Author: ObtainingMercy

Nehemiah 8:8 "So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading."

Jeremiah 36:8 "And Baruch the son of Neriah did according to all that Jeremiah the prophet commanded him, reading in the book the words of the LORD in the LORD's house."

I Timothy 4:13 "Till I come, give attendance to reading…"

"But trials and difficulties are not the only means by which faith is exercised and thereby increased.  There is the reading of the Scriptures, that we may by them acquaint ourselves with God as He has revealed Himself in His Word." ~George Mueller

 

I know I've said it before, but it bears repeating:  We must read the Bible!!!

God wants to be an intimate Friend.  He gave His life for us.  He wrote 66 books for us to read.  He has done His part.  The growth of the relationship is up to us.

We must read His Book to know Who He is and how He works.

It is simply inexcusable for a Christian to neglect spending time in the Word of God.

And how do I know that?

Because there have been so many times that I have neglected it!

It sits on my dresser.  It is convenient.  It is easily understood.  I have every intention of picking it up.  But life happens.  My day begins in an unexpected way.  Situations rush at me, and I lose my opportunity for quite devotions with my Lord.

The only way for me to be sure to get that time each day is to PLAN for it. 

I wake up at an appointed time.  I have a scheduled time for reading, for studying, for writing. 

Often, I do not even power up my computer until after my time of study.  If I do want to use my online study helps, it works best for me to ignore my email, my Facebook notifications, my Twitter feed.  I do not open up those tabs at all.

Let's face it – the entire world around us screams for our attention, while our Bible sits quietly waiting to be picked up and read. 

It will not happen by accident.  We must plan a time to read each day.

I challenge you to begin TODAY!  And please, let me know how it goes!  I'd love to hear about your plan for studying the Word. 🙂

Exodus 14:13 "And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will shew to you to day: for the Egyptians whom ye have seen to day, ye shall see them again no more for ever."

"In times of uncertainty, wait.  Always, if you have any doubt, wait.  Do not force yourself to any action.  If you have a restraint in your spirit, wait until all is clear, and do not go against it." ~Streams in the Desert

 

It is difficult to wait.  But the reward of obedience is always blessing.

Make yourself ready.  Complete your preparations.  Pay attention, waiting for His signal.

Then, and only when, God gives His command, go forth to accomplish your task for Him.

Luke 8:40 "And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him."

When we wait for Him, He comes – every time.  He will not disappoint us.  He will move at just the right time for His will to be accomplished through us in just the right way.

Let us not despise the waiting, but use that time to prepare our hearts for the mission ahead.

Joel 2:32 "And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the LORD shall be delivered…"

"Why do not I call on His name? Why do I run to this neighbor and that when God is so near and will hear my faintest call?  Why do I sit down and devise schemes and invent plans? Why not at once roll myself and my burden upon the Lord?

"My case is urgent, and I do not see how I am to be delivered; but this is no business of mine.  He who makes the promise will find ways and means of keeping it.  It is mine to obey His commands; it is not mine to direct His counsels.  I am His servant, not His solicitor.  I call upon Him, and He will deliver." ~C.H. Spurgeon

I can't improve much on those thoughts, can I?  Wise words of counsel there. 

Now…to put them into practice today! 🙂

Psalm 103:19 "The LORD hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all."

Oh, my friend, why do we murmur?

He has everything under His control.

We have no need to worry or complain, when He has promised He does all for our good.

II Corinthians 2:14a "Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ…"

  "Faith is not a sense, nor sight, nor reason, but a taking God at His Word." ~Evans, Streams in the Desert

We can trust the One Who shed His blood to be a forgiving atonement for our sins, to lead our lives rightly and well, as we submit them to Him.

No doubts.  No complaining.  No second-guessing.

Just trust it all to Him.

Psalm 37:23-25 "The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way.
 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
 I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread."

 

When we insist on directing our own life,

When we refuse the instruction of the Lord and of the Bible,

When we know the right way, but do not choose that way,

We are removing ourselves from the support of our God.

Why do we wonder, then, that our life is in a mess?

Why are we surprised that we lack direction?

Why do we grow angry at our circumstances ?

James 4:17 "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."

Romans 8:31-31 " What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?"

If God gave His Son for us, why would He withhold any other good thing from us?

He only withholds His blessings when we live disobedient lives.

We are, quite often, our own worse enemy.

We must obey what God tells us to do from His Word!

God's richest blessing with follow our act of submission to His will.