Playing a Jedi mind trick on yourself

January 23, 2012 in Church,Leadership,Theology with 14 Comments

image credit: creation swap user Ron Loveday

I’m reading through the whole Bible this year, on the chronological plan via YouVersion. I might have started a little later than you did, but this plan is a great way to read through the entirety of Scripture.

But can I be honest with you?

Sometimes when I read, my eyes gloss over, I finish reading, and I have no idea what I’ve read.

I know, I know…not very holy, right? Not what you’d expect of a pastor. A pastor should 100% internalize every passage…nay, every word. Pastors should read a passage, and instantly be able to explain it using alliteration starting with the letter K. A pastor should read a passage and pretty much have it memorized, able to recall it at just the right time in just the right situation.

I guess I’m not a normal pastor.

Just trying to be honest.

This problem often happens when I read a familiar passage. It feels like I’m not really reading it, my eyes scanning the page like I’d scan a newspaper article I’ve been forced to read. A couple of key words jump out, but the passage feels very little like God’s authoritative, life-giving Word. My scanning eyes wander across the page, but my mind will wanders to other, less important tasks.

The Jedi Mind Trick

So I have decided to trick my mind by introducing the unfamiliar. Instead of reading one of the Bible translations I have read for years (English Standard Version, New Living Translation, New International Version), I’ve started reading the Holman Christian Standard Bible for my daily reading. It’s different enough that I can’t just scan a passage and instantly know what it’s going to say, my scanning habits having to slow down because my mind doesn’t recognize the cadence of the familiar.

Will this work?

Maybe. It’s working so far.

As I read through the book of Genesis, a book I’ve read countless times, it feels fresh again, alive with a renewed sense of beauty. It’s refreshing, my heart and mind approaching each passage as if I’m reading it for the first time. It’s what I needed to do.

Maybe it’s time for you to consider switching translations for your daily reading. Maybe it’s time to trick your mind into doing what you want it to do. Thinking what you want it to think. Meditating on what you want it to meditate on.

Question: What’s your preferred translation?

*image credit: creation swap user Ron Loveday

 

About benlreed:

All Posts by  |  Personal Blog  |  Twitter  |  Facebook  |  Share By Email
  • Ben Thorp

    I’m currently an ESV man, having previously enjoyed (in reverse chronological order) NRSV, New Jerusalem and Good News. 

    For reading, I got sucked in by “accident” to Tim Challies 3650 challenge, following Professor Horners “10 chapters (from 10 different books) a day” where he actually advises you not to worry if you don’t necessarily remember everything you read, because the idea is to soak yourself in Scripture, and I’m enjoying it a lot more than I thought I would. 

    Translation wise, I probably ought to have a look at the NASB and HCSB a bit more, and I’m curious about NT Wrights New Testament too. I often read bits from the Message just for that different feel, and I also love my kids’ Jesus Storybook Bible…..

  • http://edsslipper.net/ Pierre

    I’m an ESV person myself.
    Still; I suppose that regardless of the translation, there will be a temptation to quickly scan over the genealogies… (My plan started with 1 Chronicles…)

  • Brent

    HCSB, Hard Core Southern Baptist, I love it, preach from it every Sunday

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    Howard Hendricks (I believe it was him) advocated occasionally reading the Bible in some of the more unusual translations, like the Cotton Patch Version (a paraphrase written in southern slang). The purpose wasn’t to study, but to give you a fresh perspective that you could use in studying the ESV or another translation. I haven’t tried it yet, but the idea sounded appealing.

  • http://www.lifeofasteward.com Loren Pinilis

    Ha, I hadn’t heart that acronym before. I’ll have to remember that.

  • http://www.jasonvana.com Jason Vana

    I love this idea, Ben! My preferred versions are NIV and NKJV, but I think I might try a different version to force my mind to focus more. Thanks for the tip!

  • http://twitter.com/bobbyminor Bobby Minor

    ESV and NLT for the most part but I do like to read other translations just to get a different flavor.

  • http://t1u.org/2012/01/24/the-loft-sessions-%e2%80%93%c2%a0bethel/ The Loft Sessions – Bethel | t1u

    [...] love new worship… it freshes my prayer time and worship time towards God.  its like ben reed’s jedi mind trick with bible [...]

  • http://thomasmarkzuniga.com TMZ

    Sounds like a great strategy. Was raised on NIV and went to a KJV-only Christian school. Probably read out of the NKJV the most now, but am trying to soak in other versions. Heard a lot of praise for the ESV so I’m going with that more often. It’s cool to read verses with a tweak here and there and find enlightenment in a brand new way.

  • http://www.benreed.net benlreed

    Yeah, I like the ESV a lot. Been reading it for a while now. It’s become my go-to translation.

  • Noel Bagwell

    Ben, I’m glad you’ve started using the HCSB, because not only is it eminently readable, the HCSB’s optimal equivalence translation philosophy (http://bit.ly/xahwMp) also makes it one of the most accurate translations of the Bible available in the English language. I have the Apologetics Study Bible (HCSB), and it is excellent. I hope your fresh approach to daily reading pays you dividends beyond measure!

  • http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

    Thanks Noel…I’ve found it refreshing and accurate. Loving it so far!

  • http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

    Agreed. I’m liking jumping back and forth.

  • http://www.benreed.net Ben Reed

    Hmm…I haven’t read NT Wright’s NT. Let me know what you think!