So as of today I have stopped reading books.

Don’t get me wrong I love to read, I read lots. I also think it has become a problem for me. So I’m going to do a little experiment with myself. Take a month off of reading any book or magazine or any published material for that matter.

Why? Simply because I think way more about what I am reading every day than I do thinking about God and what He might be saying. Sure I have lots of conversations in my head about what I have read and what He might think about those things. I try my best to be sensitive to His leading in order to provide pastoral care, etc. However, in my mind, I’m always discussing my ideas and my thoughts. Again, this is totally cool and not a big issue until that seems to be the primary conversation. It seems the conversation has circled around “ME” for the last little while. Of course with good intentions, serving His church and people around the world, but still around “ME.” So I’ve compiled a list of why I am fasting from reading anything other than the Bible for the next month.

1. I read way more books than I do the Bible and I feel like I’m suppose to stop for awhile.
a) Disclaimer – I know its not “bad” to read other books more than the Bible. It has though become a matter of conscience for me, to use some Driscoll language.
2. My reading of other books has started to encroach on my time in Scripture. This seems to be happening more frequently lately.
3. I feel more guilty and annoyed with myself when I haven’t read something “insightful” that day than if I read Scripture or not.
4. The first place I go to satisfy my thirst for knowledge, creativity and innovation is someone else’s research and opinion.
a) Again no “slam” on anyone else, I’m just not taking the responsibility to talk with God first.
5. I just read Scripture I don’t meditate on it. I read books and meditate on them it seems instead.

So, I know how the saying goes about leaders and readers. Seriously though, I’m done for awhile.  Perhaps I’m a crappy leader for not reading for awhile or taking things too far, or not far enough etc, etc… Today will actually be the first day I haven’t read a book or magazine of some kind in a very long time.

The plan is to stop reading until October 12th. Why October 12th? Because its the first Monday after Catalyst and I’ll probably be itching to read again.

What have you taken too seriously lately & are you doing something about it?