Great peace have those who love Your law; nothing can make them stumble.

Psalm 119:165, ESV

The Japanese have a method of change that is both radical and effective: It is called kaizen. The idea behind this philosophy is to change slowly. That is in small enough increments that the change does not seem burdensome, but in regular enough intervals that it actually succeeds in effecting a change through the creation of a habit.

That is essentially the idea behind this new Bible challenge. It is an attempt to create a change in the life of the Bible student on a busy schedule. It is not to make light of the importance of daily Bible reading and study by seeing how little time you can spend with God's word and still not feel guilty for the little time you are expending. Rather, it is an attempt to show those who think they are too busy (and perhaps even a little too important) to take time out for God's council.

So, here is the challenge. For the next 176 days, read one verse from the 119th Psalm and write it down on something convenient such as a 3x5 index card or your daily journal. Total time expended will be approximately 60 seconds. Since there are 176 verses contained in the 119th Psalm, this means you will have a half of a year to consider the truths of this great, inspired chapter.

But, why pick the 119th Psalm? Is it because it is the longest chapter in the longest book in the Bible? No, it is because of what this chapter contains! It is written by a man who is utterly and completely in love with God and with His word. It is a chapter that is wholly devoted to proclaiming the vital nature of God's laws, and to the praise of God for revealing those truths to us.

Here is the important part: After you have written down the verse for the day, carry it with you and refer to it often. Read it, memorize it, consider it's truth and what that truth means to you. Pray about it and ask for God to help you apply each of these verse's truth to your life. By placing this verse in writing on something convenient (Like that index card), you will have something of substance to sustain you during even the most difficult and hectic of days.

And though it seems too simple, it will do this if you will let it: It will help you to fall more and more in love with God and His word. It will help you to see how vital that word is to your life. It will give you a base on which to build that will hopefully lead to a lifetime of serious Bible study and a subsequent rejuvenation of your commitment to God. It will place you firmly on the path to Heaven (If you will truly read all of God's word and then do what it says) for the Bible is God's roadmap to Heaven.

And... it will give you peace. And who does not need more peace in their life?

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the LORD our God is near us whenever we pray to Him? And what other nation is so great as to have such righteous decrees and laws as this body of laws I am setting before you today?

Deuteronomy 4:7-8, NIV