Never have I sat down and read the Bible for personal time with excitement. I have read devotions books and studied the Bible in church, school and Maranatha. I could get excited about it when others talked and taught me, but I struggled on my own. I had this mind set that it had to be done in a fancy way and each time that I decided to think about it, I overwhelmed myself. Also, I am constantly surrounded by the Bible year round, so I never saw the point. Until recently.
I don't remember how it started, but I began to sit with my friends and join at night while they did devotions together. They were finishing up reading through Acts.
My first thoughts: "k cool, I have heard about Paul since day one, and I studied Acts this summer, so what now?"
But something changed reading it that night. I heard the Bible in a different way that night. No fancy way to do it, but it was words to read. No assignment or looking for an answer. For some reason, that through me for a loop. I stopped trying to look for something and just listened. It felt as if I was back in fourth grade listening to my teacher reading me a book-I was hanging on to every word. The difference was that when the chapter ended on a cliff hanger, we read another chapter :) Devotions became my favorite part of the day.
Yes, I had studied Acts, and heard about Paul my whole life, but I am learning something new every day. I never knew that when Paul was persecuted and kicked out of a city, HE WENT BACK. He is so cool. I love Paul! Now we have moved into Romans and I just can't get enough of it. There is so much jam packed into those chapters. Being away on Thanksgiving, I still can't wait to read my Bible. I have so much excitement about the Bible and I love seeing how it applies to my every day life.
I know it is not always going to be perfect and I am not always going to want to read it at all, but I am learning.
I am learning it is not about a fancy way. It is about me and the words, hearing what Jesus has to say. I am learning that the Bible is not an assignment that I need to complete.
I am learning how when I am meditating on the words, they come back to me the next day usually when I need them most.
The Bible is not going to make me perfect, but I am going to grow.
But the biggest lesson that I have learned is that I DO have time. I always lay in my bed and play on my phone, or watch a TV show. If I just make the chance in the way I am spending my time-I have no excuse.
God is good.
No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21
