A good practice introduced to me some time ago (and actually implemented only last year after I resigned from my post over at Sitel) was to read one chapter a day from the book of Proverbs. It's just right since there are 31 chapters in this book, one for every day of the month.
Even after reading through the whole book at least 4 times now, I'm quite amazed that it hasn't felt monotonous. One thing I'd like to add about the Bible is that if read in faith that the Holy Spirit is present to guide and assist, the Word will give you a revelation appropriate for what you're feeling or going through in a given day.
Recently there has been a call I've been hearing from all over for all believers to push to know more about the Bible. I definitely agree that we should take extra efforts to dive into the Word, to learn more about the Lord that we claim to have a relationship with.
That being said, lately I've been led to give some attention to the New Testament, on top of the daily reading of the Proverbs... And I just give God the glory because He truly is faithful if we show ourselves to be faithful by giving some time to read to know Him more.
If indeed you have heard Him, if you have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Christ, that you, concerning your conduct, may shed the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, that you may put on the new man, created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:21-24
These verses tell us that if we have learned anything from the Lord, and if we are to practice the truth as our God is the truth, then a change in how we live should ensue. This passage describes it as putting away the old man and putting on the new man. The old man is described as 'growing corrupt according to the deceitful lusts'. The new man is described as 'created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness'.
Most of the 11th chapter in Proverbs gives us a bigger picture on what will happen to the wicked (the old man) and the righteous (the new man).
Proverbs 11:5 The righteousness of the blameless will make straight their way, but the wicked person will fall by his own wickedness.
Proverbs 11:6 The righteousness of the upright will deliver them, but the faithless will be captured by their own desires.
Proverbs 11:18 The wicked person earns deceitful wages, but the one who sows righteousness reaps a genuine reward.
Proverbs 11:19 True righteousness leads to life, but the one who pursues evil pursues it to his own death.
We need to practice righteousness, to pursue holiness, not only because it is what we need to do as believers, but also simply for our own good. By the standards presented to us in the Word, we not only live, but we are prospered. The moment we listen to the old man, the moment we disobey, we harm ourselves. We cannot blame anyone else for the consequences of the sin we commit.
Because of the sin of Adam and Eve, our bodies are all doomed to expire. Let's not rush the process by sinning.
I'm taking all this as a challenge for all of us to push to do good in all things, and even when people are not looking. We do this not for ourselves, but for the Lord.
Do not be deceived; God is not mocked. For whatsoever a man sows, so shall he reap. -Galatians 6:7
To God be all the glory.