Let's
look at Bible reading. (See Topics
below for more on Bible study).
A lady wrote that she just can't make the
time to read the Bible. I know this woman from other groups, and she is a godly woman. Her
intentions are excellent but she just can't make time to get her Bible read.
Sound familiar?
Or maybe you're reading the Bible but not
getting anything out of it.
The secret to meaningful Scripture reading
is to take it in tiny parts. It's all fine and good to "read the Bible in a
year" or "read the Bible in 90 days", but those programs are often
invitations to failure. You may get caught up in the logistics of the reading and overlook
the meaning. WOW! I read the Bible in a year! Or you may miss a day or two,
get discouraged and give up the whole thing with the intention of starting over again when
you can do it right -- but you never do.
Have you ever gobbled down an entire meal
and realized you didn't actually taste the food? On the other hand, have you ever taken
ONE bite of something and chewed it slowly, releasing all the flavors and savoring all the
tastes and textures? One bite is a lot easier to swallow, easier to digest, and the flavor
stays with you.
It's the same thing with your Daily Bread.
It's far better to read one chapter, one paragraph, even one verse and really get
something out of it. Sometimes when I read, one verse jumps off the page at me. I read it
again and again. Sometimes I look at the margin notes or footnotes, if there are any.
Ask God what He wants you to get out of that particular verse or chapter. Dwell on it.
Savor it. Be nourished by it!
That's why I've chosen Matthew 6:11 for this topic's scripture. Give us this
day our DAILY bread. Not a whole loaf -- just enough for one day. Be nourished
with God's manna -- enough for one day!
This principle applies beyond Scripture reading, too.
If you want to lose weight, tackle it one day at a time.
Don't change your entire way of eating all at once because it probably will fail. Instead,
eat sensibly just for today. Then tomorrow, eat sensibly just for that day. Soon you will
have eaten sensibly for an entire month -- but you did it one day at a time! For example,
don't eat butter on your toast today. Or for that matter, forego that slice of buttered
toast altogether. That will save you 200 calories! It doesn't seem like much, but it WILL
result in weight loss!
And apply the same principle to every avenue of renewal.
Want to unclutter your house? Clean out one drawer today. Tomorrow clean something else.
Eventually, you'll be uncluttered! Want to clean up your finances? Pinpoint one
expenditure you can do without -- eating out, for example. Pennies do make dollars, and
it's amazing how many pennies we "waste" each day.
If you are lonely or angry or hurt, find one person to
talk to or one way to forgive the person who has made you angry or hurt. Yes, I know
you're probably tired of those forgiveness talks, but God gave us the gift of forgiveness
for US, not the perpetrator!
Don't forget to pray! Ask God for strength and resolve! Remember, it's just for one day.
Tomorrow is another day. One step at a time.........One day at a time. |
