When a baby we needed food to grow. We need Daily food now.
As a Christian we need to desire "the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby".. and then in time we have hunger for the meat of the Word of God. This is needful for all spiritual growth.
I read a number of devotions each day, also four chapters (approx. varies from 1 to 6 chapters if short.. or so). If you average 4 chapters a day you can read the Bible in a year.
I read a number of devotions each day, also four chapters (approx. varies from 1 to 6 chapters if short.. or so). If you average 4 chapters a day you can read the Bible in a year.
As it's a new year let me put a challenge out there to read your Bible through in a year.
This might sound flippant, but I was in my youth asked:
"Do you want to get to heaven, and say, "Oops, sorry Habbakuk! (an O.T. minor prophet). I simply haven't found the time to read your God inspired words"! Pretty bad if only 3 short chapters, eh?
This might sound flippant, but I was in my youth asked:
"Do you want to get to heaven, and say, "Oops, sorry Habbakuk! (an O.T. minor prophet). I simply haven't found the time to read your God inspired words"! Pretty bad if only 3 short chapters, eh?
Let us feed on the Living Bread, that we might glorify the Lord by our lives.
This little chorus below is part of a hymn and I learnt the chorus along with many others as a child at the Beach Mission run by Scripture Union. It was here I was saved beside the seaside as a child.
The seed of the word needs to be shared, we will never know how the Lord will take and use it.
How important it is to feed on the Living bread (Listen Here)!
How important it is to feed on the Living bread (Listen Here)!
People have said how well I know the Bible. I beg to differ. Any knowledge is of God. I've been saved 53 years, I've read the Bible that many times.
That is not special.
Many, many more have done much more than that, even memorising whole books of the Bible.
However being constantly in the word and meditating on it means it goes in. The Spirit of God brings it to remembrance (John 14:26). I do actively memorise, but I know by God's grace much more than that.
Rubbish in, rubbish goes out.
God's word in our hearts, God's word comes out.
We reap what we sow!
As we read a passage or chapter a verse will leap out. You can meditate on it.. chew it over as in example below.
I read the first verse.. then the other two came to mind.
Three quite different situations.
That is not special.
Many, many more have done much more than that, even memorising whole books of the Bible.
However being constantly in the word and meditating on it means it goes in. The Spirit of God brings it to remembrance (John 14:26). I do actively memorise, but I know by God's grace much more than that.
Rubbish in, rubbish goes out.
God's word in our hearts, God's word comes out.
We reap what we sow!
As we read a passage or chapter a verse will leap out. You can meditate on it.. chew it over as in example below.
I read the first verse.. then the other two came to mind.
Three quite different situations.
**"Peace, be still!" Mark 4:39 Jesus quietened the tossing boisterous waves. So He will in our life, calm troubled seas.
** "Be still and KNOW that I am God". Psalm 46:10 David, the fleeing warrior, the anointed "yet-to-be" king, knew he could only know God if he was still.
** "Sit still my daughter, till I know how the matter shall fall." Ruth 3:18. Ruth was learning in the trial of her life to wait on her new-found LORD God.
Sitting still is not easy.
It takes real discipline.
Being still is not me.. unless I'm sick or reading a good book.
However spiritually we need to be ready to hear the .."still, small voice".. Elijah learnt this the hard way. As we all generally do.
Elijah found it is then you hear the still small voice of God.
1 Kings 19:11-13
Vs 12 "And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice"..
Be ready to hear that still small voice through your day!
How?
Being in the Word, being in communication through prayer.
Truly be a woman of the Word & prayer.
Be of good cheer.
The Lord will strengthen you, encourage your heart as you look up to Him, read His word.
As you serve the King.
Praying for you to learn even more to love Jesus and follow Him all the way., our living example.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz.x
Edit: I've learned today through FB post and then some personal study with Hebrew lexicon just what is the original meaning of "Be Still" in Psalm 46:1. I'm quoting from Gesenius' Hebrew Lexicon.
Meaning: " leave off doing anything"
So in Ps 46:1 it means "leave off (your own attempts) and know..." how rich is that?
We are in our own efforts = nought.
We must look alone to our God.
PS. If this has blessed you I'd love it if you would join as a wonderful encourager of this blog ... link HERE.
Thank YOU to those who have done so already. You really encourage me to keep on! 💕
** If you'd like these posts in your inbox, you can add your email to email link option on side bar. If you're on a mobile device and there is no sidebar select "Desktop version" at very bottom of post and it will bring it up.
Thank YOU. 😊
8 comments:
Dear Shaz. More amazing words of comfort in this post. Psalm 46 has always been one of my favourites - in addition to the famous verse quoted here, "Be still and know that I am God," I come back again and again to the refrain, "The Lord of Hosts is with us: the God of Jacob is our refuge."
I have read the Bible in a Year several times over the years. Last year I started, and then got stuck part way when I became so ill, and I didn't pick it up again, but I have just started again. It is a good discipline.
Lovely living Bread. Today I made my best sourdough bread ever! That bread for our bodies and to rejoice our souls, the living bread of Jesus and His Word to rejoice our spirits! It is all so tasty and good.
Thank you again for the invite, and for being in the right place at the right time.
Prayer hugs back to you, dear Shaz, from the other side of the world,
Shoshi xx
Thank you Shaz for highlighting the need to spend time in the Word - I have read the Bible through for some years now, and I never tire of it - it is fresh each time. Yes, sometimes it is a discipline, and other times it is a joy and a time of refreshing.
Blessings
Maxine
I am enjoying your new blog. I for one can attest to the fact that you know God's Word well. HIs Word is always entering into our conversations. During your visit, I watched you witness to so many people about His saving grace. You are such an inspiration to me. Every time we talk I can recognize God working through you. Praying for God's richest blessings on you. Love and hugs.
Marilyn
Not much sticks in my noggin but you are quite correct in your thinking. This year I am trying something different, already struggling as I cannot find anywhere that I won't have any interruptions! I am reading 3-4 chapters of the NT a day and will repeat this using different translations three or four times. I am writing out a verse a day, learning a memory verse a month and doing a year long devotional/study on proverbs. I also learn when I teach our son on Sundays and of course he and I are reading through the bible, but it takes longer than a year! Praying that your new blog will bless you as well as others! xx
Love it. Thanks for the contact and invite.
Good Morning, I have added you to my side bar Blog Roll, I hope it will bring a few people to your new blog... Be encouraged and speak life!
Blessings, Roxy
I do so believe in being in God's word daily, I always start off the morning first in his word before I do anything else. Our church is reading through the bible together using the YouVersion bible app, although I printed it out and am reading my bible book, not through the app. I have only read through the whole bible twice before, usually I study a book at a time. It always amazes me how in different parts in my life that the bible teaches me something new.
I’m shamefully late to this post my dear Shaz. Although I have been reading through the Bible for many years now, this year I’m trying something different and reading it through chronologically. I’ll see how that works out or if I go back to my “regular” Bible next time. I think it is so important to read your Bible daily. Each time I read it, God gives me a new gift of something I hadn’t seen before. Just for me and just what I need for that day and that situation.
Thank you for this blog my friend.
Blessings,
Betsy
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