Bible study tools are like gardening tools
- Renee Diaz
- Feb 4, 2020
- 6 min read
Updated: Feb 5, 2020
It's been a few weeks since my last post. We have been in the throes of illness and judging by my husbands inability to go to work today, it doesn't feel like it's letting up quite yet. I'm hopeful that I'll remain healthy and I'm happy the kids are finally well but as a wife, I miss my husband. He's my other half. I just wanted to say that.
I began a practice with reading the Bible daily. It kind of carried over after my fast in January but that was the intention for me. I want to be a more structured student of the word. I've tried different things but I'll share some ways that I find helpful for pursing time with the Lord.
1. Meeting with a friend - This was something that came to mind and when shared, developed in a way that both works for my life and allows me the accountability that I need. I mentioned at Bible study that I really lacked the drive to get out of bed in the morning for the Word but would get up hours early to meet with friends. without batting an eyelash. I talked about how getting in the word was important in my heart but my flesh was having a hard time catching up. My friend Rebecca who is a wonderful Godly woman and also happens to be a life coach ( RebeccaDanaeCortes.com), kind of saw what I was needing and invited me to do Bible reading with her every morning at 6:10. Without leaving my house. This really is just a quick Zoom meeting and it's mostly just reading and journaling in silence but in the presence of someone else. Let me tell you, that accountability made a HUGE difference for me. The waking up for a reason outside of reading (which I'm only half a fan of) makes me want to really want to dive in. There's just something about knowing someone is doing this with you that makes it easier. We were only successful one day due to illness and schedules but we were successful one day. And because I have that feeling that I could make the time, I am able to make time during the day or night to read the same section of 1 Corinthians I've been focusing on.
2. The old switcheroo - During most fasts we're supposed to give something up. For a lot of people, that's a food or drink item. I was on a health kick and thought if I made that food related adjustment, I might be focused on the outward, instead of the real Jesus reason. I shifted my focus and used the fast as a reason to be more intentional with reading the Bible. I found a cool devotional and read along with friends for some of it and other days I slipped but got right back into it when I remembered. It's been a season of illness and some of that looks like staying up at night with a crying kid but when I would usually be checking emails at 2am, I found a way to make it more intentional with my devotional. That may not be your circumstance but it could look like waiting for your food at the microwave at work. Instead of playing a game for 2 minutes, switch over to a bible or devotional app and just do it right then and there.
2A. By making a smaller goal (like a devotional that had an end date of as few as 3 days and as many as 30 days) I was able to find success. I didn't feel like the reading was overwhelming amounts to do which made my attitude open up some and I felt pretty nonchalant about "only reading" for 5 minutes a day. I also didn't feel like a failure because I could catch up when ever I was able and I wasn't ever that far behind for long because the readings were so short. This almost felt like the real first step.
3. Be realistic - this is also something I'm learning after taking a workshop with Rebecca. If you get too ahead of yourself and make lofty Bible study goals that don't work for your REAL LIFE, you'll fail and won't return so easily. I remember my first real fast was for 40 days. I was intentional about reading the Bible daily, wouldn't drink, wouldn't sleep with my ex-boyfriend and wouldn't swear. All the things I took away were good for the soul but reading the word was more important than anything else. It was what worked for that season of my young Christian life to grow into who God wanted me to be but also to learn structure and flesh vs. spirit enlightenment. I also got to see how the removal of sin sure did impact the Spirit! The idea of putting those things into practice now seem foolish, 1. because I'm married and 2. because it's not realistic. I'm working on the swearing thing but if I was to give up my new vices of tv and coffee, it might just feel like I was trying to earn favor, when all God wants is my time. It would feel more like penance instead of the real reason why I want to do it. He sees the heart y'all!
4. Just do it - Like Nike right? Kind of. I think there is a certain amount of self control and free will that have to work together to make it happen. The perfect time to start is now.
5. Prayer - you can't do this on your own. You weren't meant to. Prayer is the thing I go to first and the thing I lean into when I don't know what else to do. I have anxiety and it feels like comfort when I can lay it all out for God to hear, shelter me and take care of my burdens. Prayer helps me at all times but it's also a line of communication for us to reach out to Him. When we want to praise Him for a good day (or heck, even a good moment) or for when we are falling apart we have the ability to say thank you and help me in a simple prayer. I'm reminded of my kids sometimes when I tell them if they want something, to use their words and just ask. I would love to help my child with their needs and escpecailly if they're upset or struggling and it's something I can feasibly do but I don't want to just control the situation. I want them to assess what they need and simply ask me. I am not a micromanaging mom and hope God wouldn't treat us that way. Sometimes, when I say "Use your words and ask please", it bounces back and I have a tiny little inkling of what God means when he knows our wants, knows our needs, knows our burdens and simply just wants us to ask for help. This is a very good way to put your mind in the right place if you don't have the will to want to read. Just asking Him to help you want to read is plenty. Also feel free to ask for a door. That door opens when I ask and suddenly there are plenty of opportunities for me to read, even if I don't open every door, every time.
1 Corinthians 3:5-9 says:
5 What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. 7 So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8 The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. 9 For we are co-workers in God’s service; you are God’s field, God’s building.
So, let have your Pastor plant a seed. Water yourself with with Word. And let God help you grow!
Also, just a side note here, I recently came across this section of scripture and as a plant mom, I love it so!
Renee
コメント