Do you read the bible? How often? Does this bible reading include journaling, meditating, checking off a to do list? Why do you read the bible? How do you read it? From the front to back, by opening randomly and wherever your finger lands, or do you have a reading plan?
I have a friend that is going through one of those JOB (the guy in the bible) type times in her life and she really just can’t catch a break. She said it’s really hard to just keep on keeping on. I totally get it! I have felt the same way and I have, even just recently. Here was my response to here:
Do you read the bible? Because God’s Word is a non-negotiable part of our relationship with God!
Oh how I love it when I preach to myself.
Fumes of God’s word is really what I’ve been running on this year…sad sad story. I believe this is a sin against God and that I have been outside of His will and that I better get back in line because the fumes only last so long.
How long does the smell of fresh-baked chocolate chip cookies make your mouth drool and you senses alert? Maybe 20 minutes if you are lucky, 30 if you go outside and come back in for a whiff.
My friend doesn’t read the bible because to be honest, its difficult to understand. So, we decided to start reading the Psalms together. I’m choosing the amplified version because it makes it a bit easier to understand when it defines the BIG words. Scripture Amplified:
Psalm 1[a]
1 Blessed (happy, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather.
2 But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night.
3 And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity].
4 Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away.
5 Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor [b]sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God].
6 For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).
(Awesome way to start a bible reading experience. If this doesn’t get you lined up with God’s heart then I’m not sure what will.)
Lord let me be like a tree firmly planted by the streams of water(Your word), ready to bring forth its fruit in its season. Let not my leaf fad or wither, let all I do prosper. Amen
If you are one of those running on the FUMES of God’s word, would you consider joining us on this journey through the psalm, read Psalm 1 and 2 today. I’ll do my best to write a little about these as we go along, but I wonder, what would reading a Psalm a day for 150 days do to your desire and understanding of God’s word? I can’t wait to hear your story!
PS…announcement coming soon on how YOU can join ME and together we can learn about God’s Story in our lives!
ya know…symbols, scripts, wayward apostrophes are the devils way of distracting you. Don’t let the fact that question mark buttons disappear on computers set you back from finishing the race set before you! Overlook the technology that holds you back:)
What’s up with your apostrophe?
Loved this by the way.
You don’t like Apostrophe’s?
No, I have no problem with them. I just have problems with a different symbol or script that shows up in place of them when reading this text. :). I blame it on technology. Kind of like loosing my question mark. Lol.