DAILY TEXT, Wednesday, February 18, 2026. I do not run without a goal (1 Cor. 9:26).

Let us examine the Scriptures every day 2026

Wednesday, February 18, 2026

I do not run without a goal (1 Cor. 9:26).

Reading the Bible is a good goal, but if we want to get the most benefit from it, we have to do more. Consider the following example.

Rain is essential for plants. But if too much water falls in a short time, the ground can become saturated. In that case, more rain is of no benefit. It is better for the rain to fall gradually, because then the ground has time to absorb it and the plants can grow. In the same way, we should avoid reading the Bible so hastily that we fail to absorb what we read and then remember and apply it (James 1:24).

Suppose you are reading the Bible and notice that you are going too fast. What can you do? Try to slow down and read at a pace that allows you to meditate on what you are reading or have just read. You could lengthen your study period to include time for meditation. w24.09 4, 5 pars. 7-9

What should we avoid when reading the Bible?

Once we know when we're going to read the Bible, we also need to be careful not to fall into the trap of reading it without really absorbing anything. In our daily lives, we read so many things that we've probably read something and then remembered almost nothing. How sad it would be if that happened to us with our Bible reading! Perhaps we have a goal of reading a certain number of Bible chapters each day. It's good to set goals and strive to achieve them (1 Cor. 9:26). However, reading the Bible is only the first step. It's a good start, but if we want to get the most benefit from it, we have to do more.

What should we do if we have a habit of reading the Bible in a hurry?

If the idea of ​​meditating seems complicated, don't be intimidated. Simply put, meditating is just thinking about what you read. You could either (1) extend your study time to include time for meditation or (2) read fewer verses and spend the rest of your time thinking about what you read. Victor, mentioned in paragraph 6, says: “I try not to read too many verses, maybe one chapter. Since I do my reading early in the morning, I have all day to keep thinking about what I read.” The most important thing is not how much you read, but reading at a pace that allows you to get the most out of what you read. (Psalm 119:97; see the box “Questions to Help You Meditate”)

Explain with an example how you can apply what you read in the Bible (1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18).

No matter when you read the Bible or how much time you spend on it, be sure to look for ways to apply what you read. As you read a portion of God’s Word, ask yourself, “How can I apply this information today or in the near future?” For example, suppose you have read 1 Thessalonians 5:17, 18 (read it). Then pause for a moment and think about your prayers. Are they deep? How often do you pray? What are some things you are thankful for? Perhaps you can think of three specific things for which you can thank Jehovah. If you spend a little time meditating on these things—even just a few minutes—you will not only be hearing God’s Word but also beginning to apply it. And if you do the same thing each day with what you read in the Bible, in time you will become a better servant of Jehovah. But what if you find that there are many areas where you need to improve?

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