The daily walk continues and I'm currently on a rest day. Yesterday I finished Chapter 10 of Exodus which means I am a quarter of the way through Exodus!
Bible in a Year has been great so far. I was reminded of how much I loved the story of Joseph, the lessons I learnt from Genesis all those years ago in the DHW Bible study series, and am looking forward to continuing the story of Moses tomorrow.
BUT
What keeps looming over me is the inevitable cloud of falling behind or stopping my reading. In some ways it encourages me to keep trying to defy that cloud of failure - but then I am faced with a second cloud of obligation where I dutifully complete my reading because I am supposed to and not because I want to spend time with God in His Word. The temptation of one is to submit to the other - I try to overcome the failure cloud by making sure I read every day, then I think 'am I doing this out of duty and not devotion?' and then I am tempted to not do it because it becomes seemingly contrived.
SO
What has helped me to find the right heart in doing the reading has been John Piper's IOUS.
Incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness (Psalm 119:36)
Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law (Psalm 119:18)
Unite my heart to fear thy name (Psalm 86:11b)
Satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days (Psalm 90:14)
The times when I have remembered to take time to get my heart right before reading, I am encouraged by what I read. Just makes me wonder, will this work when it comes to Leviticus?
Only time will tell. :)
RC
3 comments:
should probably add that I am a few days ahead cos I started when I received my Bible.. Was too excited. Also figured that when the cloud of falling behind comes to me I might fall into the right place and join everyone else - kinda like when you ran ahead as a kid to tie your shoelaces so that when you finished tying them, you could get up and join your family as they caught up to you - never did that before? Oh, me either then..
Im currently surrounded by the cloud of falling behind, but I find that I manage to catch up when I find the time to sit down and focus on God. I am feeling that the daily reading is becoming a "target" to reach, but it is not such a hard target to reach. It only took an hour to go through 4 days worth of readings and it went by quick, I guess I am going through the stories of Joseph and the start of exodus so it is rather interesting. Don't feel too disheartened if you fall behind, try to set aside some dedicated time one night to read God's word and you will be surprised how much you will enjoy it!
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