Bible reading

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Years ago, in the middle of what felt like a crisis, God challenged me to consider how deep my loyalties lay. Really, to consider who He truly was to me. Would I treat Him as a Genie or a motivational guru who offered plithy words of affirmation when I needed an emotional boost, or would I live as if He truly was my Lord?

This was about thirteen years ago, during what I term my “Louisiana experience” when God’s healing work within me intensified in a way that left me reeling. I felt as if I was reliving some key, devastating moments and was free-falling into some of my greatest fears.

I wanted Him to fix my circumstances–immediately. To save our house, save our finances and really, our way of life.

But Christ wanted to fix my soul, and so, in the middle of my desperate prayers, He asked, “Do you love Me now.”

In other words, “If I don’t answer your prayers as you hope, will you still choose Me?”

He was challenging me to evaluate my expectations, and to toss them if need be.

Some 2,000 years ago, the men and women of Nazareth faced a similar choice. Would they accept that Jesus, the One from whom, perhaps they’d purchased furniture from, was the long-promised Messiah? They must’ve heard about all the miracles He’d performed. How He’d healed people of their diseases, cast out demons, and even raised a dead girl to life. The people were amazed by all He did and said, until He made it clear, He wasn’t just a prophet or well-spoken teacher. He wasn’t just Someone out to better their day. He was God’s anointed Savior, His Son, with the full authority that entailed.

Reading from Isaiah 61:1-3, He said, “The Spirit of the Lord is on Me,
    because He has anointed Me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent Me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Luke 4:18-19, NIV).

20  Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing” (Luke 4:21b, NIV).

The Jews wanted a Savior, just not the One standing before them. No. They wanted a much more regal, more prestigious, and more political, less … rustic Messiah. And so they scoffed, rejecting the freedom Christ offered because it didn’t come packaged as they’d expected.

And while I’ve accepted God’s free gift of salvation, there’ve been times when I’ve resisted His Spirit. I’ve learned, after stumbling down numerous exhausting dead ends, however, His is the only path that leads to freedom. He truly did come to bring good news to the poor, freedom for the oppressed and the enslaved.

These words, which Jesus read to the people in that Nazarene synagogue some 2,000 years ago, were originally spoken by the prophet Isaiah during a dark time in Israel’s history. After a short period of revival, the people had once again slipped into idolatry. God warned them, again and again, if they didn’t repent, judgment would come. But even then, God wouldn’t abandon them forever. Life wouldn’t always be hard and painful; eventually, jubilee, a day of joy and freedom, would come.

God makes that same promise to us. Whether we’re suffering the consequences of our sin or perhaps sin that’s been done to us, we can trust good will come. His heart is for us always. When we remember that He truly did come to set the captive free, we’ll find it easier to surrender to His lead, even when His plans or methods don’t match our temporary expectations.   

For those following the Chronological New Testament Reading plan, please note, the NIV Chronological Bible placed today’s passage (Luke 4:16-32) in a different chronological order.

This week’s reading plan:

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flowers in a vase on a tableIn our rushed and often chaotic world, it’s easy to let relationships slide. At least, this is the case for me. I can become so wrapped up in my schedule and weekly to-do list, I begin to lose sight of my need for connection. I begin to take those relationships for granted, thinking I’ll have more time tomorrow, or the day after that, or perhaps next week or next month.

I’ve learned, to build deep, lasting relationship, I must be intentional and embrace inconvenience.

We moved around a lot when our daughter was young, which resulted in numerous friendships made then lost. While she grieved every transition, her sorrow increased tenfold when we moved to Omaha her sophomore year in high school. You see, she’d grown especially close to one girl in particular. The child had spent many nights at our house and had even accompanied us on a few family vacations. As a result, what began as awkward interactions at recess eventually morphed into a close sisterhood.

As you can imagine, when we told the girls my husband was being transferred, both were distraught. My heart ached for them as well, but I assured them that their relationship could withstand the distance, if they chose. However, they would have to work harder at staying connected. They’d have to embrace inconvenience, whether that meant long phone calls or car rides. They would also need to trade many of their spontaneous moments for intentional plans, scheduling visits weeks if not months in advance.

