When you go days, weeks, or months without reading the Bible, you feel somewhat empty. Just as your stomach would gradually feel void as the food travels and digests, the same goes with your spirit. Your spirit will feed off scriptural leftovers that have been acquired over time, but eventually, it will get back hungry too. I know how it feels to be spiritually hungry—to desire for gaps of diverse kinds to get filled. I have gone without truly feasting on the holy word and snacked on scriptures, instead. God’s word has great impact and can break the broadest borders with just one word, but I have learned that it is more essential to feast on God’s word daily. We need more than just one word to get us through this life.
When we study the Holy Bible, we experience a sense of fulfillment and rejuvenation. Whether felt at the moment of reading or moments later, we are recharged and amped-up for whatever may come. If they be trials or tribulations, we will become ready for spiritual combat without fear. While reading the Bible, we are instantly reminded of our purpose for dwelling on earth. We are reminded that when we stay connected to Jesus Christ, we can conquer anything and do all things through Him. We are reminded to keep the faith, no matter what is going on in the world. We are challenged in the deepest ways to get over our emotions and trust God, anyhow.
I just got to a lazy point where I didn’t read many scriptures within a day. I am without any other excuse. I was just lazy. Despite my slothfulness, I did not feel as if I was disconnected to God. I still felt His love and seen His mercy on me. However, I felt my inspiration wane. I noticed a fading away of my patience, tolerance, and kindness. I became snappier while driving. I separated myself from the people who genuinely loved me. I justified my reasoning for wanting to be to myself. I made excuses for not calling certain people back. I did not often get on my knees or lay prostrate before our Heavenly Father on a daily basis. My focus was skewed and my spirit was starving. I was hungry. Not for tangible food, though. I was famished for the living word.
As a result of my pulling away from reading God’s word, I sought solace in other things. I turned to social media, other people’s opinions, and my own solutions to solve problems. Yes, I prayed, but lightly. Have you ever prayed quick, short prayers that you could barely remember? I call those light prayers. The kind you say at bedtime because you’re too tired to pray. The kind that you say when you are saying grace while your mouth is drooling. Short and sweet prayers are just as meaningful, but not when they are rushed and lax. The word tells us that the “effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much” (James 5:16). Our words must be heartfelt when we go to the Father. We must not rush when speaking to Him. If anything, we ought to humble ourselves before Him, for He is holy. We must pray with an open heart and mind, ready.
Overall, I am grateful that the Lord blessed me with conviction. He chastises the ones He loves. When we get off-kilter or out-of-whack with Him, He reminds us in the way we think and feel that something is not right. So, I have decided not to be so distant anymore. The Lord mentioned that in the last days, there would be a great falling away. People will become lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2). Before it’s too late, I will continue to “cling to the old rugged cross,” as the classic hymn says. I will draw night to God, so that He will draw nigh to me.
My heart yearns and begs to be massaged with more wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Why resist His word when I can maintain an edified spirit? Why read scriptural crumbs when my spiritual belly could be overstuffed with the fruits of the spirit? I desire to enter the Lord’s beautiful, pearly, heavenly gates. Therefore, I must read. I must “study to show myself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). I desire for Him to lead me in His way, not my own. So, social media will have to go for a while. Technology will have to go for a while. Personal desires will have to go for a while. Fun and games will have to go for a while. It’s time to get back on track. My spiritual stomach is growling. It’s empty now. It’s time to reboot and revitalize. It is just time.
When you go days, weeks, or months without reading the Bible, you feel somewhat empty. Just as your stomach would gradually feel void as the food travels and digests, the same goes with your spirit. Your spirit will feed off scriptural leftovers that have been acquired over time, but eventually, it will get back hungry too. I know how it feels to be spiritually hungry—to desire for gaps of diverse kinds to get filled. I have gone without truly feasting on the holy word and snacked on scriptures, instead. God’s word has great impact and can break the broadest borders with just one word, but I have learned that it is more essential to feast on God’s word daily. We need more than just one word to get us through this life.
When we study the Holy Bible, we experience a sense of fulfillment and rejuvenation. Whether felt at the moment of reading or moments later, we are recharged and amped-up for whatever may come. If they be trials or tribulations, we will become ready for spiritual combat without fear. While reading the Bible, we are instantly reminded of our purpose for dwelling on earth. We are reminded that when we stay connected to Jesus Christ, we can conquer anything and do all things through Him. We are reminded to keep the faith, no matter what is going on in the world. We are challenged in the deepest ways to get over our emotions and trust God, anyhow.
I just got to a lazy point where I didn’t read many scriptures within a day. I am without any other excuse. I was just lazy. Despite my slothfulness, I did not feel as if I was disconnected to God. I still felt His love and seen His mercy on me. However, I felt my inspiration wane. I noticed a fading away of my patience, tolerance, and kindness. I became snappier while driving. I separated myself from the people who genuinely loved me. I justified my reasoning for wanting to be to myself. I made excuses for not calling certain people back. I did not often get on my knees or lay prostrate before our Heavenly Father on a daily basis. My focus was skewed and my spirit was starving. I was hungry. Not for tangible food, though. I was famished for the living word.
As a result of my pulling away from reading God’s word, I sought solace in other things. I turned to social media, other people’s opinions, and my own solutions to solve problems. Yes, I prayed, but lightly. Have you ever prayed quick, short prayers that you could barely remember? I call those light prayers. The kind you say at bedtime because you’re too tired to pray. The kind that you say when you are saying grace while your mouth is drooling. Short and sweet prayers are just as meaningful, but not when they are rushed and lax. The word tells us that the “effectual, fervent prayer of the righteous availeth much” (James 5:16). Our words must be heartfelt when we go to the Father. We must not rush when speaking to Him. If anything, we ought to humble ourselves before Him, for He is holy. We must pray with an open heart and mind, ready.
Overall, I am grateful that the Lord blessed me with conviction. He chastises the ones He loves. When we get off-kilter or out-of-whack with Him, He reminds us in the way we think and feel that something is not right. So, I have decided not to be so distant anymore. The Lord mentioned that in the last days, there would be a great falling away. People will become lovers of themselves rather than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3:2). Before it’s too late, I will continue to “cling to the old rugged cross,” as the classic hymn says. I will draw night to God, so that He will draw nigh to me.
My heart yearns and begs to be massaged with more wisdom, knowledge, and understanding. Why resist His word when I can maintain an edified spirit? Why read scriptural crumbs when my spiritual belly could be overstuffed with the fruits of the spirit? I desire to enter the Lord’s beautiful, pearly, heavenly gates. Therefore, I must read. I must “study to show myself approved, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). I desire for Him to lead me in His way, not my own. So, social media will have to go for a while. Technology will have to go for a while. Personal desires will have to go for a while. Fun and games will have to go for a while. It’s time to get back on track. My spiritual stomach is growling. It’s empty now. It’s time to reboot and revitalize. It is just time.
