Time for a New Day

Did you ever sit down and look at your Bible and just think, I really don't feel like reading this right now? Do you have something more interesting you would like to be doing? Some people want to play video games, some people may want to spend time on facebook, some have shopping to do, etc. Maybe you just don't feel like trying to find something meaningful for your life. After all, it is not easy to make a personal life application out of every part of the Bible. Some of you reading this, though, are just lazy. Maybe life is going alright for you and you don't really need the extra spiritual guidance. You go to church every week, so you are getting your fill of the Word.

It is easy for us to find reasons to not have time for studying the Bible: busy work schedule, crazy family, interferes with your personal time to relax, out with friends, etc. There are hundreds of "reasons" that Bible study is inconvenient. The question then is this: who are we trying to convince? Do we really think that God accepts our reasoning. Imagine Him every day, "That's ok, I can see that you are very busy, perhaps you will find some time to talk with Me this weekend."

I didn't say talk to Him, since some of you are thinking: "but I pray every day." I meant talk with Him. A conversation always involves two people. When we spend time praying and praying without giving God His turn to speak, we make ourselves more important than Him. What He has to tell cannot possibly be as important as all the concerns that we have in our own lives. In essence, we are showing Him that we think of Him as our contracted help rather than the God for whom our lives are to be lived. We become more important than God.

Whoa! How did I jump to that conclusion... we're more important than God just because we don't study our Bibles every day. Isn't that be being a bit extreme? I really don't think so. You know, the most godly men and women that I have ever met in my life were all people who dug deep into the Word every day. It is not because their ritual of reading and studying the Bible that they are so in tune with God. Rather, I believe that they seek a deeper knowing of God in the Scriptures and they become "doers of the Word, not just hearers." Perhaps, they simply do it because they want to know how to respond to God in their lives each day.

Think about it. Do you live your life in reaction to the circumstances that you face or in response to the God who will carry you from valley to hilltop, from shame to joy, from desert to oasis? When you pray, is it to give God your spiritual laundry list, or are you responding to Him? In other words, do you give Him the option of leading the way in the various situations, or do you "suggest" what He should do?

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us: "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." The good stuff is in there, you just have to be willing to let God have His say. It will help you know what to believe (doctrine), know what not to do (reproof), know what to change (correction), and know what to do (instruction in righteousness). The purpose of the Word is to gear us up to handle every situation in a manner that brings honor and glory to God. This is why we are told to do all things as though it's for the Lord and not for men (Col. 3:23). The Bible contains the living breath of God in it, don't miss out because it won't just change your life, it will show you life as you never dreamed it could truly be.

This area has been one that I have been working on in my own life. I have used the excuses, I have ignored the Word some days, and I have seen the ick that grows in my life, in my family, in my worship because of it. The reality is, I know that giving Him time to speak to me each day is the best way to keep me moving in a positive direction. When I skip it, I take the effectiveness out of my prayers, I am less focused in doing right at work, and I easily lose track of the priorities that should be in my life. Just this morning, I found myself being sucked into a stupid video game while my wife was rushing around to get things accomplished for the family. That's why this post is here... God tapped me on the shoulder, and I just wanted to share it with you all.

God Bless you.