I knew, from having moved myself, this wouldn’t be easy, but I knew their efforts would be worth it. Or perhaps to rephrase, I understood the ache of friendships not built and held. Years prior, after having moved numerous times, I grew rather relationally lazy. Initially, I stayed so busy, this didn’t feel like a big deal. But then, I went through a painful season and found myself largely alone. And I realized I’d placed myself in that position. Always so focused on that next task, I’d “convenienced” myself into shallow relationships.

We know, at least in theory, the value of every intentional, inconvenient moment invested. But sometimes the busyness of life can make us houseplant with quote on friendshipforget, at least temporarily, until a crisis hits. Then we realize, maybe at a depth we hadn’t before, that we truly weren’t meant to go through life alone. When circumstances feel frightening and painful, we all need an “Elizabeth” we can turn to. Someone who gets it, whatever it is, or at least, if they can’t understand our particular struggle, who get us.

When we read about Mary’s visit to Elizabeth, the brief page space makes it appear as if this older woman lived a mere afternoon’s walk away. But that’s not the case. Scripture tells us young Mary, who lived in Nazareth, traveled to the Judean hills, some 80 miles, most likely on foot, to see her relative. Obviously, this took effort and perseverance. Would you have trekked such a long distance to seek support? Or might you have talked yourself out of going with each progressive step?

Although the more important question for us all, myself included, is this: What distance (literal or figurative) are we willing to travel today to form the connections our hearts need and crave? Whenever we’re tempted to remain holed up in our homes or offices, chained to our computers, may we reflect on Mary’s example, remembering that deep relationships require intentionality and, at times, a willingness to be inconvenienced.

For those following the chronological Bible reading plan …

Before you go, fun news! Registration is now open for Wholly Loved’s Beautiful Mess Mother-Daughter Conference! Register HERE.

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It’s mysterious. Powerful. Intimate. It holds the keys to life in all its fullness. It provides guidance in the most obscure and confusing situations, helps make the most difficult decisions clear, and for many … is a source of frustration, guilt, and regret.

If you identify with the latter, then keep reading. I think you’ll find what Wholly Loved’s Christa Cottam has to say encouraging and helpful.

Bible Reading–Moving From Obligation and Defeat to Love and Joy by Christa Cottam

Reading the Bible intimidated me. I don’t mean reading the whole thing. I mean reading any of it. Whatever Bible routine I tried to establish, Frustrated woman with books flyingwhether it was randomly picking verses or attempting to read from the beginning, I failed. The more I tried, the worse it got, until frustration pushed me to give up altogether.

I never told anyone that I didn’t read my Bible. I had far too much pride to admit that. Instead, I soothed myself with a slew of impressive excuses:

It’s boring.

It’s not that important.

I don’t have time.

It doesn’t do anything for me.

But the truth was, I didn’t understand Scripture.

I was surrounded by Christians who not only seemed to understand God’s Word, but also committed it to memory. And not just for recitation sake, but because it actually meant something to them!

So, what was wrong with me? I felt foolish and immature. And I was pretty sure I was screwing up this being-a-Christian thing. Worse yet, I was certain I was letting God down.

For years, my primary exposure to Scripture was secondhand—whatever I heard at church or read in books, blogs, or articles. Everything Biblechanged when I heard a sermon preached on 2 Timothy 3:16, which says, “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.[1]” The pastor explained that reading the Bible is the primary way we get to know God, and that He uses it to communicate with us.

It was a punch in the gut. I was completely convicted.

I recognized that if I was really serious about my relationship with God, reading the Bible wasn’t optional. I had to do it. But how? I clearly didn’t have a great track record.

At that point in my life, I had an infant and was exhausted. So, I decided I’d start small. I subscribed to receive a Bible-verse-of-the-day email. I have to be honest, my heart wasn’t in it at the beginning. My daily reading felt more like something to cross off my “to do” list than anything that would ever become understandable or meaningful. Over time though, a spark ignited in my heart, and I felt inspired to read the full chapter the verse-of-the-day came from.

I believe that what I did next was the key. I prayed specifically that God would help me create space in my day to read Scripture, bless that time, help me understand tough passages, and give me an insatiable thirst for His Word. Over time, God not only answered my prayers, but He also transformed my heart and mind. The more I read, the more I craved. I began attending a Bible study and was devouring daily devotions. I couldn’t get enough.

