I started the year with the goal to read my Bible from cover to cover. Literally. I've always wanted to do this but never found the time but I realized that if I can read Paulo Coelho in 3 straight hours, how hard could it be to go through the Bible? I planned to do about 3-4 chapters each day and I started January 1. Mind you, I didn't do it for God or anything like that. I just really wanted to read my Bible form cover to cover. Period.
Little did I realize that God would speak to me through the Bible. Duh?! It's called His Word, right? So God talked to this idiot reading His Word. At first, it didn't quite make sense to me. I had a dozen technical questions on certain ancient stuff but since I'm determined to read from cover to cover, I just continued on my quest. I was getting confused at how things are changing in my life and I started to suspect that it had something to do with my Bible reading. Weird. Really weird.
Two months into my new "hobby", I met some people who want to discuss the Bible. Yay! A book club. Great. Just what I needed. The technical ancient stuff and law questions I had were about to be answered. Wrong. Instead, I learned about God's character and I found out just how much He loves me. Don't get me wrong, I already know that God loves me even before I started reading but somehow, His Words and promises became alive. I started to hold on to the things I read, look through my Bible for answers and even reference verses for situations in my life that some verses even made it to my blogs. And what's more surprising was I started talking to God intimately. Sure, I pray but not the eyes-closed-heart-prepared-type-of-prayer. It's more of the Lord-I-need-a-parking-space-kinda-thing. What started as a meaningless goal turned into deep conversations with God in less than 3 months. And God, when he speaks, HE REALLY SPEAKS. I can say that much now. It was crystal clear what He wanted me to do and in a snap of His fingers, I began to let go of things that I've been holding on to my whole life. It wasn't easy. I struggled but through His grace, I opened my heart to Him and slowly I realized that those things not of God slowly slipped off my hand until I was already pushing it away. God works in wonders and I was just in awe at how my life has changed and how it continually changes. I can't help but stare into space sometimes with a huge smile on my face because I am now deeply in love with this awesome, awesome God. Not part of my plan but then again my plans are crap compared to His.
All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.
(2 Timothy 3:16)
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
(Colossians 3:16)
To God be the glory.