--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don’t just read the Bible. Start circling…" description: "\"Don’t just read the Bible. Start circling the promises. Don’t just make a wish. Write down a list of God-glorifying life goals. Don’t just pray. Keep a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mark-batterson-1137_bible_don-t-just-read-the-bible-start-circling_2430480.jpg" --- # Don’t just read the Bible. Start circling the promises… ![“Don’t just read the Bible. Start circling the promises. Don’t just make a wish. Write down a list of God-glorifying life goals. Don’t just pray. Keep a prayer journal. Define your dream. Claim your promise. Spell your miracle.” quote by Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mark-batterson-1137_bible_don-t-just-read-the-bible-start-circling_2430480.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mark-batterson-1137_bible_don-t-just-read-the-bible-start-circling_2430480.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/473/mark-batterson-1137_bible_don-t-just-read-the-bible-start-circling_2430480.jpg) > “Don’t just read the Bible. Start circling the promises. Don’t just make a wish. Write down a list of God-glorifying life goals. Don’t just pray. Keep a prayer journal. Define your dream. Claim your promise. Spell your miracle.” [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Encourages active faith: not just reading or wishing, but writing goals, praying, and claiming promises. **In simple terms:** Active faith requires writing, praying, and claiming promises. Key Takeaway Write, pray, claim promises. Themes faith action goal-setting spirituality purpose Mood hopeful focused Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - personal devotions - goal planning - spiritual practice - journaling - vision casting Key Concepts Scripture engagement manifestation discipline Questions to Reflect On - What promises are you ready to claim? - How will you track your spiritual goals? A Different Perspective May overlook practical steps beyond spiritual intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bible/) [Claims](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/claims/) [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journal/) [Just Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-pray/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-goal/) [Life goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-goals/) [Lists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lists/) [Make a wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-a-wish/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Pray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pray/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Prayer Journal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer-journal-275338/) [Praying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/praying/) [Promise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/promise/) [Spells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/spells/) [Wish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wish/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Your dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your-dreams/) ## Related quotes > [“...combat worry, such as keeping a prayer journal and rereading it when I'm under attack.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lynn-austin/combat-worry-such-as-keeping-a-prayer-journal-and-rereading-it-when-i/) [Lynn Austin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lynn-austin/) > [If Christians around the world were to suddenly renounce their personal agendas, their life goals and their aspirations, and begin responding in radical obedience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-christians-around-the-world-were-to-suddenly-renounce-their/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Good design is a visual statement that maximizes the life goals of the people in a given culture (or, more realistically, the goals of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/good-design-is-a-visual-statement-that-maximizes-the-life-goals-of/) [Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mihaly-csikszentmihalyi/) > [The original idea before Mint was a life and goal planning system I called Carpe Viva. 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Our problems result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-waitley/the-greatest-choice-we-have-is-to-think-before-we-act-and-then-take/) [Denis Waitley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-waitley/) > [Your audacious life goals are fabulous. We're proud of you for having them. But it's possible that those goals are designed to distract you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/your-audacious-life-goals-are-fabulous-we-re-proud-of-you-for-having/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [“Indulgence is a legitimate life goal, but it is only one of four life goals. 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Add it into the equation of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/in-my-experience-take-the-holy-spirit-out-of-the-equation-of-your/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [To make a deep mental path, we must think over and over the kind of thoughts we wish to dominate our lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/to-make-a-deep-mental-path-we-must-think-over-and-over-the-kind-of/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [I noticed that all the prayers I used to offer to God, and all the prayers I now offer to Joe Pesci, are being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-carlin/i-noticed-that-all-the-prayers-i-used-to-offer-to-god-and-all-the/) [George Carlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-carlin/) ## More by Mark Batterson > [“The path of least resistance never gets us where we want to go. Shortcuts always end up being cul-de-sacs. The key to spiritual growth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-path-of-least-resistance-never-gets-us-where-we-want-to-go/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [If you've never had a God-sized dream that scared you half to death, then you haven't really come to life. 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That’s how God turns the heart. You’ll never be a perfect parent, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/you-can-t-play-the-man-if-you-don-t-pray-the-price-that-s-how-god/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [The antidote for fear of failure is not success but small doses of failure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/the-antidote-for-fear-of-failure-is-not-success-but-small-doses-of/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [God is in the résumé-building business. He is always using past experiences to prepare us for future opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/god-is-in-the-r-sum-building-business-he-is-always-using-past/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [“Society's goal is to make us less foolish. From the cradle to grave the pressure is on: "Be normal!" Our inner fool may be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/society-s-goal-is-to-make-us-less-foolish-from-the-cradle-to-grave/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [If you aren't hungry for God, you are full of yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/if-you-aren-t-hungry-for-god-you-are-full-of-yourself/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) > [In my experience, take the Holy Spirit out of the equation of your life and it spells boring. 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It's a responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-batterson/uniqueness-isn-t-a-virtue-it-s-a-responsibility/) [Mark Batterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) [Explore all 283 Mark Batterson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-batterson/) ## More Bible quotes > [I think a new world will arise out of the religious mists when we approach our Bible with the idea that it is not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aiden-wilson-tozer/i-think-a-new-world-will-arise-out-of-the-religious-mists-when-we/) [Aiden Wilson Tozer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aiden-wilson-tozer/) > [From Augustine down, theologians have tried to compel people to accept their special interpretation of the Scripture, and the tortures of the inquisition, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matilda-joslyn-gage/from-augustine-down-theologians-have-tried-to-compel-people-to-accept/) [Matilda Joslyn Gage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matilda-joslyn-gage/) > [“God hates Hell. He hates the idea of people going there. He hates it so much that He was willing to take on human…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-minton/god-hates-hell-he-hates-the-idea-of-people-going-there-he-hates-it-so/) [Evan Minton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-minton/) > [“The Devil can cite Scripture for his purpose, Sergeant,’ Anthony Payne replied. ‘That is from The Merchant of Venice, but it holds great truth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-arnold/the-devil-can-cite-scripture-for-his-purpose-sergeant-anthony-payne/) [Michael Arnold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-arnold/) > [When you put your hand on the Bible, you are saying something much stronger than just telling your peers that you're going to tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-greenwood/when-you-put-your-hand-on-the-bible-you-are-saying-something-much/) [Lee Greenwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-greenwood/) > [“Scripture also teaches that human beings are morally responsible creatures”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-peterson/scripture-also-teaches-that-human-beings-are-morally-responsible/) [Robert A. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-peterson/) > [“The wife of a junior officer cooped up in a horrible canvas partition in steerage for five months wrote: "I had enjoyed much peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-taylor/the-wife-of-a-junior-officer-cooped-up-in-a-horrible-canvas-partition/) [Stephen Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-taylor/) > [O Word of God incarnate . . . It is the golden casket Where gems of truth are stored; It is the heaven-drawn picture…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walsham-how/o-word-of-god-incarnate-it-is-the-golden-casket-where-gems-of-truth/) [Walsham How](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walsham-how/) > [How can I trust that the Bible is reliable?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-horton/how-can-i-trust-that-the-bible-is-reliable/) [Michael Horton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-horton/) > [Every plant which my heavenly father has not planted with be uprooted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesus-christ/every-plant-which-my-heavenly-father-has-not-planted-with-be-uprooted/) [Jesus Christ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesus-christ/) > [Where I come from you're not raised to think on your own. It's not that you're pushed to read the Bible. 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