Monday, May 2, 2011

My Daily Bread

You wouldn't starve yourself.....Would you?

I have been told countless times to read my Bible. Everyday. Read your Bible every single day. Growing up in a Christian home and surrounded by believers I was always convicted when I heard that phrase. I would cringe, Read my Bible everyday? Well, I try really hard to.... Really I do! I'm just busy... I usually manage a couple times a week... sometimes... Isn't that enough? But my mental excuses never managed to work, deep down I knew that I was neglecting to be responsible about my faith.

I struggled with self discipline when it came to reading my Bible. I wasn't exactly sure why but it seemed that even when I managed to get everything else done, at the end of the day my Bible was still sitting on the shelf in the very same place that it was the day before, collecting dust. I always had a frustrating Sunday morning trying to find my Bible cause it had been so long since I last opened it. 

Can any of you relate, Christians? I don't know, maybe I'm the only one that struggles to have my "Daily Bread". But I doubt it. During a church sermon when the Pastor says "Have you read your Bible this week?" do you hear the sighs of frustration? Many times even the ones that did read their Bible that week still feel guilty because they didn't do it enough. Where did the time go? Oops, another day passed and you forgot again!

But WHY is it so important? Why is it such a big deal when you don't read it? Well, think of your closest friend. The friend that you want to spend all of your time with, the one that you do everything with. What would happen if you didn't speak to this friend except for an occasional "Hello"? What would happen if you never listened to or even wanted to hear from this friend? If you disregarded everything they said to you, what would happen to this friendship? It would die. Plain and simple. You cannot have a relationship with someone if you never talk to them! And if you never listen you won't know who they are. You won't understand their thoughts or actions, that person would be a total stranger to you. 

What is the Bible? The Bible is the word of God. The very words of the Creator of the Universe written for you, a love letter from your Savior! In order to understand and know who God is and who you need to be you have to read what he has written to you! You can't have that personal relationship with Jesus if you don't know who He is and you can't know who He is if you don't investigate His story, His teaching, and His truth. The Bible is so amazing! It isn't an ordinary book! It is the living Word of God. How amazing is that? The Bible has changed more lives than any other book, offering life and light in a world of death and darkness!

I know so many Christians, or those that claim to be Christians that do not read their Bible. Sunday is enough for them, maybe a midweek church service carries them through and they "get by". But are they growing? Do they truly Know Jesus? Or are they starving themselves?

Are you starving yourself?

Jesus, the One who died for you, the one that loves you with an unconditional, incomparable love has asked you to study His words. He desires your attention, and His simple requirement is to be your life's purpose! 

Christians, know this: The Devil does not want you to read your Bible. He doesn't want you to pick up your sword! In fact, he is totally OK with you owning a Bible.... as long as it stays on the shelf. But when you open it and read the living word of God, he can't stand it. When you are in the Word everyday studying it, pondering it, taking it to heart and *gasp* applying it to your life! That's when you become dangerous to the Enemy! He doesn't want you to live like Christ, He doesn't want you to Know Jesus, to have the incredibly intimate relationship with Him that is possible when you read your Bible! 

And when you don't read your Bible, and you don't pursue the wisdom and understanding of God, the Devil has won yet another battle. 

Sometimes I still slip up, I forget. I'm getting much better, but I have a busy day and I skip my Daily Bread, and my Christian walk falters. I miss the time with my King that I have everyday. I learn so much by opening His word everyday. The time with Him is so sweet.

I encourage you guys to open your Bibles! The more you do it the better it gets! I cannot stress enough how much you are missing in you life when you don't study and investigate the Word of God. Keep me accountable! Ask your brothers and sister in the Church if they're reading their Bibles. You have to feed yourself with the word, or your faith will starve. Don't skip out on this, it's much too important! 
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Joshua 1:8
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.


Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.


Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.



2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.


Psalm 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.




Psalm 1:1-2
Blessed is the man
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in the law
 of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.

3 comments:

  1. Very well said, Joanna. You can really see this problem of not reading the Bible flourishing within the realm of Christian bible college and seminaries. To often we put off reading the Bible for devotional and personal growth reasons because we are in the Bible all day studying for tests! It is something that we are warned about from the beginning and every semester after- and still we slip and fall. We have to force ourselves to find the time. I struggle with this a lot! Good reminder.

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  2. " I protest by your rejoicing which I have by Christ Jesus our Lord, I DIE DAILY." I was just reading this today and it came back when I read your post. It's that stupid flesh! We would all be great Christians if it wasn't for that!

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