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Friday, September 27, 2013

Just reading, or learning?

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.

4 comments:

  1. 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! :)

    Thanks again!

    Love you!

    -Patience

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  2. Amen! It is a continual battle to not just read and say, "I agree," but "Lord, help me to APPLY this." :)

    Thanks for commenting!
    ~Amanda

    "But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." James 1:22

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  3. That is so true! Thank you for writing this!

    James 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!"

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  4. Amen! May the Lord help us all to have hearts to hear His Word!

    Thanks 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

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Thank you for stopping by! I pray that you have found something that encourages you today. Thank you for taking the time to give me a little comment - they always brighten my day. :) I usually stop by and reply to as many comments as I can, but sometimes it takes me a week or so. But if you asked a question, be sure to check back!

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)