Quiet Time Element Two: The Word

Reading the Bible can be both encouraging and frustrating, uplifting and depressing. Christians talk about reading the Bible all the time. As a kid I felt like every time I went to church the topic of reading the Bible came up. It was practically bashed into my head. Yet out of the probably thousands of times I heard others mention reading the Bible, I wasn't every really taught how to read the Bible. I wasn't really taught where to start, wasn't taught what to look for, wasn't taught what to do with what I read. I read over the words because I was supposed to. I didn't understand what I was reading, didn't care about what I was reading, and certainly didn't take away anything from what I was reading.

Reading the Bible is an important part of quiet time, but it's useless if you're not getting anything out of what you're reading. When you don't understand the context, the writer, the time, the location, etc., it's difficult to appreciate what you're reading. Instead, it starts to look like a bunch of crazy stories linked together with rules. Yuck.

Why you should read the Bible regularly
I've heard the argument that the Bible is an awesome reference tool, and a lot of people use it only as that. Having a bad day? Google verses about encouragement. Or better yet, look some up on Pinterest. (I'm guilty of pinning more than one of those links.) But using the Bible as a reference and using the Bible as a foundation are two totally different things.

2 Timothy 3:16 says that God's word is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training. It is an awesome reference to how we should live according to God's purpose. But 2 Timothy 3:16 also says that God's word is God breathed. It is inspired by Him. It is what He wants us to know.

Hebrews 4:12 says that God's word is alive and active. For years I thought this verse was personification. I thought it was a metaphor for what it can do in our lives. But I now believe that God's word is actually alive. Now everyone thinks I'm weird, but stay with me. Have you ever read a passage in the Bible and gotten nothing out of it, only to come back to the same passage later and feel like God is talking directly to you? Has a passage in Scripture ever brought you to tears? Or opened your eyes to something you needed to see? God's Word is alive because it knows our heart. God's Word can feel constantly new because our hearts are constantly changing.

If the Bible is both God breathed and alive and active, constantly fitting what your heart desires, why would you only use that as a reference? If God wants to constantly pour His love into you, why would you listen only when you feel like it?

What the Bible has to offer you
The Bible has so much more than rules to offer. In fact, there are many verses explaining that the rules of Judaism and Christianity weren't meant to define those religions (Gal. 3:11, Gal. 5:4, Hebrews 10:1). Here's just a taste of what God's word can offer:

The Truth - John 8:32
Parenting Instruction - Proverbs 13:24
Eternal Life - John 5:24-25
Endurance - Romans 5:3-4
Encouragement - 1 Corinthians 15:58
Marriage Advice - Malachi 2:15-16
Guidance - Isaiah 55:8-11
Forgiveness - 2 Corinthians 2:10-11

Where to start
The entire Christian faith is built upon the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because of this, I always recommend reading the New Testament before reading the Old Testament. Specifically, I recommend starting with the Gospels. The Gospels have the direct words and actions of Jesus. They may repeat one another, but they are overflowing with God's love for us. Nothing is more applicable to us than the Gospels. If we cannot fully grasp the sacrifice of forgiveness that was given for us, we cannot fully grasp anything else that we read.

If you'd like to start reading the Bible but have no idea where to start, start with the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). I then suggest reading straight through the New Testament, since it all directly relates to the Gospels. After that, read the Old Testament. Personally, I recommend starting with Genesis and Exodus, then Psalms and Proverbs.

Understand the context
I eluded to this earlier, but understanding the history of the book is super important. When you understand who the writer is, you might understand his point of view better. (For example, when Paul talks about being a sinner, you know he's really being honest.) When you understand who a prophet is talking to or why the Israelites are begging for a king, you might understand the bigger picture better. Some Bibles provide this information before each chapter. Personally, I use an old textbook of mine. I wouldn't recommend it though, because there's a ton of information and it's a lot to sort through. The easiest way I know to find out the context of a book in the Bible is to simply Google it.

What to look for
In my last post I wrote about the importance of an open heart. If you come to God's Word with an open heart, you are prepared for what He wants you to know, not just what you think will make you feel better. Pray ahead of time, asking God to reveal what is important for you to read. Keep an eye out for God's promises, anything in red letters (Jesus's words), and anything that speaks of forgiveness and freedom. Also, keep in mind what your identity is in Christ. Don't let weird names (like Nebuchadnezzar) or places mix you up. Think big picture.

Take Notes
Finally, taking notes might be one of the most important parts of reading the Bible. When you take notes, underline or highlight, you are helping yourself when you read that passage later. I'll focus on taking notes and journaling in my next blog post.

Quiet Time Element: The Heart

One thing that has repeatedly been on my heart is quiet time. So many Christians want to incorporate quiet time into their schedules, but don't know how. Or, many have tried quiet time but it feels awkward or forced. I'm going to be writing about different elements that make my quiet time work.

When most people think about quiet time, they think of reading the Bible and praying. Yes, these are parts of quiet time, but there is something bigger and more important going on. The heart. Coming to quiet time with an open heart is the most important part of quiet time. Without an open heart, you can read 30 chapters in the Bible and not take a single word in. Without an open heart, you can pray for three hours and not feel a connection with God. The open heart is the most important part of quiet time.

Matthew 11:28-30 is really great Scripture to look at when you're thinking about the heart. First off, it says that we are to come to God for rest. Folks, God never leaves us. When we can't feel His presence, it's not because He isn't there - it's because our tiny human brains can't comprehend the enormity of Him. We continually have to leave His presence because our sinful nature drags us away. We have to return to Him over and over again. Intentionally. Humbly. Ready for change. It is in these moments that we get the true rest that our hearts long for. Rest from responsibilities. Rest from our mistakes. Rest from the complications of human life. You can only receive this rest if you choose to come back to Him.

