The other day, as I read through my morning Psalm, I was
lifted and encouraged. It is so beautiful to bask in the truths of God’s Word,
to rely on those truths, and to claim them as promises for us!!!
However, I do not always enjoy my time reading God’s Word.
Sometimes I read “just to check it off my list” or skim through the page, not trying to glean anything from it. Often,
I shut my Bible, continue my daily life, and forget all that I just read.
The Lord continually convicts me of this problem, and I have
learned that I need to ask Him to
bless my reading time and help me to learn from Him. Psalm 119:18 is a verse
that I often pray: "Open Thou mine
eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law."
How is your Bible-reading going? Has the Lord used a verse,
two verses, passage, or chapter in your life recently?
And since I mentioned
it, here is the Psalm that God used in my life the other day:
Psalm 103
1 Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me,
bless His holy name.
2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His
benefits:
3 Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; Who healeth all thy
diseases;
4 Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; Who crowneth thee
with lovingkindness and tender mercies;
5 Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy
youth is renewed like the eagle's.
6 The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that
are oppressed.
7 He made known His ways unto Moses, His acts unto the
children of Israel .
8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and
plenteous in mercy.
9 He will not always chide: neither will He keep His anger
for ever.
10 He hath not dealt with us after our sins; nor rewarded us
according to our iniquities.
11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is
His mercy toward them that fear Him.
12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He
removed our transgressions from us.
13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD
pitieth them that fear Him.
14 For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are
dust.
15 As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the
field, so he flourisheth.
16 For the wind passeth over it, and it is gone; and the
place thereof shall know it no more.
17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to
everlasting upon them that fear Him, and His righteousness unto children's
children;
18 To such as keep His covenant, and to those that remember
His commandments to do them.
19 The LORD hath prepared His throne in the heavens; and His
kingdom ruleth over all.
20 Bless the LORD, ye His angels, that excel in strength,
that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His Word.
21 Bless ye the LORD, all ye His hosts; ye ministers of His,
that do His pleasure.
22 Bless the LORD, all His works in all places of His
dominion: bless the LORD, O my soul.
Wow, thank you so much, Amanda! There are too many days that I read just "to check it off the list". We must be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, applying what we read, and not just reading it! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks again!
Love you!
-Patience
Amen! It is a continual battle to not just read and say, "I agree," but "Lord, help me to APPLY this." :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting!
~Amanda
"But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22
That is so true! Thank you for writing this!
ReplyDeleteJames 1:22 has been in my mind a lot lately. I find myself falling into the trap of being a hearer only. Like you said, "Lord help me to apply this!"
Amen! May the Lord help us all to have hearts to hear His Word!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Sarah! Have a blessed Sunday!
~Amanda
"Thy Word have I hid in my heart, that I might not sin against Thee." Psalm 119:9