Daily Walk

Daily Bible study is the food which nourishes our soul. Whatever the time of day is best, do it! Best for most is early morning, because once the day gets going, it's tough to take some time out to relax and read and pray without all the distractions of life. However, depending on the season of life in which you find yourself, that may not be possible. Whatever the time of day, just DO IT! You WILL be blessed.

I may have mentioned this before, but my deepening relationship to the Lord occurred quite out of a selfish need to boast. I decided one day in September of 2005 that if I were to be considered a "good Christian" I would have to read through the Bible at least once, so that I could honestly answer "yes" to the question should anyone ask...........as if anyone cares!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So I did. But out of a selfish and entirely unrighteous reason for reading God's word, beautiful things happened. Amazing how God can turn a weed into a beautiful rose, isn't it?!?

So I started by following study Bible's plan to read it through in a year, the first day was 10/1/05 (reading was John 1:1-18, Mark 1:1, Luke 1:1-4, 3:23-38, Matt 1:1-17) That may seem like a lot but it's only the equivalent of a couple of chapters, and coincidentally (it was not my plan), it started with the very start of the Gospels. Needless to say I was interested and looking forward to it, when it came around to the Old Testament, however, it was another thing. I was like a child being made to eat spinach, but I figured I had to endure it at least once. But I was SOOOOOOOO wrong. It wasn't until starting to learn the Jewish roots of our Christianity, by reading the OT, that the entire word of God came alive!

The journey that year took me on is indescribable and has not only deepened my own relationship with the Lord, but (praise God....it was His doing, not mine) but I believe had some impact on my husband's walk with the Lord as well.......there's no end to the awesomeness [is that a word?].....of God which will be opened to you if you let the Spirit lead your Bible study. You will be amazed at everything from tiny trivia, such as that Abigail's husband's name "Nabal" means "fool" [I Sam 25 (the name quite suits him)], to incredible journeys of research. For example, study and find every Old Testament occurrence of "angel of the Lord" which is a reference to a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ. Every time it is mentioned, you will find in the same verse or passage the same being also referred to as the Lord.

As one of our favorite Bible teachers, Dr. Chuck Missler says, the study of the Bible is a challenge and a thrill! I pray you will find that to be true as well!

Moral of the story, we should not read the Bible or do any other good deed in order to impress our friends, pastor or Sunday school class, but rather to have a daily and intimate walk with the Lord of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. OUR Lord! Remember 2 Peter 3:10 "But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. "

The knowledge and intimacy with the Lord which we gain from daily walk with Him should result in both a quiet spirit within us to know that He IS in control of a situation, AND when necessary, not to fear (2 Chronicles 20:15 [Do not fear or be dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours but God's.] when the circumstances seem too tough (Numbers 13 & 14 a great example). As Jesus said in John 15:5 "I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing."

Don't fret, the enemy wants you to wonder WHERE is God......that's the best he can do to a child of God! Satan knows he won't get your soul (you will not be tormented for eternity because you have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus Christ, if you are a believer), the best Satan can hope for is to torment you on the earth by making you doubt God! Luke 16:23 "In Hades he lifted up his eyes, being in torment, and saw Abraham far away and Lazarus in his bosom."........"Rev 14:11 "And the smoke of their torment goes up forever and ever; they have no rest day and night, those who worship the beast and his image, and whoever receives the mark of his name.""

This is exactly what his aim was when he tormented Job. Job 1:11 (Satan speaking to God) "but put forth Your hand now and touch all that he has; he will surely curse You to Your face" and again 2:5 "however, put forth Your hand now, and touch his bone and his flesh; he will curse You to Your face."........and in 2:9 Job's wife acts (unbeknownst to her) as Satan's helper by saying "do you still hold fast your integrity? Curse God and die!"

I pray for your relation with the Lord to grow. Remain in His word daily and it will!