Second, Matthew 11:29 says that when we take God's yoke upon ourselves, we will learn from Him. We're not talking about the middle of an egg, but about the piece used to hook up oxen for work. It looks like this:

God's yoke is His will. When we define our boundaries by the ones that God sets for us, our lives are actually easier. It's life without dodging around lies that we tell. It's life without hangovers, without STD's and unwanted pregnancies, without addiction. That's why verse 30 says that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. When we choose to obey the boundaries that God puts in our lives, we are making life easier for ourselves.

Here's an example. Once I was taking Misty to my parent's house and I had to stop by the grocery store to pick something up. I was going to leave Misty in the car (It was winter, I promise it wasn't hot outside.), but the second I opened the door she bolted. She was running freely in a parking lot next to a busy intersection. Anybody who knows Misty knows that she's not an easy dog to catch once she gets loose. She's part Border Collie and she's fast. Plus, she's scared of everything. A stranger was trying to help me catch Misty, but of course that made it worse because Misty was scared of the stranger. I was worried about her getting hit by a car in the parking lot or running into the intersection and getting hit there. I was worried about her running in the woods next to the parking lot and never being found. 

Misty thought her way was better than mine. She thought that by escaping the car (and escaping waiting for me by herself) that her life would be better. But I knew that escaping the car but her in danger - the exact danger that I was trying to avoid. Eventually I caught Misty (by pretending to leave her there) and my heart rate slowly went back down.

When we come to quiet time, we need to be open to the possibility that we're not going to like what God puts on our hearts. We need to be willing to listen to His will and realize that He's looking at a bigger picture that we could never understand. Sometimes during quiet time, God provides just the rest I need. He provides beautiful verses that remind me that He is there for me and that He is ultimately in control of all circumstances. But sometimes I read verses and I feel this pang in my heart and I know God wanted me to notice that verse. Even though I might want to read on or ignore it, I can't get it out of my mind. 

Heart surgery isn't fun. It doesn't feel good. It takes a while to recover. But it's necessary. God molds and changes our hearts because we need it. Isn't that what quiet time is all about? Going to God to get what we need? 

Have you been avoiding quiet time because you are avoiding this truth? Do you try to have quiet time but don't feel the same as you used to? Have you been avoiding quiet time because you don't want to go through the pain of change? Let me tell you, it's worth it. Waking up and spending time with God is worth every second. Knowing His love, His grace, His sufficiency, is worth it. Being His is worth it. 

"Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts..." Hebrews 3:7b-8a.

If this is something you struggle with, pray daily that God will open your heart to His will.

Why Celebration Should be Considered a Spiritual Discipline

Today Michael and I are celebrating our two year anniversary! If I'd realized the fairy tale that I was walking into as I walked down the aisle, I wouldn't have been nervous at all! It has been a year of blessings! We have both been successful at work, we have bought a house, and I am in my last year of college! (Oh, and we also have a new dog that we love sometimes like.) What a wonderful two years it has been!

The act of celebration is something that God created for mankind to enjoy. Is there a better way to thank God for the blessings He has given us than by throwing a party to show everyone our joy? I believe that God enjoys our celebration just as much as we do. I also believe that celebration is just as important as other Christian disciplines like prayer and reading Scripture. Here's why:

- God created celebration for the Jews. Multiple times a year Jews gathered together to celebrate The Passover, Pentecost, and the festival of Tabernacles. God asked His people to celebrate these holidays, plus the Sabbath once a year. There were also four other holidays that God created for the Israelites as an opportunity to celebrate.

- We all know that offerings were used for atonement for sin, but there were different kinds of offerings as well. Sin offerings were called expiatory offerings, but there were also consecratory offerings and communal offerings. Consecratory offerings dedicated a person or thing to God (like a baby dedication ceremony) and communal offerings often were given in thanksgiving. My favorite type of offering that I've read about is called a votive offering. These offerings were made after a person endured a trial. At the end of their trial, they would invite all of their friends over to have a giant party to celebrate God's faithfulness through the trial.

I'm not suggesting that we should follow Jewish customs, because we are in fact not Jewish. One of the reasons the world needed Christ to save us was because Jewish leaders had become so obsessed with the law that they forgot about the heart of the Creator behind it. However, I am suggesting that we are intentional about celebration. Anniversaries are a prime example of a need to celebrate. We are celebrating the fact that God gave us our "special someone" while others are still waiting. (This is something I personally celebrate regularly because there aren't many people today who marry at 21 and stay married.) We are celebrating our promise to one another and to God. We are celebrating the provisions that God has given us, plus all of the extras. We are celebrating another year of happiness.

Celebration is important because it stems out of a heart of thankfulness. We celebrate Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years all because we are thankful for something. The holidays exist so that we never forget something important to us. Celebration is the ultimate praise to God!

Psalm 150:6 reads "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord." Romans 14:6 reads "Those who regard one day as special do so to the Lord." After the prodigal son returned home, his father threw a feast. Luke 15:7 speaks of the rejoicing in Heaven that occurs when a sinner repents. Jesus' first miracle occurred at a wedding. The fact is, celebration is embraced throughout Scripture. God wants us to celebrate! He wants us to throw a big party to tell everyone about the blessings we have experienced! The more you celebrate, the more you thankful you will become. Celebration is basically public praise to God. Celebrate openly! Celebrate small things and big things! Celebrate medical tests coming back negative, celebrate the end of the school year, celebrate your dog's birthday! I guarantee you that if you celebrate more, you will find a renewed joy in your life.