“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” These seven words are the most foundational claim in Scripture: before anything else existed, God was and God acted. If you feel the pull to begin reading but don’t know where to start, let this verse be your anchor. It reminds us that reading Scripture is not only information gathering but an encounter with the Creator who initiates relationship and orders our world.
Practically, start small and sacred. Commit to a single verse or a few lines each day—begin with Genesis 1:1 read slowly, aloud if you can, and pause to let the meaning sink in. Set a fixed time (morning, lunch break, before bed) and an easily kept duration (five to ten minutes). Use a simple pattern: read, pray one sentence asking God to teach you, and write one quick reflection or a single word that God surfaces. This discipline trains attention and removes the intimidation of “I must finish a chapter.”
Theologically, returning to “In the beginning” reorders our priorities. The Creator’s action is the starting point for trust, worship, and hope; it reminds us that time, work, and life itself are gifts under God’s authority. When busyness, guilt, or distraction crowd in, Scripture read regularly reorients us to God’s sovereignty and kindness—he began, he sustains, and he speaks into our daily rhythms. Let the truth that God created the heavens and the earth shape how you view your minutes and your motives for reading.
Today, take one small step: read Genesis 1:1 slowly and set a nonnegotiable five-minute appointment with God. If you miss a day, begin again without shame; grace meets our inconsistency. Trust that this simple habit, rooted in the truth of the Creator, will grow your love for God’s Word and reframe your time. Keep going—God meets those who return to him, and he delights when you begin to make space to hear him.