Intro:What does your bible reading time look like? If you are like me it looks like this: 1. Read 2. Get on with your day.
What is the purpose of a bible reading time? Is it to become more educated? Partly. Is it to become fell good about ourselves? Maybe that happens at times. But what is the purpose of a bible reading time? The PURPOSE is to meet with God! It is to meet the living Word in the pages of the written word. It is to linger among the pages long enough that the 2000 years that separate you and Jesus fade and you see Him. It is to dwell long enough that someone else’s story becomes YOUR story.
What part does God play in our bible reading time? Today’s portion of Psalm 119 tells us a lot. Read this section today with the goal of hearing and seeing God in the word.
Read: Psalm 119:33-40
HEY
33 Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your statutes.
I will keep them to the end.
34 Give me understanding, and I will keep your law.
Yes, I will obey it with my whole heart.
35 Direct me in the path of your commandments,
for I delight in them.
36 Turn my heart toward your statutes,
not toward selfish gain.
37 Turn my eyes away from looking at worthless things.
Revive me in your ways.
38 Fulfill your promise to your servant,
that you may be feared.
39 Take away my disgrace that I dread,
for your ordinances are good.
40 Behold, I long for your precepts!
Revive me in your righteousness.
Think:
Look at the verbs in this Psalm. David is requesting God to be very active in his bible reading time. Let’s look:
1. Teach me the way of your statutes (v.33)
2. Give me understanding (v.34)
3. Direct me in the path of your commands (v.35)
4. Turn my heart toward your statutes (v.36)
5. Turn my eyes from worthless things (v.37)
6. Fulfill your promises (v.38)
7. Take away my disgrace (v.39)
8. Revive me (v.40)
David was clear that God had a role to play. By the way, this is why we pray before we read. It is wise to prep your heart in prayer before reading the Scriptures. It is wise to ask the Holy Spirit to be your teacher as you read. It is wise to ask God to speak to you in the pages of holy Scripture. After all, He is the author!!!
When you read the bible do you expect God to teach, give understanding, direct you, revive you? If your expectations are low maybe your outcomes are drab. Maybe we “1. Read and then 2. Get on with your day” because we have no expectations that God will show up and be involved.
Do:
Tell God what you are feeling and thinking about this subject. Let Him know if you are concerned about not hearing Him. Ask him to teach and direct you.
Choose one or two from the list above and turn it into a prayer to God before you ever read the bible again. Raise your expectations of your time with God in His word.
Make a new outcome of your bible reading time. 1. Pray 2. Read 3. Linger 4. Listen 5. Get on with your day 6. See what happens during the day!
DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.
