough. Not “daily buffet.” Not “stuff yourself until you burst.” Just enough to keep walking.
And here’s where the wise-ass in me wants to shake the church a little. We’ve made Bible reading into a performance sport. Apps track streaks like it’s CrossFit. Reading plans guilt you if you fall behind. And sermons sometimes make it sound as if you haven’t underlined Leviticus by Tuesday, you’re spiritually malnourished. Give me a break.
God’s not your gym coach screaming, “No pain, no gain!” He’s your Father saying, “Here’s bread. Eat.”
That’s why Jesus taught us to pray in Matthew 6:11, “Give us today the food we need.” Not “give us a 12-month stockpile.” Not “give us a theological buffet.” Just today’s portion. Enough to keep your soul alive and your heart pointed toward Him.
So maybe drawing nearer to God through Scripture starts smaller than we think. Read a Psalm over your morning coffee. Sit with a single parable of Jesus instead of sprinting through five chapters. Write one verse on a sticky note and slap it on your dashboard. If the only thing you manage is John 3:16 and a muttered “thank You” in the parking lot, congratulations – you’ve fed your soul.
And don’t let anyone shame you for it. The whole Bible is God-breathed, yes, but it was also given to ordinary people, not just professors with Greek dictionaries. Farmers, fishermen, shepherds – Average Joes who needed truth for daily life. That’s us.
So here’s my challenge for the week: stop trying to eat the whole buffet. Just grab daily bread. Take one honest bite of God’s Word. And trust Him to make it enough.
Because when we do, something amazing happens. Slowly, steadily, His Word reshapes us. Not all at once, not with fireworks and applause, but in the quiet, ordinary way bread keeps you alive.
Daily bread keeps you walking. Daily bread keeps you drawing near.
And maybe that’s the miracle: God doesn’t ask us to feast like theologians. He just invites us to eat like children at His table.
