It’s Personal
I am tempted…..
I admit it. Recently I have shuffled into the kitchen for my mandatory cup of coffee to jump-start my day and instead of immediately picking up my Bible, I have turned on my computer.
This, in itself, is not a bad thing however, for me; it is a temptation which can get me into trouble. You see, I plan to sit down for just a minute to look at the email that arrived overnight. Then, intrigued by a comment I click onto a site and begin to read. Before I know it, I am surfing the Christian blogosphere with gusto. I make my mandatory stops at Laced With Grace and Jehovah Java, followed by a few dozen others.
By the time I emerge from computerland (as my daughter calls it), my morning is gone and with it my time to read my Bible. I am alone here. *grin*
Reading God’s word cannot be replaced by devotionals, Christian magazines, books, or blogs. Yes, even blogs!
Searching and pondering the scriptures revitalizes me from the inside out. God’s word is active and alive. Can you contemplate the implications of this statement. It breathes into us new truths and deeper understanding of ourselves and of God.
God speaks a word to you and to me personally, individually, and privately through scriptures that are living and filled with power. I become overwhelmed when I think there are about 6.6 billion people on this planet, yet God speaks a private and meaningful word to me.
God’s word penetrates and inspires, corrects and encourages. This book has been the single most influential resource in my life as well as millions of other believers. WOW!
Through God’s word I have discovered my own personal life verse. My life verse is the source of much needed strength and courage through the many seasons of my life. I lean on it in the dangerous times and thrill over this verse in the good times knowing it is by Christ’s love I am where I am today.
Philippians 4:13 NKJV I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
(I’m sorry, no one else can claim this verse. Just kidding, Iris.)
Today my daily Bible was first and from this day forward it will always be.
God’s word is living. God’s word is active. God’s word is personal.
Christ, my strength, my resource, my all. Your living word is a gift, more precious than anything else I could own here on earth. Thank you, Amen.
What is your life verse? Please tell me why it belongs to you.
Lynn, that is something I must determine to do every morning as well..spend time with God in His word FIRST or I will replace it with other things (even though they may be uplifting and encouraging) I need His Word! Thank you for the reminder. Sorry, one of my life’s verse is Phil 4:13, it is the first thing that came to my mind when the radiologist told me my 34 week old baby had died in my womb. But another is 1 Samuel 7:12 because my confidence, hope and strength for the present is renewed when I remember that the Lord has helped me in the past and it’s not going to change now!
Oh Nise, I feel your pain and Philippians 4:13 is perfect. One day you and I will sit before the throne and say it out loud to our Redeemer. He will smile at us and say this scripture was JUST for you!!!! Amen!!!! Love you, Lynn
Well, ladies, this proves that I need to be reading the Bible more! That whole entire book and I have to say that Philippians 4:13 is one of my favorites. But in the spirit of doing what Lynn asks… 🙂 I have to say that, lately, my soul is fed very much by:
2Cor.12:9 (Paul stating)..But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,for my power is made perfectin weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
And…given that I have felt really embattled lately (and thanks to Lisa’s study): 1John2:14 …”the word of God lives in you, and you have overcome the evil one.”
And…I thought I was the only one tempted by the computer bug in the morning. Let us remember: 1Cor.10:13 “No temptation has seized you except that which is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Hallelujah!
That is also one of my life verses sweety. I cannot do anything without my precious Lord.
The LORD your God is with you,
he is mighty to save.
He will take great delight in you,
he will quiet you with his love,
he will rejoice over you with singing.”
Zeph 3:17
Just the image of God being delighted in me and rejoicing over me, brings me to my knees. After going through a dark time in my life, and find out God was delighted in me, was almost to much for this girl to believe. But it say so, right there in black and white =))
((hugs))
John 14:1-3
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
Lyn, Thank you for sharing this this morning. I really needed to hear it. I have been STRUGGLING with getting up early in the morning to read my bible and when I do get up I have a deep temptation to just grab a second on the computer. I find all kinds of ways to justify it. I like you end up consumed by it. I want to give the Lord the very first fruit of my day… nice and ripe and juicy! He is my Lord and Saviour, out of sheer enjoyment and with deep gratitude it should be given.
I found my life verse a few years ago. It litterally jumped out at me and stuck directly in my mind and in my heart. Psalm 118:24 “This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it.” It holds my encouragement and perspective for each God given day. I desperately tried to grasp it and make it apart of who I am for myself, my family and for His glory. I have yet to truly grip it so tightly that it never leaves me but I am daily working on it.
JOYfully in Him,
Kelli
Ephesians 2:5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.
This verse causes a deep lump in my throat. Really, the entire 2nd chapter of Ephesians causes that lump but verse 5 sums it up for me.
Your post was something I was just thinking about yesterday as I was driving around. I’ve gotten in the (bad) habit of getting on the computer first and edging out my Bible time. I needed to have my toes stepped on–thank you for that!
Nise, my heart goes out to you.
Well, Lynn – sorry, but I claim Phil 4:13 as my life verse as well 🙂 – What does it mean to me? A lot. I know that if I am at wits end, I know that He will see me through.
Nise’ – I am so sorry that you had lost a baby in such a late state of your pregnancy. Thank you for sharing it with us…
My “this-stage-of-life” verse is my blog header: Zeph 3:17
“The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, he will rejoice over you with singing.”
I’m learning something new about my life journey with every word of this scripture, as I meditate upon them. I’ve discovered that I’ve carried some emotional baggage that need not be part of my load; rejection, disappointment, shame. My heart doesn’t naturally quiet in the midst of stress or unfortunate events. At mid-life, in the midst of parenting, I see myself more as a child of God than I did when I was younger.
Nise’, my Sara is dancing the streets of gold with your baby….{hugs}Chrissy
Are you sure you weren’t peeking into my house Lynn? You have described some of my days to a “t”. I know you are right and have been convicted about that recently. I am trying to follow a little rule – no blogging until I’ve first met with the Lord.
Great post!!