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Empowered by the Word

“For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.”
1 Thessalonians 2:13 NASB

The Bible is such an amazing life-giving book. For a Christian, learning and living out its truths is a significant spiritual discipline. However, even the most seasoned believer can at times become inattentive and uninspired while perusing the Scriptures.

Today I want to challenge you to consider the condition of your time spent in the word of God. To better gauge where you are in this discipline, ask yourself these questions:

  • Does my time in Bible reading/study look any different than it did one, ten, twenty years ago?
  • Do I understand what I’m reading?
  • Am I putting into practice what I’m learning from the Scriptures?
  • Is there an enjoyment and anticipation in reading God’s word, or boredom and apprehension?
  • Do I read the Bible daily or on a hit-and-miss routine?

Before going any further, let me encourage you to NOT fall prey to the comparison game between your reading and studying habits verses the practices of others. We are all different in how God made us and where we are in our spiritual journey.  You need to seek God for where you need to be, not where someone else may think you need to be.

Now, if you feel your time in the word of God could use some empowerment and rejuvenation, check out these suggestions as you ask Him to open your eyes to His remarkable truths.

  • Try reading from more than one translation, especially for hard to understand passages.
  • Purchase the Bible on CD for trips in the car; download Scripture on your phone and listen while walking/exercising/cleaning the house/cooking/etc.
  • Read the Scriptures aloud to keep your mind from wandering off into never-never-land.
  • Write memory verses on 3×5 cards. Place them around the house; in your purse; in your car; at work.
  • Use a devotional book to help you focus before you begin your time in the Word.
  • While at home, keep a Bible within easy reach of the kitchen or living room. Take/make time to stop and read it.
  • For easy access while on the computer, add sites like BibleGateway.com and blueletterbible.org to your favorites.
  • Right now, grab your Bible and dig deeper: Psalm 119: 11,103, 105, 147-149, 169; Luke 11:28; Acts 20:32; Colossians 3:16; Hebrews 4:12.

Revived by His word,

Beverly <><

 

Photo Credit: FreeImages.com/James Lin.

 

Eating the Meat

“Jesus answered, ‘It is written: Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'” Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

God made each of us unique with different talents and tastes. And I’m very thankful for the plethora of ways we can spend time with God. But from my reading of the scriptures I believe there are aspects that we need to focus on during our regular quiet time with God. It’s not that we never do anything different; it’s just that we focus on, if you will, the “meatier” methods when spending time with God.

The first one is prayer. Pray is “tapping into a level of reality in which we have no right, but to which we have been graciously welcomed by the love of God in Christ” (David Mathis and Jonathan Parnell, How to Stay Christian in Seminary, Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2014, 47). God calls for us to be still and know that He is God (Ps 46:10). He longs to communicate with His children. And that means not only taking the time to talk to God, but also taking the time to listen and hear from Him.

The second important dynamic is worship. God inhabits the praises of His people and we enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise (Ps 22:3 and 100:4). Praise and thanksgiving are powerful tools for entering into the presence of the Almighty.

And finally, the last important dynamic is the Word. God’s Word is breath to our souls. It is living and active and more powerful than any two-edged sword (Hebrews 4:12). We are transformed by it into the likeness of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a lamp to our feet and without it, our path is going to be sadly dark.

I hope this encourages you today to go for some meat!

God bless!

Noree

 

 

Photo Credit: http://www.freeimages.com/photo/pig-1367786

Heart Matters: Garbage In, Garbage Out

But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

1 Samuel 16:7, NASB

 

Garbage In, Garbage Out

The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

Luke 6:45, NASB

file371235865874The Florida sun was beginning to get the best of me-as were the large crowds and the sea of selfie sticks we were dodging everywhere we turned. It was the last day of our week-long summer vacation at a popular theme park in the Sunshine State, and I had reached my quota for crowds, overpriced food, and humidity.

While waiting in line for one of the major headline attractions, a woman tapped me on the shoulder and politely asked if she could cut ahead in line and join her family in front of us. “Of course!” I replied as I moved my kids to the side to let her through…and the 13 others that were with her. Thirteen people! I counted them!

I was mad. Furious. Could have spit nails, mad! My husband tried to talk me off the ledge, but that made it worse because then I was mad at him too!

I stewed for a while and made some snarky comments, and my husband asked, “Why does it matter? It is going to delay our plans by about 30 seconds?” True. He had a point. I hate it when that happens.

That’s when I came back to reality and realized that my angry (and ridiculous) response was completely out of proportion to the “slight” that had just occurred. I have come to realize that a disproportionate response of anger to a minor situation is always a red flag. It tells me I need to check my heart and see what is really going on.

The problem was easy to see. My normal time with God each morning had been replaced with simply scrolling through devotions on my phone before falling into bed exhausted each night that week. My prayers had become superficial and not much more than an item to check off my list.

The reality is, I can’t pour out what I’m not filled with. That week I had more than my fill of the world instead of God, and that’s what came spilling out the first chance it got. That left me looking, feeling, and acting like the world: selfish, angry, and somewhat hostile. My attitude screamed, it’s all about me!

If I want others to see Jesus in me, it’s crucial I meet with Him myself.

It’s foolish to believe we can survive physically by eating only once a week or even once a day. The same is true for our spiritual nourishment. We can’t be nourished spiritually if we aren’t feeding ourselves a steady diet of God’s word and the things of God.

Seeking Him,

Traci