Can we get real for a minute?
Most of us don’t have a problem with owning a Bible; we may even have several. What we can find challenging is making the time to actually open it up and dig in.
I used the phrase “making the time” intentionally, because this isn’t about finding the time for something we want to do; it’s about intentionally setting aside the time for something that is essential to our spiritual health.
“I know I should, but…”
How many times have I heard a diabetic use these words in reference to watching their sugar intake? Eating excessive sugar could kill them, and yet many struggle to stop.
The same principle applies in all areas of life.
“I know I should exercise, but…”
“I know I should call my mom regularly, but…”
“I know I should study, but…”
Don’t exercise—hurt your body.
Don’t call your mom—hurt your relationship.
Don’t study—hurt your GPA.
Don’t spend regular, intentional time in God’s Word and you hurt your spirit man—the part of you that is meant to be alive and responsive to God. How can we expect to successfully fight our flesh (which, honestly, is our worst enemy) if we consistently starve our spirits?
I mean that seriously. If you wonder why you keep fighting the same old battles with your flesh, you need to take a good hard look at what you’ve been feeding your spirit. And if you’ve been thinking sitting in a church pew was enough to keep your spirit man alive, you are sadly mistaken.
And I am officially at risk of launching into the series right here and now. I can’t do that, but I will do this. There are myriad scriptures that talk about the importance of being in God’s Word and having it live in you, and there’s no time like the present to get started.
You can study up on why you should be studying.
And here’s a list of pertinent references to get you started.
You don’t need to read these all at once.
Choose a section, read thoughtfully,
and ask God to speak to you through His Word.
The Value & Power of God’s Word
Psalm 19:7–11
Psalm 119:105
Psalm 119:160
Proverbs 30:5
Isaiah 55:10–11
Hebrews 4:12
Loving, Meditating on, and Delighting in the Word
Joshua 1:8
Psalm 1:1–3
Psalm 119:15–16
Psalm 119:97
Psalm 119:103
Colossians 3:16
Learning, Teaching, and Passing on the Word
Deuteronomy 6:6–9
Deuteronomy 11:18–21
Psalm 78:5–7
Proverbs 4:1–7
Matthew 28:19–20
2 Timothy 2:2
Hearing and Receiving the Word
Nehemiah 8:1–3, 8
Matthew 4:4
Matthew 11:15
Luke 8:15
Romans 10:17
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Abiding, Remaining, and Staying in the Word
John 8:31–32
John 15:7
Acts 2:42
1 Timothy 4:13
2 Timothy 3:14–17
1 John 2:14
Obeying and Living Out the Word
Deuteronomy 30:14
Psalm 119:9
Matthew 7:24–27
Luke 11:28
James 1:22–25
1 John 5:3
The Word as Protection, Guidance, and Strength
Psalm 119:11
Psalm 119:130
Proverbs 2:1–6
Ephesians 6:17
Colossians 1:9–10
Warnings Against Neglecting the Word
Hosea 4:6
Amos 8:11
Matthew 13:19–23
Hebrews 2:1
Hebrews 5:11–14
2 Timothy 4:3–4
Scripture About Scripture
Psalm 119 (entire chapter)
Romans 15:4
1 Corinthians 10:11
2 Peter 1:19–21
Revelation 1:3
I’ll see you next week with the next installment!
Stay in the Word—and let the Word stay in you.
Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C