Meeting God Through Formational Reading

 

Today’s Reflection

Reading for formation avoids quantifying the amount of reading in any sort of way. . . . So what if it takes you a year, two years, five years to get through the book? That is not the point. The point is meeting God in the text.

—M. Robert Mulholland Jr., Shaped by the Word: The Power of Scripture in Spiritual Formation, Anniversary Edition
(Upper Room Books, 2023)

Save 15% on this week’s featured book when you use promo code NEM0626 at Store.UpperRoom.org.*

Today’s Question

How do you meet God in scripture and other books? Do you pray, ponder ideas, or stop to ask questions with God? Join the conversation.

Today’s Scripture

This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth; you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to act in accordance with all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall be successful.
—Joshua 1:8 (NRSVUE)

Prayer for the Week

God, I rest in your word. I chew on it slowly. Thoughtfully. Contemplatively. So I can plumb the depths of all that you have to say. I trust that as I digest your word you are at work. Amen.
Submit your prayer to The Upper Room.

Lectionary Readings

• Genesis 18:1-15, (21:1-7)
• Psalm 100
• Romans 5:1-8
• Matthew 9:35-10:8, (9-23)

Read the lectionary texts courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library here.

Looking for lectionary-based resources? Learn more about The Upper Room Disciplines.

*Offer valid through July 15, 2026.