Soldier4Christ
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« on: March 18, 2006, 11:00:54 AM » |
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Do you, your spouse, and your children spend time in prayer and the Word everyday? I struggled to read the Scriptures with regularity for many years. It seemed as if there was always too much to do and too little time. My attempts to faithfully read the Bible usually lasted as long as a New Year’s diet resolution. I was convinced in my mind that it was the right thing to do and I started out with great fervor, but before too many days passed, my guilt waxed and my commitment waned. Faced with the choice of getting up early for devotions or catching an extra 30 minutes of sleep, the latter often seemed much more rewarding. In my attempts to be faithful, I tried utilizing my lunch hour for devotions, but the office environment didn’t seem conducive to quiet contemplation. I tried the evenings, but when I returned home from work, the hours overflowed with activity until I was too tired to think. My sense of guilt lingered throughout the day, but as I turned off the lights and went to bed, reading my Bible was often the chore left undone.
Over the last several years, something of a transformation has occurred in my life. It is no longer a source of guilt when I fail to read my Bible, but I hardly ever miss. My time in prayer and the Word is definitely not a chore anymore, although it still requires precious time. Have I developed a better sense of discipline? Not really. But my devotional time has become one of those activities, like eating breakfast in the morning, which I don’t want to skip.
What has changed? Would you believe that I no longer desire to have daily devotions? It is true! I can never be sufficiently motivated by that goal, and I have abandoned it completely. What I do desire is to hear God speak to me. I wish to be cleansed and washed daily by His Word. I long for His direction and guidance. I seek assurance that I am walking in His will. These are goals that I am motivated to pursue!
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