Are you All in?-
in the Word-6-13-16
There is so much to
get involved in in the summer time now days that it seems our lives carry us
away from home and off to places away from our church buildings. I wonder
sometimes where everyone goes on church days while out of town. Are you all in
the Word of God? Or are you allowing the distractions of a vacation to pull you
away from your daily reading? Sometimes when we go away on a trip I find it
hard to slip out and find a spot of solitude to read my daily supply of
spiritual vitamins but if I do not have it I am likely to become weak and give
in to do things I probably should not do, or hear things I should not hear. If I am in
the Word daily, spending time reading to glean and reading to share then I will
most likely take time to pray more often as well. When the Word of God is on
your mind it comes out of your mouth more as well.
When God’s Word
says to put on the full armor of God it was pretty clear that we need to be ‘all
in’ when it comes to living a life pleasing to God. Ephesians 6:1-24
Not only does
reading this chapter of the Bible bring you direction but it gives you
strengthening tools to make the day before you better. At least it does for me!
When we remember to read even when on vacation, or camping, or at the beach for a week, whatever you do for fun in the summer months; you will grow stronger in the Lord and stronger as a person when you make the time to get in the Word. You will not be so quick to speak harsh words to your children or co workers; or the people in line who decide to add in a ton of things just when you are in a hurry at the grocery store for that matter!
For then I will
restore to the people a pure language. That day they all may call on the name
of the Lord, to serve Him with one accord…Be glad and rejoice with all your
heart Zephaniah 3:9-14
When we are all in
with Jesus we will desire to gain the knowledge and the spiritual food He has
given us in our daily reads.
When I am feeling
worn out, and tired when I wake up in the morning I can find strength for the
day even when there is a lot on my plate by reading all that the Israelite had
to go through. The miles they walked, the mountains they climbed and the walls
they rebuilt not to mention the homes they had to construct to have a place to
cover themselves at night were way more taxing than what we have to do today.
One thing that I
know without a doubt is that when Christ came to let me know about His being
God; or when I came to realize that He was for real; I chose to be ‘all in’
with His Kingdom. I chose to be ‘all in’ with His giving me direction for my
life, even as far as to allow Him to chose my husband. He made an awesome
choice too! My husband knows my weaknesses and knows when to call me on things
I should be doing better, things such as not overloading myself by saying “sure
I can do that” to everything just because I can do it. He helps me to realize I
am not “God” who can do all things, and He encourages me to stretch myself to
do the things God has given me to do, to climb the mountains I think are too
high; and to rest when I need to rest. If it were not for the Godly husband I
have I would not have the young adults I have who respect God and those who
lead them according to the Word, he was strong in not allowing them to stray by
making them think about what they learned in church and in their own personal
Bible studies. He listens to them when
they talk about things in the world and is not afraid to tell them when he does
not agree with some of their ideas yet shows them where to go to find the truth
at the same time. I am forever grateful to God for bringing him into my life,
and I found him in church one day. I would not have thought to go to God for a
husband if I had not read about Issac and Rebekah in Genesis 24. Had I not read
that I would not have known that the first time I saw my husband and felt drawn
to him in a force that was not merely physical attraction, although that was a
lot of it as my first words spoken about him was “He’s good looking!” I sought
to know also what He knew in the Word, and who he was in Christ. Then I was all
in to getting to know him more and more.
Had I not attended
the Bible study on Ruth I would not have learned to glean from His Word and
followed after Ruth and Boaz in their romantic beginnings.
Simple things in
life are explained in the Word, simple things we can use every day, not just
the ‘thou shout not’s’, but the ‘live by my examples’ are there for us when we
are truly ‘all in’ His Word.
So how can you
begin your walk to the “ALL IN His Word” club?
-
Wake up
fifteen minutes earlier than normal tomorrow.
-
Pick a spot
and read your Bible for ten minutes and ask God what you can do about what you
read; speak it, live it or just plain know it.
-
Think on those
things all day and implement the plan you and God talked about.
-
Then get up
tomorrow and do the same thing again! And again, and again… commit to it, and
remain ‘all in’.
Easy right? You can
do it! Put on the song All In and get yourself inspired today! Sing some
worship songs that draw you into His purposeful presence perfected. That means
you are focusing totally on the fact that He is with you always.
Dear heavenly Father,
when You died on the cross for us You were “all in” for us. Help us to be all
in everything You want us to be in, not just ‘kinda-sorta’ but really digging in, studying, and really doing the words in our
Bible today and every day, in Jesus’ name,
amen.
Suggested reading:
Genesis 24:1-66, Ruth 2:1-23, Zephaniah 3:1-20 and Jeremiah 18:1-23