"Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart; for they bring life to those who find them, and health to their whole body." Proverbs 20b-22 (NLT)
Sometimes I feel like I disappoint God. My days get so busy that I forget to open my Bible. I know I should, but I can't seem to find the time.
Eventually, when guilt overtakes me, I open it and read some Scripture.
What do I find? Not what I expect.
First, let me tell you what I don't find. I don't find condemnation and rebuke. Instead, I find grace and encouragement. In fact, recently, God greeted me tenderly and lovingly with these words, "My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. Don't lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body." (Proverbs 4:20-22, NLT, emphasis added)
God lovingly reminded me of what I miss when I fail to open His Word each day.
Each time we neglect Him, He graciously gives us a fresh start, a new opportunity to come to Him and meet Him in His Word guilt-free.
When I ignore time in my Bible, I forget how much God desires for me to meet Him there. Not for lessons and lectures, but because He wants to speak to me.
You see, God wants us to read our Bibles with no agenda, no homework assignment, no check list. He wants us to sit and simply experience Him through His Word. The Lord has secrets to teach us and treasures to unearth for us.
Paul confirms this in 1 Corinthians 2:6-16. He says that the secret things of God were once hidden from us, but now God has made them available in His Word through His Holy Spirit.
Years and years ago, only God's chosen heard directly from God. But not anymore! God makes His Word known to you and to me.
In John 16:13, Jesus promised that through His Holy Spirit, He would guide us into all truth. "To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given, and they will have an abundance of knowledge. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken from them." (Matthew 13:12, NLT)
If you have been neglecting the Word, will you join me today and open God's Word? Open it from a place of great confidence! Believe with all your heart and trust God at His Word that you will understand the words you read through the help of His Holy Spirit.
Ask God to reveal His secrets and unearth those treasures. When you get a taste of God's Holy Spirit speaking to you and teaching you while you read His Word ... you will never want to stop!
Go for it! Remember, He is waiting for you.
Dear Lord, help me not to neglect time Your Word. Create in me a hunger to carve out time to be with You. When I meet with You, through the power of Your Holy Spirit, open the eyes of my heart to understand the wonderful treasures tucked away in Your Word. Thank You that You are waiting for me. In Jesus' Name, Amen.
Reflect and Respond:
Read Proverbs 2:1-11.
Journal what you learn about God's Word and the role God wants it to play in your life.
