Psalm 139:23-24 NLT
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.
For a Christian, the verses above are an essential heart posture.
Over the past couple of years, I have committed to myself with God to read the Bible every day. The promise I made was that I would pick up the Bible and never put it down.
This promise had a very different outcome than what I had expected.
I had the Bible placed into my hand at a very early age, and several times throughout those years, I had read through the Bible, but I would eventually put it down.
A couple of things happened when I would be reading the Bible during those times; my life seemed to be better, relationships weren’t as strained, but I found that I was not only responsible for what I was reading, but my expectations of others were also they should be accountable for what I was reading as well.
Thinking in this way lead to unintended consequences; eventually, I would become discouraged with others not living up to the way I thought they should because of what I was reading.
This thinking eventually leads me to try and manipulate others because of my expectations or trying to make others feel guilty for not living up to my vision of the way I thought it “should be.”
Then I would put the Bible down.
This cycle repeated several times over about 4o years.
Fast forward to me being 48 years old, and I made the decision that I would not put the Bible down ever again. I was at a pretty low point in my life, so I figured that it would only go up from there.
But I was wrong; God was working, but I wasn’t broken yet.
And the words in that Bible were starting to point to a lot of areas in my life that I needed to address. Things that I needed to work out with God.
Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.
God softened my heart to the point where I decided to pick up the Bible, with no intention to put it down; God knew that I was ready to read the Bible the right way.
And the Word of God was exposing these things to me. But like every challenge that I faced to that point, I started to run, but God didn’t let me go this time.
1 Peter 5:6 NLT
So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.
It was about noon that day when I was running for the door; I was leaving Tracy, who I had been with for 16 years. I was leaving this area. I was out of here.
The thoughts that were in my mind brought me to thinking that I wanted to be the be permanently out of here. I was driving down the road fast and entertained the idea of pulling my car into a telephone pole. I was at the lowest point now, and God inserted Himself at that point, and I picked up the phone, broken and in tears, and did something I would never have done before.
I called for help.
I was pointed lovingly back to God. He was working.
I thank God for that day. It changed the trajectory of my life.
When we read the Bible, it needs to be a mirror that we examine our thoughts, our attitudes, our motives, and our actions.
It is not meant to be a magnifying glass that we judge the world with.
When we start to work out our salvation, God will guide us to those who need what we have to offer. And they are all around us, and our main focus needs to be on living in God’s Will for us and by becoming an example to those around us.
Philippians 2:12 NLT
Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your promise.
Thank You for Your mercy, grace, and forgiveness.
I pray that You continue to work deep in my heart and that Your Word will continue to dwell richly in my heart, let it shape my thoughts, my attitudes, and my actions, all for Your glory.
In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray, Amen!! 🙏❤️
