Perhaps its starting something new? Perhaps it stopping something? Perhaps its just taking stock of life as it stands just now and simply appreciating what you've got.
Ive recently come to believe, that I have one thing that if I could get it right, would so radically change my life that I would be a new man.
My one thing, is simply to read the bible.
My whole life, I have never ever got this right. Ive been so PASSIVE in my efforts - in truth its embarrassing. Its not like I don't desire with my heart to hear God speak to me. Its not as though I don't understand the math, or am unable to make an effort for something - there are plenty other things in life I'm more than happy to routinely do.
So why does it just not cross my mind to get down to it?
I think that part of it is, frankly, I hate reading. I don't read. Period.
But I do love visual and audio communication. And one thing I do have is the "Inspired By: The Bible Experience", which my wife, knowing me so well, bought me for this specific purpose. But still - I fail to make the effort to use this amazing (and it is amazing) resource.
What is the deal with this?
It is something so simple in concept, that can have such an astounding impact on my life - why am I so unable to just to make the small effort needed?
So that's my "one thing". Please feel free to pray for me - as I'm seeking to break the bad habit of life time...
Many of us struggle with this. And I think it's because the Bible isn't just any ordinary book. It's the living word of God (not to sound too religious jargony) and I think subconciously, we know we're going to be challenged by it. We know it will stir us and move us, and sometimes we just don't feel we have the energy to go through that when we're staring at the closed book after we've tucked the kids in bed. Sometimes it's easier to just go to sleep unchanged, unmoved, and continuing to make the same mistakes over and over again, rather than go through the purification and new life to the fullest that can be found by reading the word.
ReplyDeleteYou know I pray for you babe. ;)
This is something I've strugged with for most of my life as well, and it hasn't been until the past couple of years that I really started consistently having a daily devotional time. You mentioned in your post the word "routine". This word subconsciously implies boredom, mundane, drudgery, procedural, or mechanical. There should be nothing 'routine' about our daily devotional time. Every time we think of spending time with our Savior we should be excited, anticipatory, and anxious to hear from him. We should have the same attitude about our time with him as we have about our time with our spouse - after all, we are the Bride of Christ.
ReplyDeleteBy the same token, you may not like to change Glenn or Zoe's dirty diapers, but you do it because you love them and know they can't do it for themselves. Denise does the laundry or cleans the house or cooks the meals not because she HAS to but because she loves you and your family. We get to do these things (even the unpleasant tasks) because we are blessed by it. So why don't we take the same attitude in our walk with God? Are we so busy we can't spare 2 or 3 or 5 minutes each day in his word? It's not like this guy gave up his very life for us....oh wait, that's right, he did. And yet, he asks so very little from us in return. Perhaps you need to get a paperback Bible and put it in the bathroom - I know you can get a few minutes of alone time while you're in there each day - its not like you've got other pressing business to attend to during that time (please pardon the bathroom pun).
When it comes right down to the crux of the matter, we need to think of our time with God not as GOT TO, but GET TO. If He had the same attitude about us as we have about spending time with Him this world would have been a lost cause way back in the Garden. I'll be praying for you.
My husband loathes reading, the Bible is no exception. We also have the Bible Experience, which helps, but just as you have noted, it never gets used in my home either. It is so unfortunate that while we struggle everyday to grasp all God has for us that we all fail to reach for the answer Book as much as we should. I will be praying for you, and thank you for the reminder of what is important.
ReplyDeleteUpdate: I left this morning with the Bible experience in hand - and purchased new headphones on the way to work.
ReplyDeleteI had listened to the whole of Genesis by 1pm. That was epic.
I love the Blog Rene, and I think I am going to try and get "The Bible Experience" too. I have a 40 minute drive to and from work everyday so I think it would be perfect!
ReplyDeleteFantastic! I'll be praying! You inspired my husband to pick up the old book as well. This winter we are getting a new car with a CD player so he can use it on his commute. Keep it up and God bless!
ReplyDeleteGood for you for taking the 'experience' with you. That's a step.
ReplyDeleteAt the moment, excluding my job, the the thing I'd most like to change is my fitness level. I'd like to get this old carcass into shape one last time. That's pretty minor in the big picture. I am old. I am blessed.
Thanks for bringing up this point, Rene. I think your wife has some great insight as to the "why" when it comes to choosing not to read. I think that is how I am challenged/encouraged in this...in not reading the Bible I'm actually choosing to not read it. Because it really comes down to a choice.
ReplyDeleteI wanted to give an update on this - Im almost finished listening to 2 Kings. Ive gone further into the bible than I ever had. Ive heard things I know and also things I never knew. Every day I am truly inspired by it - an talk Niecey's ears off when I come home from work.
ReplyDeleteAnd to top that off, today at church the preacher was talking about the exodus and some things that occurred in that time, while they were wandering round the desert. For the first time in my life, I knew exactly what and when he was talking about - it was so amazing to be able to do that!