In the past, what drove me to read the Bible was religious duty. I approached it only to say I’d completed it, like an unmotivated student. But the deeper I got into God’s Word, the hungrier I became to know my Heavenly Father. The book that I’d long viewed as an impersonal work filled with mandates on how to live became an intensely personal story about love, not “law.” God’s heart—for you, for me, for all of us—is alive on every page, inviting us into a deeper relationship with Him.

Now I can’t imagine my life without the Bible. Its words, once fleeting in my mind, are now words of life imbedded in my heart, ready to remind me of God’s promises, protection, precepts, provision, and peace.

“I take joy in doing Your will, my God, for Your instructions are written on my heart” (Psalm 40:8, NLT.[1])

Let’s talk about this! Do you struggle with reading the Bible? What methods have you found helpful to keep you reading it regularly? What changes have you seen in your life or your faith as a result of developing a consistent reading time? Share your thoughts in the comments below, because we can all learn from and encourage one another!

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Christa's headshotSpeaker and worship leader Christa Cottam is an energetic and spunky woman who has a fire in her belly to tell others about Jesus, and how He rescued her from a past of shame, guilt and unforgiveness. Christa has used her gifts in music, theater, and leadership to make a kingdom impact, serving with MOPS, working on church staff as a music director, volunteering as a worship leader, and leading a table at women’s Bible study. She is excited to use her voice in a new way, encouraging and inspiring women to go deeper in their relationship with God.

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If you’re looking for help digging into Scripture, check out How to Read Your Bible for All It’s Worth by Gordon D. Fee. You might also enjoy my friends’ website, Discover One Thing, where they offer daily reading plans, an explanation on the SOAP method of Bible reading, and their thoughts on various passages.

Speaking of Bible reading, sign up for my free quarterly newsletter and receive a free, 36-lesson study from 1 Timothy. You can sign up HERE.

[1] Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1986, 1988 by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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Today’s post comes to us from a dear sister in Christ, Joanne Troppello.

Joanne is an author of mystery and inspirational romance novels.  Her second novel, Mr. Shipley’s Governess, was recently released by Wild Horse Press.  She is at work on her next novel, a romantic suspense.  She is married and loves spending time with her husband and family. http://joannetroppello.weebly.com/blog.html

A Journey of Self-Discovery

A journey of self-discovery is bittersweet ~ first, you see the person you are and then, you see the person God wants you to become.

Who am I? What kind of person is looking back at me when I look into the mirror every day? That question has been on my mind lately. My husband and I have been reading the book, Deadly Emotions by Dr. Don Colbert. We read a section every night after our Bible reading time before we pray together. This book has been very intense—but in a good way. We’ve been learning how negative emotions are really toxic for your physical body and that there is a connection between your mind/soul, body and spirit. I always knew that but this book has driven that point home to me.

In this life each person carries baggage. It is part of life’s cycle. We’re born, we live and we die. The important question is what are you doing with your time while you’re here? Are you living and preparing for eternity? Do you even care what’s going to happen when you die? Do you think how you live your life even matters?

I think the how and the why matters more than we think they do. As a Christian, I am saved by grace and know where I’m going when I die, but I still believe that “faith without works is dead.” God has called us to be good stewards of our lives—time, talents, wealth, the whole package. Are we living with an attitude of gratitude or only looking at things with the glass is half-empty perspective? Are we living with the good of others in mind or only for our own gain?

I know…I told you this book, by Dr. Colbert, is good. It has gotten me thinking about life. I’m trying to live my life being good to my body. I work out three times a week, I try to eat healthy foods, but have I really been good to my soul? Yes, I’ve been feeding my spirit by reading God’s Word and praying, but I’ve been neglecting my mind/soul. Every time I allow anger or depression or tension or any other negative emotion to rule in my life, it is not only harming my mind/soul, but also is negatively affecting my physical body.

My Pastor once said if you get two out of three in line, the other one will fall into place as well. He was speaking about feeding the spirit with God’s Word and taking care of your soul and emotions so that your flesh would stay in line. So, that’s where I’m at right now—really learning how to take my time on this journey of self-discovery and find out how to become the woman of faith God really wants me to be. His grace is definitely sufficient for ALL things!