Mark 8:34-35 -
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Living for Christ
Undoubtedly, just like me, many of you have been a dedicated Christian for quite some time. Perhaps you have recently recommitted your life to serving Christ. However, no matter how many years you have walked with Christ, you are still probably struggling with reading God’s Word on a regular basis. We all know that we should daily read the Book that gives us meaning and life. We know that it is the Bible that helps us face the challenges of each day. Whether we are faced each day with business problems, discouragement, unrealistic deadlines, the pitter-patter of little feet around us 24x7, or health or financial issues, this is the only way that we can hope to bring peace to the unrealistic expectations of each day.
More Determined than Ever
The Barna Group reports Bible reading declines with age, 58% of elders and 47% of Boomers read the Bible, only 32% of “Mosaics” or Gen-Ys do so in a typical week. (Weekly Reader Research for the American Bible Society, Christian Post 7/18/06). As Christians, we have to fight to continue in the Word. There is too much of life competing for our time and attention. Before we know it, the minutes merge into hours and the day slips away with no time for the Word of God. Sometimes, we may try to barter or defend ourselves before God, saying, “Tomorrow, Father, I’ll make time,” as if we think the time spent in the Word helps Him. We often fail to remind ourselves that as we dig into the Word, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom.12:2). With that transformation, we are jolted back into black-and-white reality that “success” in this world in only found in Christ.
What are your options?
With so much available, you might get into the Word while running. Perhaps you listen to iPod-Casts while exercising. Perhaps you pop in a CD on the commute to the office. You might even find yourself escaping into your closet to read the Word of God before the rest of the family is up and about. There are so many creative ways that you can listen or read the Word every day. However, be practical. When you receive the Word, make it applicable to you.
Early in my life, I would have a goal of getting through the Word within an allotted period of time. Now, after reading through the Word many times, I have found I receive the greatest personal insight into the Word of God by reading fewer chapters and/or verses, but taking five to ten minutes to find one verse that I can apply for the day. The Lord is always speaking through His Word. However, often we have some preconceived idea of how we think the Lord is going to direct us. Most of the time we are just too busy and don’t take the time to apply His Word. Maybe we think we’ll have that one-time “holy” event when He steps into our life and we actually, audibly hear His voice. And, no matter if those times happen or not, the greatest joy is to know the truth of His Word in everyday activities. He always desires to speak to us!
What will you loose?
If you take time to be in His Word each day, you will loose the opportunity to be putty in the enemy’s hands since offenses will not be able to easily lodge in your heart. You will loose the chance to fight your way to the top, knowing that the Lord is the “way-maker”. You will also loose the slippage of time and missed opportunities because you will notice that as you prioritize God in your life, the rest of life happens in God-ordained moments of grace and peace (Micah 4:12). By God’s grace, when we give up rights to every moment of each day, we begin to recognize that real gains come after steps of consecration.
What will you gain?
As you set aside time to daily read the Word of God, you will see more of life given back to you. It’s much like the discipline of tithing; the ten percent given to God, often makes the ninety percent remaining go farther than the original one hundred would have ever gone. In today’s economics, it just does not make sense. Yet we understand that God’s ways are far above our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). You will also see the Word of God giving you strength, wisdom, and grace for the situations at hand (James 4:3). In fact, as we put His Word before us each day, we will see the miraculous of His hand in our lives. He is so holy, great, and mighty. Only, as we surrender that which we deem to be so very important, will daily fullness of life be returned (James 1:5).
What are your comments? Email me (MoniGuyer@msn.com). I'd love to encourage you in your daily devotional walk. Blessings!
Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Living for Christ
Undoubtedly, just like me, many of you have been a dedicated Christian for quite some time. Perhaps you have recently recommitted your life to serving Christ. However, no matter how many years you have walked with Christ, you are still probably struggling with reading God’s Word on a regular basis. We all know that we should daily read the Book that gives us meaning and life. We know that it is the Bible that helps us face the challenges of each day. Whether we are faced each day with business problems, discouragement, unrealistic deadlines, the pitter-patter of little feet around us 24x7, or health or financial issues, this is the only way that we can hope to bring peace to the unrealistic expectations of each day.
More Determined than Ever
The Barna Group reports Bible reading declines with age, 58% of elders and 47% of Boomers read the Bible, only 32% of “Mosaics” or Gen-Ys do so in a typical week. (Weekly Reader Research for the American Bible Society, Christian Post 7/18/06). As Christians, we have to fight to continue in the Word. There is too much of life competing for our time and attention. Before we know it, the minutes merge into hours and the day slips away with no time for the Word of God. Sometimes, we may try to barter or defend ourselves before God, saying, “Tomorrow, Father, I’ll make time,” as if we think the time spent in the Word helps Him. We often fail to remind ourselves that as we dig into the Word, we are transformed by the renewing of our mind (Rom.12:2). With that transformation, we are jolted back into black-and-white reality that “success” in this world in only found in Christ.
What are your options?
With so much available, you might get into the Word while running. Perhaps you listen to iPod-Casts while exercising. Perhaps you pop in a CD on the commute to the office. You might even find yourself escaping into your closet to read the Word of God before the rest of the family is up and about. There are so many creative ways that you can listen or read the Word every day. However, be practical. When you receive the Word, make it applicable to you.
Early in my life, I would have a goal of getting through the Word within an allotted period of time. Now, after reading through the Word many times, I have found I receive the greatest personal insight into the Word of God by reading fewer chapters and/or verses, but taking five to ten minutes to find one verse that I can apply for the day. The Lord is always speaking through His Word. However, often we have some preconceived idea of how we think the Lord is going to direct us. Most of the time we are just too busy and don’t take the time to apply His Word. Maybe we think we’ll have that one-time “holy” event when He steps into our life and we actually, audibly hear His voice. And, no matter if those times happen or not, the greatest joy is to know the truth of His Word in everyday activities. He always desires to speak to us!
What will you loose?
If you take time to be in His Word each day, you will loose the opportunity to be putty in the enemy’s hands since offenses will not be able to easily lodge in your heart. You will loose the chance to fight your way to the top, knowing that the Lord is the “way-maker”. You will also loose the slippage of time and missed opportunities because you will notice that as you prioritize God in your life, the rest of life happens in God-ordained moments of grace and peace (Micah 4:12). By God’s grace, when we give up rights to every moment of each day, we begin to recognize that real gains come after steps of consecration.
What will you gain?
As you set aside time to daily read the Word of God, you will see more of life given back to you. It’s much like the discipline of tithing; the ten percent given to God, often makes the ninety percent remaining go farther than the original one hundred would have ever gone. In today’s economics, it just does not make sense. Yet we understand that God’s ways are far above our ways (Isaiah 55:8-9). You will also see the Word of God giving you strength, wisdom, and grace for the situations at hand (James 4:3). In fact, as we put His Word before us each day, we will see the miraculous of His hand in our lives. He is so holy, great, and mighty. Only, as we surrender that which we deem to be so very important, will daily fullness of life be returned (James 1:5).
What are your comments? Email me (MoniGuyer@msn.com). I'd love to encourage you in your daily devotional walk. Blessings!
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