stop reading your Bible
February 24, 2010 | Knowing Christ
Don’t you love it when Scripture comes to life? My friend, Lysa TerKeurst, shares how the Bible had become a duty in her book, Becoming More. She decided not to read her Bible anymore.
Huh?
She didn’t want to read it as a book, or mark it off on her to-do list. So she stopped reading it, and started seeing it as an opportunity to connect with God. She sat down and read maybe one Scripture, or perhaps that turned to much more. But her prayer was “show me how to live”.
And He did.
I’ve been studying Romans this week. Some mornings I talk to God about what I’ve learned through one scripture. At other times, I’m drawn into the story of Paul and his dialogue with skeptics.
His words are interesting because of his experience. Paul had arrived in Rome straight out of the crossroads, a place where he was in limbo for two years plus. Not free. Not totally imprisoned. Shipwrecked. Hurt by church people who once admired him.
And yet he says things like this: The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groainings that cannot be expressed in words. And the Father who knows all hearts knows that the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. (Romans 8:26-27 NLT)
If I read that without understanding Paul’s story, I might miss the significance.
There had to be times when Paul did not know what to do or where to turn, and as a human man, he felt inadequate for the challenges that just kept on coming.
I can see him turning to God, and saying, “I’m not big enough. I need help.”
Have you been there? I have.
And it comforts me to know that I have somewhere to turn for wisdom.
What are you reading today? What scriptures have spoken to you? I’d love to hear about them.
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Suzie… I’ll get back to you on this. I just woke up and ate my wheaties for my strength for the day. My brain hasn’t totally woken up yet. This would be a great post on the facebook group. Thanks for the challenge!
February 24th, 2010 at 1:05 pmSuzie, I have just started studing Habakkuk. God has reminded me that He is always working in His time and in His way. I may agree with it but it IS for my good.
February 25th, 2010 at 8:30 amI read your article on the CBN site just now. As usual, I thoroughly enjoyed reading what you’d written! Thank you for transparency and honesty. Thank you for teaching me, always, how to be a better mother…and woman!
God bless you!
February 26th, 2010 at 12:15 amWOW, that was a great insight. I totally identify with reading just to read and not allowing for the Holy Spirit guide, comfort, and intercede on my behalf. We are so busy and so surrounded by noise that we can’t stop anymore and hear that still small voice.
My husband and I just went on our first marriage conference and it was AMAZING! we had such a great time, learned an incredible amount. One of the most impressing things we learned this weekend was Lectio Divina… it is when you take a passage of scripture and sit on it for a while. YOu read it, write down a word or phrase that stuck out to you… read it again (out loud each time adn slowly)… again writing down what stuck out to you… word or phrase… read again, and picture yourself there… where does God have you in the story… read again… and just meditate on what the HOLY SPIRIT is impressing on your heart.
We are incredibly excited about Lectio Divina… you can google it… and learn more about this ancient practice… but we feel this is going to transform our relationship with the Lord, with each other, and in essence our whole family.
I hope you take the time to research it a bit, and start yourself… it will bless you and you will be surprised at what the Holy Spirit is trying to say to you when you take the time to be still before the Lord, and quiet yourself. I was amazed… and am still amazed! Praise the LORD!
March 1st, 2010 at 2:21 pmI did the same thing after my mom died. I felt so guilty when I didn’t read it that I lost the sweet love and intimacy of my Father – just curling up in His Comfort! I felt far away when I didn’t DO my list or my quiet time.
What an awesome journey. When I was finished not reading my bible, God sweetly showed me that I needed His word so I could rightly divide truth from lies. I was overwhelmed with the freedom I found and live in every day!
March 3rd, 2010 at 2:44 pmI love that, Sheri!
March 3rd, 2010 at 3:23 pm