"Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart. Jeremiah 15:16 continued from Saturday.
I promised to give you three ways you can feed your soul on God's Word:
READ IT: So that you don't miss the power of what you are reading, savor God's Word like you would your favorite dessert and take a bite or two, then put your spoon down. Now don't rush. If you read it for twelve minutes each day, or one and a half hours per week, you could finish reading the Bible in a year, and you will be so incredibly blessed you will want to start all over again the next year.
You might ask, where do I start, I would suggest you start reading the gospel of John. Read it slowly and every time you see the word believe, underline it and ask yourself: Believe what? Be interactive like this with every book of the Bible. Pray before you begin reading each time. As the LORD to open your mind and heart to His truth and then believe that He will.
QUESTION IT: Here are some prompts I use; over time, you can develop your own. What portion of my reading stands out to me? and why?-- Is there an example for me to follow? - Is there an error for me to avoid? - Is there a duty for me to perform? - Is there any promise for me to claim? - Is there a sin for me to confess?
PLAN IT: Keep your commitment to God's Word going by making a plan how you can apply what you're learning. Take notes; when the Spirit convicts you of a sin, have a strategy to deal with it. The results will amaze you. If some text is unclear to you make a note of it. Pray about it and ask your Pastor to help you understand it. Give yourself some time to listen to what God is trying to tell you.( We will cover this more when we start a series on prayer).
I have never picked up the Bible when I was in my office with the door shut and given It my focus and my faith in a diligent way when it hasn't fed me with a new spiritual vitality.
Christian friends, If your feeling a little spiritually famished today, I know what is going on. You need to get back into the Word of God. In its pages, God has provided all that is sufficient for godly living..Select a verse from your reading, write it down and review it throughout the day. Ask God to help you understand its teaching, or apply its promise to your life.
When you read God's Word it will bring you joy. Jeremiah 15:16 When you study God's Word, it will keep you from shame. 2 Timothy 2:15 When you memorize God's Word, it will purify your heart. Psalm 119:11 When you quote God's Word, it will defeat your enemies. Eph. 6:10,17 When you meditate on God's Word, it will bring you success. Joshua 1:8 When you abide in God's Word, it will give you confidence. John 15:7 ASK GOD to renew your appetite for the book He wrote. It will take discipline to get into a daily pattern, but pure delight will keep you there. Ask yourself, "Is God's Word a priority in my life?" Even though I'm extremely committed to the Bible, I always have to come back to that question and never let anything crowd the priority of Scripture out in my life. I need to read it, study it, memorize it, meditate upon it. It is not enough to just talk about it at church. If you're struggling or worried or don't know how to get victory over some temptation, get back into His Word. It's food for your soul and the tool by which God will accomplish His work in you.
Then let me love my Bible more And take a fresh delight By day to read these wonders over And meditate by night.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY - Reading the Bible without reflecting is like eating without chewing. It contains the vitamins for soul health. It is bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions.