Psalm 25:4-5
Show me your ways, O LORD, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
We're quickly moving through the Holy Habits series, as we respond to the call of 1 Peter 1:15-16, "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy."
Two weeks ago, we began the series by putting our hands on our heads, with the determination to take captive every thought and make it obedient unto Christ, as 2 Corinthians 10:5 declares. Last week, we put our hands on our hearts, remembering that we should remain in God's love through abiding in Christ, who loves us because the Father has loved Him. This week, we put our hands out before us, holding in our hands our Bibles, opened up to provide us the with wisdom, knowledge, and truth.
God has not left us to our own devices, looking inward nor outward for answers to life. He has provided us with His Word--the Scriptures--to for instruction and encouragement, full of relevant application for every situation. In order to know what the Bible says, however, we have to read it on a daily basis for understanding, knowledge, application, and heart transformation. If we approach the Word simply as a text, we'll not be as transformed as if we approach it in terms of a relationship. It is the voice of God, and we need to listen and respond just like in our human conversations.
Below are some wonderfully encouraging verses reminding us of the purpose of God's Word as well as some suggestions as to how to keep on keeping on in getting it into our minds and hearts, so that the Lord may use it to transform our Coping Habits to Holy Habits.
What God says about His Word
Bible ResourcesLuke 11:28 He replied, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it."
Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.Colossians 3:16
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.2 Timothy 2:15
James 1:18
Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.
Deuteronomy 6:7-12
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.
- Biblegateway offers a verse of the day, which you can turn into a daily reading and expand on my looking at the whole chapter.
- Christianity.com and Heartlight both have online Bible reading plans.
- Pick a book of the Bible and read one chapter a day.
- Read one Psalm and one Proverb a day, followed by a New Testament or Old Testament chapter.
- Use a devotional to guide you through the Scriptures, but be sure to spend time opening your Bible and reading the verse in context.
- Write down a key Scripture in a journal or on an index card each time you read.
- Underline and/or date a meaningful verse in your Bible during your reading. When you come across that verse again and again, you'll see that the Lord is really impressing it on your heart.
- Use your blog to reflect on the verses you're reading.
- Get involved with a Bible study at your church or online.
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1 Comments:
I am so glad that you are doing this series, bless you.
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Blessings, extravagantly,
Lisa